Social Action Project Ideas

I've been thinking awhile about what I would like to do for my social action project.  I've come up with a few ideas. 

1) A girls group that would meet after school that would focus on healthy body image, nutrition, positive peer relationships, and exercise.  I've noticed that a lot of fifth and sixth grade girls have an unhealthy body image, which I think is greatly influenced by the media.  Of course, this would have to be approved by my administration before I would be able to do anything like this.  

2) I am science lead teacher for grades 4-6 at my school.  I was trying to think of something that I could do involving the science curriculum.  I was thinking of having a fun science night that promotes scientific thinking and critical thinking.  

In my thinking I also did some searching on the internet.  While doing that I came across this book, http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Guide-Social-Action-Choose/dp/1575420384/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235685642&sr=1-1  that I think would be a great read on this subject! :)

Class Blog 2/24/09

Comment:  It was interesting to learn about hidden vs. formal curriculum.  I never really thought about it this way and I like how the practice of a critical pedagogy disrupts these types of curriculum.  I really like how different types of schools (like montessori) allow students to explore their interests.  I think this is something that is lacking in public education today.  We are so standardized test focused that we tend to get away from what students are really interested in studying at a deeper level.  

Question:  How does one get away from standards based eduction and focus more on student interests?  I have tried to do this several times, but I always feel like more and more things are being thrown at me by my administration that "have to be done this way".  Its very frustrating.  I like to focus on my students learning styles, but it seems like that is not always possible.

Connection:  While talking about things that we would like to change about schools, my students mentioned how they thought that we shouldn't have to do social studies this year.  I asked why, and they stated that because we do not have to take a state test over it, why bother? I found this statement upsetting in many ways.  It is so important to know about our world, especially in society today, and the social studies curriculum is very interesting.  In our standards based society, even children think that its only important to learn what is going to be tested on.  I feel like exploration and learning are being ruined by this. 

Class Blog 2/17/09

Hi there! I'm not sure why this did not post earlier... I put it on here on Thursday. :(

Comment: I loved the "Sketch to Stretch" activity. I ended up using it with my kids for our light unit science review on Wednesday. My kids were really engrossed in the activity and quieted down and really concentrated on their work. I have a creative bunch so this was the perfect activity for them . I posted their work below. They are pretty good artists! :)

The "Save Our School" song was really neat and I think its amazing what kids can come up with. It just reinforces that kids can make change happen.

Question: Vivian, do you have the link for the Falls Church school that you did the podcasting with? I would like the share that with my technology specialist.

Connection: On Wednesday I was in a meeting at my school and we were told that podcasting was going to be the next big thing for Fairfax County Public Schools. It will be directly through our blackboard site. I told our technology specialist that I was learning about podcasting and had done one in a previous class. My class is going to be the test run class for our school so I am looking forward to that. I spoke about integrating in other subject areas by using the data from a cluster map and google analytics as well.

Comment/Question/Connection from class on 2/10/09

Comment:  I liked the idea about the bulletin board with the name cards where the kids can display items that they would like to share/discuss with the class.  I would like to try this in my classroom.   I think that relating any subject to what students are interested in makes it so much more meaningful.  The kids also recall what they learned down the road, which does not always happen when they cannot relate to the material.

 

Question: I love the way Vivian’s classroom was set up in the book, however my classroom is quite small.  How can one have these station/center areas when it is so crowded in a classroom? 

 

Connection:  I actually tried using this comment/question/connection strategy today while my students were presenting their biography book reports.  The responses to their peers were much more thought out and meaningful.  One student even related Abe Lincoln being shot to her father who had been shot as a connection.