Estimated time to complete activitiy:
variable

Materials needed:
basket/container/gift bag

cellophane/netting, bow, card

excelsior, crumpled tissue, mylar shreds

Description:
The stuff you place in basket or bag will depend on the season and what you know about what the teacher might enjoy.

Instructions:
I get best ideas at the grocery store; since teachers are Real People, they often like ordinary, Real People items.

In the winter, instant soups, coffees and teas are pleasant. Packages of cookies or crackers are nice; expiration dates in the Future most helpful (Goodie Overload can be a holiday problem). Decorated note cards (the more to the box, the better!). If I think of the basket as a small Office Survival Fun Pack, it makes choosing easier. There's no need to choose everything the same day; it can be "built" in weeks and days leading up to presentation. Near Christmas, the teachers are often coming down with colds their students have shared (truly the gift that keeps on giving...) and a basket of Real Stuff can serve a true function, best appreciated a full week before the break begins.

Summer's Coming baskets can be really light-hearted, with stuff like a bottle of suncreen lotion, a paperback book, a "to do" list with the first page reading somethin' like "relax, eat, sleep." Ice cream toppings, maraschino cherries and a bunch of bananas (gonna miss ya a bunch!). Tailor to your budget and have Fun doing it.

Reality is, teachers often work on upgrading/retaining credentials with summer courses, or take a summer job, but there should be a little down time there someplace.

Other suggestions or comments:
Uncommon things at uncommon occasions are appreciated. An example would be blueberry muffins during Conference Week.