Help me give my students the opportunity to help others. Our seventh grade "elves" would like to help 230 kindergarteners who LOVE to color have crayons, markers, and colored pencils for home and school.
My awesome students are in seventh grade at my middle school in Fond du Lac, WI. Our school is one of three middle schools in a town of approximately 42,000 people, with over 50% of our school's students living below the poverty level. We have students who are close and able to walk, but we also have about eight buses that bring students daily. My students are full of energy and arrive ready to learn. We are culturally diverse and provide services for students with a variety of educational modification needs. I am proud to be part of the family!
My Project
This is a lesson in giving for my seventh grade students. The items in on my list are just some of the basics needed by local kindergarten students. We act as elves to meet their needs. These crayons, markers, and colored pencils are needed at school and home. We will also be getting winter gear, clothing, books, and toys.
Here is how it works:
-Write letters to raise funds for the project
-Set up the “North Pole” in a back room at school
-Skype the kindergarten classes from the “North Pole” dressed as elves to ask students what they need and want (many need coats, hats/mittens, boots, clothes, school supplies, etc.)
-Make a list and sort it
-Meet to shop as a group after school
-Wrap the gifts so that each student receives three presents (have to keep it “equal”--”Let’s be honest, Mrs. Rieder, we still count and compare and we’re in seventh grade.”)
-Deliver gifts to these elementary schools as a surprise right before winter break starts
We have made memories for over 394 kindergarten and 401 seventh grade students so far. Since inception, 1165 kids have been involved, and we have raised over $35,500. We have been joined by 30 community members already this year for writing letters, and hope to have even more join us for wrapping the 600 plus gifts!
This is an incredible lesson in giving, and I know it is changing the lives of my students. One boy who wasn’t too excited about this project when it was first discussed came running up to me and said, “Mrs. Rieder, thank you for today! It was the best day of my life! You know that feeling you said we’d get inside from giving? Well, I got it today!
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