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Designed by the Professional Learning team at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education.
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Essential Question
What question will guide the project and learning?
Community Partners
What organizations and individuals will collaborate and enhance the learning experience?
Reflection
What opportunities are there for us to reflect on our academic and socio-emotional development?
Assessment
In what ways can we demonstrate what we have learned and how we have grown?
Exhibition
How and who will we celebrate our learning with?
Project Launch
What shared experiences will engage us in the content, skills, and mindsets of the project?
Core Content
What will we need to learn and practice in order to engage in the project?
Critique and Revision
How will opportunities for feedback and refinement be embedded in the project?
Product
What will we make, build, or do that will have an impact on us or the world around us?
In what ways can we demonstrate what we have learned and how we have grown?

(1) Students create a gratitude video message for community partners, incorporating phonics skills and demonstrating their understanding of key text details.
(2) Create a 'Thank You' card project where students use illustrations and text features to express gratitude, summarizing key ideas and supporting details from texts about community helpers.
(3) Organize a 'Superhero Storytime' where students dress up as superheroes and read aloud their written expressions of gratitude, using grade-level phonics and comprehension skills.
High School Grade  Project 4 weeks

Caring. Crusade: Acts of Kindness Challenge

Tiffany Larkins
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.3
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.3
+ 8 more
1-pager

Purpose

The project aims to cultivate empathy, gratitude, and thoughtfulness among high school students through interdisciplinary, hands-on activities. By engaging with community partners and creatively expressing appreciation, students will deepen their understanding of the impact of kindness in their community. This project encourages students to apply language arts skills in real-world contexts, fostering meaningful connections and personal growth.

Learning goals

Students will develop their ability to analyze and summarize texts, focusing on themes of empathy and gratitude. They will enhance their phonics skills and comprehension through creative expressions, such as video messages and illustrated cards. Through collaboration with community partners, students will engage in meaningful conversations, using standard English conventions to articulate their ideas clearly.
Standards
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.3 - Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1 - Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.3 - Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.2 - Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1 - Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.4 - Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.10 - With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.2 - Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.7 - Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.8 - Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.5 - Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text.

Products

Students will create a series of gratitude video messages for community partners, showcasing their phonics skills and comprehension of key text details. They will design and produce 'Thank You' cards using illustrations and text features to express gratitude, summarizing ideas from texts about community helpers. Additionally, students will write and perform a 'Superhero Storytime,' dressing as superheroes to read aloud their gratitude expressions, applying their phonics and comprehension abilities.

Launch

Kick off the project with a "Community Heroes Day" where students invite representatives from the Gary Fire Department, Gary Police Department, and Incandescent Transportation Services to share their experiences and stories. Students will engage in interactive Q&A sessions, using prepared questions to explore the roles and contributions of these community helpers. This event will set the stage for students to reflect on empathy and gratitude, inspiring their upcoming creative projects.

