Title of Project: Empty Bottles Grade Level: 6-8 Number of Students Participating: Contributed by: Teacher: Edith Marcum School: Hopkinsville Middle School District or County: Christian County Schools Overview/Description of Project: This unit help students understand the issue of hunger in their community by working at the local Salvation Army to prepare a meal. They will also sponsor a soup and bread dinner to raise money for the organization. Goals: To help students understand: -the needs of people in the community -stereotyping -how to gain respect for themselves and others -the steps involved in crating a soup bowl from clay -how the Salvation Army operates -the step involved in preparing and cooking a meal for the Salvation Army Core Content Areas: Portfolio Opportunities: Writing: (1) reflective narrative about the project, (2) paper about the issue of hunger Academic Expectations Addressed: Communication/Math Skills: 1.2, 1.3, 1.11 Students read literature about the issue of hunger. They write about their experience working at the Salvation Army and with the project as a whole. Social Studies: 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 Students learn how their government attempts to help hungry people. Through their work at the Salvation Army, they learn to interact with people different from themselves. They learn how they, as citizens, can take responsibility for feeding hungry people in their community. Arts and Humanities: 2.22, 2.23 This project provides students with the opportunity to learn the art of ceramics and working with clay. Practical Living: 2.33 Students learn about the services provided by the Salvation Army. Self Sufficiency: 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.7 Working at the Salvation Army and helping to raise money for hunger in their community helps students improve their self-concepts. They use resourcefulness and creativity in developing their project. Responsible Group Membership: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 Students work cooperatively in preparing and serving the meal at the soup kitchen, as well as at the soup and bread dinner. They learn to be more caring and responsible toward people less fortunate than themselves. Thinking about Problem-Solving: 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 Students use creativity and develop decision-making and problem-solving skills through this project. Integration of Knowledge: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 Students learn to look at the issue of hunger from multiple perspectives. They use their existing knowledge throughout the project and continually develop new knowledge about the subject matter they are studying. PARC MODEL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE PREPARATION: STEP ONE: 1) In language arts, discuss the issues of hunger in the community. Identify private and governmental agencies that help people who cannot afford food. 2) Begin reading the book December Stillness. 3) In art class, distribute the clay and discuss techniques used in creating a bowl. STEP TWO: 1) In language arts, brainstorm local agencies that deal with hunger. Have students write a paper on the causes, effects and other issues dealing with hunger. Discuss how the Salvation Army helps feed hungry people in the community. Make arrangements for ht students to visit the Salvation Army to serve a meal. 2) Talk about other ways to help the Salvation Army. Discuss the idea of sponsoring a dinner where students can raise money to give to the Salvation Army. Set a date for the dinner and make invitations for students, parents, and friends. The dinner will be cooked at the completion of this project. 3) Continue reading and discussing December Stillness and how it relates to people today. Discuss the issue of stereotyping hungry people. 4) In art, have students finish the bowls. Also fire and glaze the bowls.
ACTION: STEP ONE: 1) Take the students on a trip to the Salvation Army. Involve the students in preparing and cooking the food for the meal, serving the clients, and cleaning up afterward. STEP TWO: 1) Have students organize their soup and bread dinner. Distribute the invitations and purchase the food to be prepared. 2) Prepare the soup and bread dinner for family and friends, with everyone encouraged to give donations to the Salvation Army. Students will be given this opportunity to eat out of the clay bowls they made. REFLECTION: 1) After the trip to the Salvation Army, have students discuss what they learned and how they learned and how they felt about serving the meal to the hungry people in their community. 2) Discuss the differences in preparing the meal for family and friends compared to preparing food for the Salvation Army. 3) Have students write a narrative about their feelings toward the entire project. 4) Have students answer the following prompt: You are an advocate for hungry people in your community. You are making a speech to the community to increase awareness of this issue. Begin by listing the causes of hunger. Explain how hunger affects people, both emotionally and physically. List and describe agencies in your community which address hunger issues. CELEBRATION:
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