Community Involvement

Idaho state standards for third grade social studies require students to learn about the community they live in. I was thinking of ways to incorporate students in active learning. Here are some ideas that I came accross:

1. Charity Carnival: Students can organize and put together a family-fun carnival in the school. All the proceeds can go to a local charity that the class chooses.

2. Backpack & Supply Drive: Students can hold a backpack and supply drive to give to those kids that may not afford such items. These items can be donated to kids in the community or even to kids in the school.

3. Visit the nursing home/veteran's hospital to experience local community members that can share stories from the past and how they've seen the community transform, for better or worse.

4. Walk around the school property or neighborhoods (with parental help) to pick up trash and learn about recycling in the community.

Students can keep journal entries (writing) that share their experiences with the functions. Students can also integrate math skills by counting proceeds, graphing the number of supplies earned or plot recycling items on a chart.

I wonder if this is an easy task to achieve in today's (low-budgeting) schools. It's worth a try....I think.