A Day Without a Schedule

My students thrive with a routine.  Our regular morning specials class was cancelled.  Lunch would not happen at school because it's a half day.  Our dismissal time is 35 minutes after our regular lunch time.  None of these were in my control.
Rather than try to structure a normal day I tossed the schedule out the window.
No need to read Morning Message, 4 students gathered around it and read it before I finished tying shoes and checking folders.  I just encouraged them to reread it while the others gathered on the rug. We did an art project.  A fun craft that needs a lot of time.  Scissors, glue, tissue paper and feathers all before 8:30! We finished it, then we started another project!  Huge Easter Eggs and water color crayons!  Between projects a guest reader read a book with movement and then provided us an unusual snack.  As the eggs pictures were placed on the rack for drying we read a story and got our backpacks.  They were all amazed we were going home.
I never skip writing, but today it was the perfect day to break that rule.  But I bet they'll have a fun day to write about tomorrow!