First and Second Graders Take Action for Tanzania

Mrs. Cid and Ms. Corrie's students collect toys for the Phil Simon Tanzania Project

Posted: Wednesday, February 19, 2014

"Helping others is a great way to begin the new year. Teaching our children the fulfillment of helping others and learning about our vast world and cultures is an excellent way to start the year." Mrs. Cid and partner teacher Ms. Corrie and their first and second graders sent this bit of inspiration to parents as they began what Mrs. Cid called a "mini take action."

"We asked our kids and parents to find one or more small toys that could be donated to a child in Africa. Sort through toy bins and collections at home and find a few items. Make a bracelet, spend a small amount of allowance or piggy bank money to bring in something that can be a part of our mini-take action project."

In typical Aveson fashion, kids and parents responded with great enthusiasm. Mrs. Cid's classroom was overflowing with donations.

Mrs. Cid was invited by her good friend Dr. Kim Shriner to help with a special project. In mid-February, Dr. Shriner embarked on a journey to Africa with her group, the Phil Simon Tanzania Project (PSCTP). According to the PSCTP website, “For the last 12 years, PSCTP has been providing medical, surgical, academic, social work and infrastructure services to the East African communities of Arusha, Kisongo Village and Ngorongoro. This year, Dr. Shriner has assembled one of the project’s largest teams to make the 10,000 mile journey to the clinics in the shadows of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro.”

Dr. Shriner carefully selects a specialized team of people. This year’s team included a pediatrician, who saw an estimated 300 children in the clinics and surgical wards during this trip.

As a part of the project, PSCTP needed small toys that could be packed and taken along as gifts for the children who will be seen at the clinics visited. Dr. Shriner gave Aveson the opportunity to volunteer and support the project by overseeing the collection of toys for the Tanzanian children.

Mrs. Cid's students also used this opportunity to develop themselves as global learners. They Investigated the World of Tanzania by learning all about Tanzania’s geography and culture. Tanzania is among the poorest nations of the world, and by investigating its culture Aveson students developed a global perspective and asked thoughtful questions about their take action efforts. This project might even spark future action locally. Finally, students communicated their ideas through discussion and reflection.

Mrs. Cid is very proud of her students and her community. Look for more on this group’s story of community activism and global outreach at our end of the year Celebration of Learning.

To learn more about the Phil Simon Clinic Tanzania Project, please visit their website.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Follow your Food Lessons Sprout in the Garden

Our third through fifth grade Independent Studies Program (ISP) students recently participated in a unique pilot curriculum called Follow Your Food. The curriculum, developed by parent volunteer, Michelle Shipton-Cook, gets children involved with growing their own food and experiencing what it’s like to enjoy it on their own plate. The idea is to engage students in the process of food production and create a connection between growing healthy food and eating healthy food.

Last fall, students were given a plot in the ASL garden where they each chose a food to plant. They watched their food grow and tended to it, then harvested it and delivered it to the kitchen for use in the Aveson lunch program. Aveson chefs demonstrated to ISP students how food is stored, cleaned and cooked. The kids and teachers enjoyed a taste test of green salad and sautéed greens following the demonstration.

“Follow Your Food is a project that embodies Aveson’s healthy living focus and helps children develop a life-long outlook,” said Shipton-Cook. “By practicing sustainable urban agriculture in the Aveson garden, our kids learn the importance of balanced eco-systems and biodiversity in an environment that they can interact with personally, and they obtain skills to use in the world beyond their elementary school experience.”

Follow Your Food is just one of many garden projects that ASL volunteers are embarking on with our kids. Many classes participate in a gardening activities that give students the chance to develop their math and literacy skills in a project setting. Students measure plant seeds and determine when to thin seedlings, they use interactive notebooks to describe the process in a short essay and they use art to depict what they learned. Kids also use gardening lectures to practice note taking skills, learn how to listen and follow instructions, learn scientific observation and understand how to communicate results.

For more information on ways you can volunteer during your child’s garden time, contact your classroom advisor or parent liaison.