Experiencing the Value of Service: Rebuilding in New Orleans
My students need a portable digital camera to document interviews, hands-on work, and interactions they have while participating in a rebuilding project in New Orleans.
The diverse learners in our classroom are eager to learn the content, but they are especially eager to PARTICIPATE and APPLY their knowledge in the real world. As they continue to learn about the effects of Hurricane Katrina, they have a desire to be a part of a rebuilding project in New Orleans.
If you were to visit our classroom, you would see a wonderful representation of true diversity ethnically, socio-economically, and academically.
They are African-American, Asian, Native American, Latino, and White, and they are proud of their school and community. Their families are a range of single parents, in-tact parents, and all the other alternative family types you can imagine. Our school promotes inclusive values, encouraging these young adolescents to be accepting, inclusive, and passionate about changing the world. It sounds like a cliche, but they are deeply passionate about belonging to a world where they can contribute in positive ways. One thing they have been dedicating their free time to, is creating and practicing a variety of skits, songs, dances, and talks that represent who they are and what they believe in. These will be performed at a fund-raising dinner they are organizing for a service learning project to New Orleans. They are passionate beyond words!
My Project
We are currently and fervently fund-raising for our service-learning project to rebuild an area in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans. This project was initiated and furthered by the students themselves. They want to help! More importantly, they want to apply their learning and new attitudes about service directly to the geographical area being studied. Upon arriving in New Orleans, students will partner up with other middle schoolers to put together basic school supplies destroyed by Katrina. Additionally, they will help rebuild a school playground. We are requesting a portable flip camera to help document through video and still pictures, their experiences. With this one mobile device, we hope to implement technology skills, communication skills, and our total experiences via a live blog, Facebook, and Twitter. We feel it is important to keep our families, friends, and community up-to-date with our project, as well as present our experiences upon our return.
This rebuilding project in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans is one way for our students to learn the value of service.
The entire PROCESS has been a learning experience, especially since it started as a suggestion/idea by a few students, then grew into a passion. By contributing a little bit, they are seeing first-hand how giving people are. They see people reach out to help young people who are motivated, passionate, and excited about learning. Documenting this experience would be amazing!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Naputi and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.