| The two stories below are meant to serve as an inspiration to us all. I hope to highlight more of these positive stories in future posts. If you have a story to share about how your students have impacted their community or school, please consider leaving a comment below so we can celebrate it with you. 😊 |
One important aspect of the 5th-grade theme IMPACT (explained HERE) is the desire to guide students into connecting personally with the theme and thinking about the impact they have in their own worlds. Our district GT goals for students includes presenting this question: “How can I have a positive impact on myself, others, and the world?”
Curricular frameworks such as Service Learning, Project-Based Learning, and Genus Hour have made it possible for students to explore their own ideas and while there can be many challenges associated with inquiry- and student-centered learning, the results can be inspiring!
Here are two stories from teachers that have inspired me and given me great hope for the future! I hope they will do the same for you.
FROM INVENTION PROJECT to PATENTED PRODUCT
When GT teacher Suzanne Horan introduced an invention project to her 5th-grade GT class, she hoped it would have a positive impact on her students’ learning, thinking, and empathy for others. However, one student designed something that made an even greater impact. It might have had something to do with the way that Suzanne introduced the project, and the fact that students knew the expectation was high.
“I want you to design something that would help others or help better the world,” Suzanne told her students., explaining that the inventions needed to be designs they would be proud to present to the community. Suzanne told them she would be recording video as they presented their projects on STEM night. Also, community members would be judging their inventions and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons would be awarded to students with the top designs.
Jane Moody was in Suzanne’s 5th-grade class and it was during her initial brainstorming that she thought of a family friend who was struggling with ALS, specifically dexterity issues that made it hard for him to write and eat. She created a prototype, a kind of moveable hand rest that would allow a person who cannot firmly grip things to perform fine motor activities. Long story short, Jane’s 5th-grade project has evolved and has been awarded several patents. She is now in high school, and she and her father continue to work on it in hopes that it may help others, and they’ve named it the Joe Holt 2.0 after their friend. This inspiring story was covered by our local news here in San Antonio:
SAVING SEA TURTLES
Ohio-based GT Intervention Specialist Taylor Halliday decided to teach a unit on sea turtles from World Wildlife Fund, seeing many connections to her students’ interests and her curriculum. “The Case of the Missing Sea Turtle activity was a perfect introduction, as it tied into our yearlong theme of mysteries,” Taylor explained. Her students became very engaged in the content and evolved into “sea turtle experts” who could discuss specific topics and issues in marine biology such as sustainable fishing practices and ecotourism.
In the culminating lessons, students wrote letters to family and friends about the importance of sea turtles. They were so passionate, they decided they wanted to do more. Taylor decided to modify the final assignment and rather than writing letters to the editor, her class started a campaign to adopt a sea turtle. They created posters, made class presentations, shared facts on the morning announcements at the school, and raised more than enough money to adopt a sea turtle through the sea turtle conservancy. The extra money collected (about $100) was given to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Hospital in Surf City, North Carolina where Taylor’s family vacations each year. This summer, visitor restrictions due to COVID prevented Taylor from delivering the money personally as she had planned, but she made sure they got the donation. When the staff learned that 3rd and 4th graders had raised the funds themselves, they decided to honor Taylor’s students by allowing them to be the first participants in their new “Adopt a Nest” program.
The class project was featured on the local news in their community and the WWF created this page on their website to highlight their accomplishments and enthusiasm. Taylor reflected, “Ohio is nowhere near the ocean, yet my students recognize that their actions have the potential to directly impact marine life in powerful ways.”
Many of you have similar inspirational stories, but perhaps the local media didn’t pick up on yours! Share it with us in the comments and we will applaud you! If you have photos and more to share, send a message and it could become part of a future post. Highlighting what your students have done for the good of others could be a strong motivator for all of us.