I am a middle school library media specialist in central Maryland. Our student population is beautifully diverse in every sense of the word. Additionally, I serve a large portion of at risk students suffering from the effects of poverty as well as students with social emotional difficulties.
My students enjoy helping people, and it is equally valuable for them - many studies have found positive relationships between community service and positive physical, emotional/mental, and social well-being outcomes.
The act of creating something hands-on has also been shown to be therapeutic for people of all ages.
Young adolescents for many developmental reasons often have a more self-centered focus. How can we help our middle schoolers navigate through this self-centered storm toward a more empathic way of being? I want to engage our students in looking out side themselves, and helping others.
My Project
Homeless families and students are often invisible, but are in fact more prevalent than ever in our school and in our communities. Our school has raised money for the past few years collecting spare change for our local homeless shelter. The students have enjoyed it, but often want to do more for our homeless families. I would love to offer an opportunity for them to give back in a readily accessible way.
Many students want to give back, but at the middle school level, volunteer work can be hard to find.
Unfortunately, most volunteer opportunities in our area are for students in High School (or older). Transportation to volunteer locations can also be a challenge for middle school students.
The WLMS library maker space is frequented by students during morning arrivals, lunch time and after school hours. Students here are encouraged to create, innovate, and explore through hands-on activities. This year I plan to create a 'Makers Care' space, where all created items will go to those in need.
We will use the polar fleece to create blankets and small pillows for homeless shelters in our area. The cards and stamps will be used to create greeting cards, and positive wishes for homeless families and veterans. The tape will be used to create duct tape wallets, decorative bags and crafts for the homeless and those directly serving the homeless.
My hope is that through serving others, my students will not only help the homeless, but also 'get hooked' on finding ways to help others in need, growing into more empathetic individuals.
24 Roll Variety Pack Solid Colors (brights and regular colors) of All Purpose Duct Tape. Brights Include: green, blue, orange, purple, yellow and pink. Regular colors include: brown, white, black, green, red, and blue. All solid color rolls are 1.89x 10 yards.
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2
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Newcastle Fabrics Polar Fleece Greenbriar Black/White Fabric by the Yard, Red
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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 Mrs. Russo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
