The majority of my students come from low-income families and even poverty level families. Most of my students go home to empty houses either due to unknown circumstances or that their parents are having to work late to help provide for the needs of their families. Most of our students have experienced some type of family transition (single parent home, blended family, divorce/separation, homelessness, etc). The majority of my school is on free/reduced-price lunch.
However, with all the challenges/struggles my students seem to face, I want them to know that they can still make a difference in the lives of other people.
They need to be made aware of the world around them and what an impact they can make. One little person can make a big difference in the lives of others. My students are very energetic and eager to learn. They all seek to have a purpose!
My Project
Due to the challenges and circumstances most of my students deal with or come from on a daily basis, quite a few of them often feel "unworthy". I feel like this selflessness project will help the students to see what a HUGE impact they can have on the lives of others.
It also appears that today's generation has become more about the "me" rather than the "we." It seems like the majority are all about "what is in it for me?" instead of "how can I positively influence the life of someone else." I am hoping that this project on selflessness will inspire them to think beyond themselves and to truly see how powerful their impact can be.
Our modern society seems to be about "me, myself, and I" and I think this would really open my student's eyes to see that there is a world beyond that. If we receive the funding, the students will be going to either Dollar Tree/Walmart to buy gifts to fill shoe boxes for Samaritan's Purse that will get shipped across the world. They will take part in lessons across the curriculum to go along with the project of selflessness. In math, the students will be calculating budgets and manipulating decimals. In social studies, the students will be learning about all the various countries to which their boxes could possibly be shipped. In language arts, the students will be discussing the act of selflessness and write letters to the kids who will receive their shoe boxes.
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