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Students in Shawna Daniels’s biology class at M.E. Pearson Elementary engaged in hands-on projects to study different life cycles – from birth or germination through growth, reproduction and, ultimately, death. In one corner of Daniels’s classroom was a makeshift green house where basil, green pepper, and tomato plants rested under grow lights. Students tended to these various plants and then documented and analyzed their growth cycles. They also sketched, journaled, took photos, and compared the growth cycles of different plants.
Growing and tending to these plants was just one piece of Giving Growth, an inter-generational, service-learning program made possible through the coordinating efforts of Communities In Schools of KCK/Wyandotte County. As part of the Giving Growth program, three senior volunteers from the Bethel Neighborhood Center visited the classroom and served as mentors to the students. In addition to sharing with students their wisdom about gardening and life, the senior volunteers read the book Seedfolks to students. A story about how one elementary school girl planted a small garden that eventually turned into a neighborhood-wide garden, Seedfolks is relevant to the lives of students at M.E. Pearson Elementary School.
Mrs. Daniels affirmed that perhaps the most important thing these students learned from this unit was empathy. “The kids really love and care for the plants,” Daniels said. “And they got upset that some of the leaves are dying. But it’s just part of life. And these kids have seen a lot, done a lot, and been through a lot. So they’re able to adjust to the loss.”
At the end of this unit, there was a mutual exchange. Students gave the plants they grew to their senior volunteer friends, and the seniors gave the students one of their favorite recipes. Having students donate their plants to the volunteers is another way the Giving Growth program teaches students to have empathy – empathy for their elders. "I think this is huge, because the kids need to see that, some day, they’re going to be in the same place as the seniors,” Daniels said. “And there are lots of valuable lessons our students can learn from them."
Giving Growth was made possible through a grant written by AmeriCorps VISTA Jamie Thiessen and funded by State Farm Companies Foundation and allocated by Youth Service America. "Young people want to impact their communities; they have the talent, desire, and leadership to make lasting changes," said Ed Rust, Jr., State Farm chairman and CEO.
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Although the excitement of summer is still fresh on our minds, it's never too early to start planning for back-to-school! Being equipped for the first day of school is important for students, and with the economy presenting extra challenges for families across our state we want to make sure our students have the supplies that they need for a positive start.
Items of need include pencils, pens, notebooks, erasers, markers, crayons, backpacks, folders, binders, scissors, rulers, and glue.
Consider maximizing your impact by talking to friends and co-workers and starting a drive of your own!
If you are in the Lawrence area, supplies can be dropped off at our office, 2711 W. 6th Street, Suite E, and you can designate which affiliate you would like your supplies to go to. Otherwise, contact information for an affiliate near you can be found here.
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