ÃÂÃÂKnowing is not enough; we must apply. èWilling is not enough; we must do. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...Knowing that one person's actions can influence the world, I have challenged my students to take a stand and decide how they will influence future generations by telling their story.
My students are a constant surprise!
From impromptu discussions about world events (Syria, Mali, Venezuela, etc) to voicing their opinions on national laws, these sixth grade students feel a connection to what is happening around them. Not many teachers will brag about middle school students but this group is special...not once in my 19 years have I had such an outstanding group of students who can work individually or in groups, and who care about the achievements of other students in class.
Our diverse, public middle school is home to 1500 students in three grades and we are further divided into smaller teams to really have quality time with our students. They LOVE coming to school and enjoy being challenged to go above and beyond what is expected.
My Project
Learning facts is just part of being educated but being able to use your knowledge to help others is a lasting legacy that anyone can achieve. By securing the blank books and art supplies, my students will be able to set out a plan for their futures and really think about how their skills and abilities could influence many generations worldwide.
The blank books will be used to allow each student to tell their "story" of how and what they would like to accomplish in their lifetime. It could be their solution to a global issue like food shortages, power consumption or diseases. Alternately, they could take a stand on whether there should be one economic and political system for the world. Some students are interested in creating the next technological advancement or scientific discovery to cure cancer. The goal of this activity is to have students use their knowledge and consider how they can bring change to our planet.
Many people will tell students, "Oh you are only a child...you have years to thinks about what impact you want to make on the world".
To my students, that just isn't true! They want to make a difference NOW and in the future. This activity will get them thinking about how they can make a difference today, as well as what they could do in the future to influence what happens globally. We are putting our lives in the hands of future generations.
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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. Huhndorf and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.