Service Learning in 2nd Grade

In just 5 short weeks the second grade students have participated in a variety of service learning experiences, both in the classroom and off campus.

1. On September 11 Hillbrook School as a whole participated in a Day of Service. The second grade students partnered with their 8th grade buddies to make blankets for Project Linus. We began our experience by reading aloud the book, Owen by Kevin Henkes. In the story, the main character, Owen, has a special blanket that helps comfort him wherever he goes. Our mission during this experience was to make 22 blankets for the families at the SJ Family Shelter and offer a bit of comfort during the difficult time in their lives. Parent volunteers helped to gather and prepare materials for the project. Students in both grade levels, as well as some faculty and staff volunteers, then came together and tied knots on the blankets to complete them. Together there were many meaningful conversations about where these blankets were heading, a special “blankie” or “lovey” that helped our students through difficult times, homeless people they had seen, and many more. By the end of the 45 minute period, everyone had improved their ability to tie knots, as well as having had the experience of helping someone by making blankets. A few students were so engaged that they even gave up their recess to continue to tie knots in blankets and construct a plan for how they could make more blankets in the future.
2. That Friday, September 15th, Mr. D. visited the second grade and shared with the students his organization which collects meals every weekend and delivers them to people in need. One of those locations is the SJ Family Shelter, the same place we donated the blankets the students made with their 8th grade buddies. The students were interested in where the meals come from, how he delivers them, what kind of foods he delivers, and much more.

   

   During his presentation, he shared a video of a director from one of the donation sites, that thanked a few of the students for their donation of toiletries they collected during a project in first grade. This prompted more students to be interested in bringing in spare toiletries they had at their house. Our collection is already growing rapidly! We plan to donate these to the SJ Family Shelter at the end of the year.

3. We read another book in class called The Teddy Bear by David McPhail. In this story the main character has ateddy bear that is very special to him and he brings everywhere. It becomes lost one day while his family is at a restaurant and a homeless man ends up adopting it and finding comfort it in. Students shared their experiences with losing a favorite stuffed animal, as well as feelings of sadness for the homeless man who finds it.
4. This week students had the opportunity to visit the SJ Family Shelter and personally deliver the blankets they made a few weeks before. It was a really powerful experience to see the facility.

   

   Students saw the area where residents can get clothes, eat their meals, study and read, and a room that a family may live

   

   They learned that residents can only stay for 90 days and that a case worker will help a family to find a new home and a job during that time. While we were there the students placed a couple of blankets on the beds of a resident who was moving in shortly. The students also shared that we were collecting toiletries. Visiting the shelter helped connect the collection and blanket project to reality. The director shared that their greatest needs are toiletries, new pillows, sheets and blankets, and picture and board books. The students were so excited to share they they could look at home to see what they could donate! When we got back to campus we talked about the experience and what the students learned or what surprised them. Many were surprised that the

   

   rooms for the families were so small and wondered how people could have jobs and/or cars and still become homeless. They shared that they were glad that residents could get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in the dining area. Many students shared that they wanted to help out more.

   

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In just 5 weeks, it has been an incredibly powerful start to our service learning in 2nd grade!