Exhibition

Students will host a Community Gratitude Showcase, inviting local partners to a celebration where they present their gratitude video messages and 'Thank You' card projects. During the event, students will perform their 'Superhero Storytime,' reading aloud their gratitude expressions while dressed as superheroes. This exhibition will allow students to engage with community members, fostering a deeper connection and appreciation for their contributions.
Plan
Week 1 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Activities
Activity 1: Community Heroes Day - Host representatives from the Gary Fire Department, Gary Police Department, and Incandescent Transportation Services for an interactive Q&A session. Facilitate a discussion on empathy, gratitude, and the roles of community helpers.
Activity 2: Text Analysis and Discussion - Students will read and analyze informational texts about community helpers, focusing on identifying central themes of empathy and gratitude. Engage in group discussions to summarize key details and ideas.
Activity 3: Gratitude Brainstorming Session - Guide students to brainstorm and draft initial ideas for their gratitude messages and thank you cards, drawing from the insights gained from the texts and Community Heroes Day.
Activity 4: Phonics and Grammar Workshop - Conduct a workshop to reinforce phonics skills and standard English conventions, supporting students in crafting clear and accurate written expressions of gratitude.
Deliverables
1. Deliverable 1: Drafts of gratitude messages and thank you card ideas, demonstrating comprehension of key text details and phonics skills.
Preparation 1. Prep Task 1: Organize and schedule Community Heroes Day, coordinating with community partners to join the session.
2. Prep Task 2: Curate a selection of informational texts about community helpers, ensuring they are grade-appropriate and align with the project themes.
3. Prep Task 3: Prepare guiding questions and discussion prompts for the Community Heroes Day and text analysis activities.
4. Prep Task 4: Develop materials and exercises for the phonics and grammar workshop, tailored to reinforce necessary skills for the project.
Week 2 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Activities
Activity 1: Gratitude Video Message Planning - Students will outline their gratitude video messages, deciding on key themes and specific community partners they wish to address. They will draft scripts, incorporating phonics skills and summarizing key details from their text analyses.
Activity 2: Thank You Card Design Workshop - Students will begin designing their 'Thank You' cards, using a variety of art supplies and digital tools. They will focus on integrating illustrations and text features that highlight their understanding of empathy and gratitude.
Activity 3: Superhero Storytime Script Writing - Students will write scripts for their 'Superhero Storytime' performance. They will practice reading aloud their expressions of gratitude, focusing on fluency and comprehension skills.
Activity 4: Peer Review and Feedback Session - Students will exchange their drafts (scripts and card designs) with peers for feedback. They will use provided criteria to assess clarity, organization, and the effectiveness of their gratitude expression.
Deliverables
1. Deliverable 1: Outline and draft of gratitude video message scripts, demonstrating phonics skills and comprehension of key themes.
2. Deliverable 2: Initial designs of 'Thank You' cards, showcasing integration of text features and illustrations.
Preparation 1. Prep Task 1: Gather and organize a variety of art supplies and digital resources for the Thank You Card Design Workshop.
2. Prep Task 2: Develop a feedback rubric for peer review sessions that focuses on the clarity, organization, and empathy in students' work.
3. Prep Task 3: Arrange a quiet space or schedule time for students to record their video messages, ensuring necessary equipment is available.
4. Prep Task 4: Prepare examples of effective video messages and card designs to inspire and guide students during their activities.
Week 3 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Activities
Activity 1: Video Message Production - Students will record their gratitude video messages. They will focus on clear expression, phonics skills, and summarizing key themes of empathy and gratitude identified in their scripts.
Activity 2: Thank You Card Finalization - Students will complete their 'Thank You' cards, refining illustrations and text features to ensure they effectively convey gratitude towards community helpers.
Activity 3: Superhero Storytime Rehearsal - Students will rehearse their 'Superhero Storytime' performances, practicing reading aloud with clarity and fluency. They will receive feedback from peers and teachers to enhance their presentations.
Activity 4: Reflection and Connection Session - Facilitate a discussion for students to reflect on the impact of their gratitude expressions on community partners. Encourage them to connect their work to the essential question of showing empathy and kindness.
Deliverables
1. Deliverable 1: Completed gratitude video messages, showcasing clear expression and phonics skills.
2. Deliverable 2: Finalized 'Thank You' cards, demonstrating effective use of text features and illustrations.
Preparation 1. Prep Task 1: Ensure availability of recording equipment and a quiet space for video message production.
2. Prep Task 2: Provide art supplies and digital tools for students to finalize their 'Thank You' cards.
3. Prep Task 3: Arrange a rehearsal space for 'Superhero Storytime,' and prepare feedback forms for peer and teacher reviews.
4. Prep Task 4: Develop reflection questions to guide the Reflection and Connection Session, linking activities to the essential question.
Week 4 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Activities
Activity 1: Community Gratitude Showcase Preparation - Students will organize and prepare for the Community Gratitude Showcase event. This includes setting up the venue, arranging the presentation order, and coordinating with community partners for their attendance.
Activity 2: Exhibition Rehearsals - Students will conduct full rehearsals for their 'Superhero Storytime' performances, ensuring clarity, fluency, and effective use of phonics skills. They will also practice presenting their gratitude video messages and 'Thank You' cards.
Activity 3: Community Gratitude Showcase Execution - Host the Community Gratitude Showcase event, where students present their gratitude video messages, 'Thank You' cards, and perform their 'Superhero Storytime' in front of community partners and peers.
Activity 4: Post-Event Reflection and Feedback - Facilitate a reflection session for students to discuss the impact of their project on themselves and the community. Gather feedback from community partners and peers, and encourage students to connect their experiences to the essential question.
Deliverables
1. Deliverable 1: Successful execution of the Community Gratitude Showcase with student presentations and performances.
2. Deliverable 2: Completion of a reflection journal entry where students articulate their learning experiences, personal growth, and the importance of empathy and gratitude in community interactions.
Preparation 1. Prep Task 1: Coordinate with community partners to confirm attendance and participation in the Community Gratitude Showcase.
2. Prep Task 2: Organize the venue setup, including seating arrangements, presentation equipment, and any necessary decorations.
3. Prep Task 3: Prepare a detailed schedule for the event, including time slots for each student presentation and performance.
4. Prep Task 4: Develop reflection prompts and feedback forms for students to complete after the event, focusing on their learning outcomes and the project's impact on the community.
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