Second
grade focuses on acts of kindness as a way of building their character
muscles. Caring, cooperation, and citizenship are just a few areas of focus.
Within each specialty area, students review how they can strengthen their
character through specific types of acts of kindness. Most importantly, the
acts of kindness they choose should positively change the feelings of those
around our students.
After the horrific earthquakes in Haiti,
our students had the special opportunity to help those in most need. The
children were especially touched to know that all of the change they collected
went to providing clothing, food, and medical supplies to the victims.
Another project that our students are
involved in takes place on a daily basis in our lunch room, snack times, and
homes. Second grade collects mylar wrappers from food and drink pouches and
sends them to an organization called Terracycle. Terracycle uses the wrappers
to make new products and keeps that amount of trash out of our landfills.
Second grade spends a great deal of our school year learning about energy
conservation, recycling, and Earth care. Our trash that is sent in helps
support our efforts to care for the Earth.
Students in second grade also do a school
service by creating and maintaining the school garden. Each year, we weed and
spruce the landscaping islands, clean and maintain the pond, and plant new
plants each spring. With the student involvement in our garden, a greater
appreciation of nature and our schoolyard is created.
During Project Day this year, our class had the
special opportunity to visit St. Joseph's Carmelite Home in East Chicago. We
delivered toys and coats that were collected throughout the school. We also
brought hot cocoa packets to the home. Our favorite part was being able to
play with the children who live there. Some students read books to the
children, had races across their gym floor, and played ball. We bonded so
well with the children that we hated leaving. Sharing this morning with the
children was such a rewarding experience for all, children and adults alike.
(Check out photos from this amazing opportunity in our "Special Visit" link.)