Students at Sashabaw Middle School donated about 1,209 toys, books, clothing, and food for families in need.
Challenged to “fill those stockings” as a Academic Service Learning project, the sixth and seventh graders’ donations filled the middle of a school gym Friday, as students completed their work with musical performances and presentation to Lighthouse Emergency Services – Clarkston.
“It’s amazing, what you’ve put together,” said Connie Stapleton of Lighthouse North. “I can’t tell you how much it will be appreciated.”
Items were collected into several age divisions.
Distinct from community service projects, Academic Service Learning also includes curriculum work for students.
Sixth-grade language arts students learned about others’s needs through reading nonfiction stories and creating skits, commercials, games, songs, and children’s books.
In seventh grade, language arts students researched statistics about people in need in our county. They produced posters, banners, and signs for display throughout our building. They also wrote letters to local businesses.
In math, sixth graders learned about the cost of living for an average child. They considered their food, energy, housing, and nonessential costs, and compared/contrasted them with global data.
In seventh grade math, students analyzed their cost of living, and created circle graphs and whisker plots.
“It’s a marvelous thing for Lighthouse ? this is what the holiday spirit is all about,” said Sue Wilson, district Learn and Serve Grant coordinator, Sashabaw Middle School.
“What an amazing sign of how generous kids and families are in Clarkston,” said Sashabaw Principal Linda Foran.