Service Learning Project

Title of Project: Students Helping Soldiers

                 

Grade Level:  K-6th

Number of Students Participating: approximately 400 students

Contributed by:

            Teacher: Lisa Taylor

            School: Grandview Elementary

            District or County: Bellevue Independent

1)  Overview/Description of Project: Students will research ways to help soldiers and their families on the internet.  Students will  make posters to hang around the school and in the community advertising these ways that others can help, such as writing letters or donating items.  These items and letters will then be put together as care packages by the students and sent to the soldiers through a group called Operation Homefront.

2)  Who would be involved?: 

-teachers that are willing to let their class participate in the project (giving class time to research on the internet, create posters (by hand and using technology), writing letters to businesses to ask for posters to be hung, putting items together into care packages)

-local businesses that will allow posters to be hung in their place of business 

-Operation Homefront to take our donations and send them to the appropriate places

Operation Homefront Contact Information: 

http://www.operationhomefront.net/kentucky/

Operation Homefront of Kentucky and Tennessee

P.O. Box 2437

Fort Campbell, Kentucky  42223

Phone: 931-982-3207

Fax: 866-599-8934

Toll Free: 866-205-5766

3)  Standards:

• Students will write for a variety of authentic purposes and audiences
• Students will communicate a purpose through informing or persuading.
• Students will use technology to organize and develop creative solutions, ideas or products
• Students will incorporate persuasive techniques when appropriate (e.g. bandwagon, emotional appeal, testimonial, expert opinion)
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  Students will demonstrate awareness of the concept of responsibility to oneself and others
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  Students will express creativity both individually and collaboratively using technology

4)  How will the students benefit personally? 

Students will be doing something that will allow them to work together to help others.  Almost every student knows someone who is serving or who has served our country and they would like to feel as if they are contributing in some way.  It will help them develop an understanding of contributing to society while having fun in the process. 

5)  Timeline of Activities:

Step 1-Introduce the project to the students by  showing the following video and explaining what we will be doing to show our thanks to the soldiers. 

Step 2-Students will begin by researching ways they can help soldiers and their families. 

Some websites they may use:


http://www.kidsforourtroops.org/
http://anysoldier.com/WhatToSend.cfm
http://www.give2thetroops.org/
http://www.theahaconnection.com/2011/06/28/ways-children-can-honor-soldiers-this-4th-of-july/
http://www.ehow.com/how_5119289_become-penpal-soldier-overseas.html


Step 3-making posters asking for items to be donated and letters to be written. 

Step 4-Students will hang posters around the school.

Step 5-Students will be selected to write letters or call businesses asking for permission to hang student-made posters around community.

Step 6-Students will be selected to walk around the community to hang posters in the approved businesses.

Step 7-Once donations begin arriving, students will be organizing items/letters into care packages.

Step 8-Care packages will be sent off to Operation Homefront to be sent to soldiers.
Step 9-Students will arrange a celebration at the end of the year, write letters to local veterans, soldiers, family members, to invite them to come celebrate.

6)How do I plan on measuring the success of the project?

Since we will not actually get to meet the people who will be receiving our items and letters in person, there is no way of knowing for sure what happens to our items and letters once they are sent off.  However, some students may receive a letter back from their soldier.  We can write in a journal to reflect on how this project made us feel and how it may have benefitted others.  Also, some students may continue this on their own which will also show that it was successful.  If able, some students may be able to skype a soldier they have been communicating with.

7)How will we celebrate at the end of our project?

We will have an end of the year party to celebrate the success of the project.  Students can share any letters they have received from the soldiers since the project began.  We can invite local veterans, soldiers, and their family members to share in our celebration and show our appreciation for the service they have done for us as well.