|
Supporting Our Service Persons (S.O.S.)
Grade Level: 2nd and 4th Academic Areas: English Language Arts, Social Studies Duration of service: 7 months Character Virtues: Respect, Civic Virtue and Citizenship , Caring and Giving Service Areas: Homeland Security, Human Services
Materials Needed: journals, fundraising materials, paper, pencils, tape recorders Total Cost of Project: startup costs for fundraiser Time Needed for Project: 40-50 hours of class time Time Needed for Teacher Preparation: 20 hours Experience Needed in CE: none Experience Needed in SL: none
Service Learning Project: A local veteran will be brought into the school to discuss his/her experiences with the students. Following this introductory activity, students will formulate interview questions about being involved in the military and use these questions to interview veterans at a luncheon honoring local veterans. A letter-writing activity will also be initiated, involving active duty service personnel who will be partnered with a student throughout the course of the year via letters, pictures, e-mail, etc. (depending upon the school’s available technology). Students will also organize, collect, and mail “care packages” to active soldiers from the entire student body. In addition to sending letters, students might hold fundraisers (popcorn sales) to raise money to purchase materials needed by the soldiers. A major component to growing through reflection will be for students to maintain a weekly reflection journal. At the completion of the project, the students will share will their newly acquired information with the student body, administration, and community members through presentations, final celebrations, etc.
Goals and Objectives Academic Learning Goal: The students will listen to recorded interviews and create a written essay from it. Standard: ELA 1,2,3,4 Learning Goal: Students will be able to correctly format and write a friendly letter. Standard: ELA #4 Learning Goal: Students will learn the roles soldiers fill during times of war and peace, and also how a soldier’s role is one method of active citizenship. Standard: Social Studies #5 Learning Goal: Students will be able to locate on a map the designated area of war. Standard: Social Studies Learning Goal: Students will compare and contrast the lives of the children in the designated areas with their lives. Standard: ELA Service Community need: Students do not relate to the role service persons play in the community. Also, many service persons do not receive any correspondence while in training or at war. Possible Community Partners: local service-affiliated organizations, postal office, local armed forces recruiters, local veterans associations Objective: Students will boost morale by interacting with service personnel via e-mail, letters, pictures, and care packages. Objective: Students will interview veterans and publish a book/pamphlet/etc. on local efforts during wartime. Objective: Students will raise funds to buy materials soldiers need through holding a popcorn sale. Character Virtue: Respect Objective: At the completion the project, the students will have an awareness and appreciation for those persons who choose to serve their nation in the armed forces. Virtue: Civic Virtue and Citizenship Objective: Students will improve the community’s appreciation of service people by sharing information with fellow classmates, teachers, administrators, and community members. Virtue: Caring and Giving Objective: The students will hold fundraisers to purchase personal necessities for the soldiers. Virtue: Empathy Objective: The students will show empathy towards people who are less fortunate than they are.
Key Activities Key Planning
Activities 1. A local veteran will be invited to speak with the students. Prior to the speaker’s visit, the students will learn effective interview techniques so that during the speaker’s visit they can ask informed and appropriate questions. 2. A luncheon will be provided on Nov. 11 for veterans. It will be served by teachers and used to introduce the students to area veterans. 3. Teachers will contact local service-oriented organizations to seek current soldiers to pen-pal with students. Key Service
Activities 1. The students will communicate by
e-mail, letters, and pictures to pre-selected service personnel stationed
outside the 2. Students sponsor a school-wide
drive for non-perishable items to send to overseas sailors. They will collect
and organize materials and will make cards, pictures, drawings, etc. 3. Students (2nd and 4th grade partners)
will interview local veterans together and publish a brochure/pamphlet about
their community’s efforts during times of war. Interviews will also be tape
recorded for use as listening comprehension activities. Key Reflection
Activities 1. (oral – civic virtue and
citizenship) Students and local
servicepersons will gather together to share their thoughts on the
project. Each person will add one to
three words about the project to a chalkboard, and group discussion will be
based upon these words. 2. (written – respect) Students will maintain weekly journals,
commenting throughout on weekly activities relating to the service project
and including how they feel about contributing to our local service
personnel. 3. (performance – civic virtue and citizenship) Students will develop and present a program (power point or traditional) showing information learned and demonstrating a consciousness of civic virtue. Students will devote a portion of the presentation to how the project has impacted themselves, the veterans, soldiers, and/or their school, by including citations of journal entries, interview questions/answers, and letters from the servicepersons 4. (performance) Prior to the luncheon celebration, the students will honor the veterans with a performance with the whole school in attendance. Celebration
Activity Students and teachers will plan a luncheon involving
students, parents, and local veterans.
Students’ Power Points presentations and boards with pictures and
letters from throughout the year will be displayed in a Wall of Honor
saluting the veterans. Recognition
will be given to all (veterans, soldiers, students, parents, etc.) who
participated in the year’s project by certificate, ceremony, and/or awards.
Parents, administration, and community members will carry on discussions with
students about the project at the final celebration. Teachers will prepare interactive
activities to get parents and community members involved in the day. |
