For Jamie's Sake

For Jamie's Sake

Grade Level: Middle school Grade 6-8

Number of Students Participating: 50 - 100

Contributed by:

Denise Donahue Kenton County 4-H Agent

Family Resource Leader

School:

Twenhofel Middle School

Woodland Middle School

Turkey Foot Middle School

District or County:

Kenton

Description of Project:

In the state of Kentucky there are about 7,269 children in Foster Care.
Children are removed from their homes often suddenly and not under the most pleasant circumstances. With this project 4-H youth will get a chance to make warm fleece blankets to help these children feel a small sense of security.
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Benefits for the students:

This project will help 4-H youth realize that there are other children that need help. Through this project they will gain leadership skills by planning and implementing this project. They will learn to work together as they plan their presentation for the group. They will learn to be selfless and compassionate to others.

Core Content Areas:

Social Studies

Goal 2: Students shall develop their abilities to apply core concepts and principles from mathematics, the sciences, the arts, the humanities, social studies, practical living and vocational studies to what they will encounter throughout their lives.
2.16 Students observe, analyze, and interpret human behaviors, social groupings, and institutions to better understand people and the relationships among individuals and among groups.
SS-06-2.3.1
Students will explain how conflict and competition (e.g., political, economic, religious, ethnic) occur among individuals and groups in the present day.
Practical Living
2.29 Students demonstrate skills that promote individual well-being and healthy family relationships. 2.33 Students demonstrate the skills to evaluate and use services and resources available in their community.
PL-06-1.1.1
Students will describe the importance of effective social interaction skills (e.g., respect, self-advocacy, cooperation, communication, identifying and being open to different perspectives and points of view, empathy, friendship).
PL-06-3.1.5
Students will identify and describe a range of resources and services provided by community agencies:
• Public health department
• Fire department
• Police department
• Family resource center

PREPARATION:

Gather information about Jamie's Sake.

Have a representative from Jaime's Sake visit with the 4-H Youth

Buy the supplies to make fleece blankets for the young children of Jamie's Sake

Compose letters for Parents explaining project.

Encourage youth to bring fleece for project


ACTION

Month 1: Youth will learn leadership principles and meet with Jamie's project representative

Month 2 Youth will begin to plan project and set dates for working on Blankets.

Month 3 Youth will come together to learn how to make the blankets.

Month 4 Youth will finish blankets and deliver them to Jamie's Sake.

Evaluation

This program will be evaluated by having the youth fill out written evaluations.

They will also compose a written paper on what they have learned from this project.



REFLECTION
The first month we will set up groups of 5 to 6 youth.Each group will research foster care and take turns sharing with the group what they have learned.As we move through the process the youth will gather abetter understanding of others in the community.


CELEBRATION

As a celebration for this event we will have a movie night at the extension office.We will have games, popcorn and prizes at our celebration

Community service video

Teacher resource

http://www.serve.gov
This website is a great site for information about community service. We all know the major places that you can volunteer like Red Cross, however there are several agencies that can use help. This site is great all you have to do is type in what type of community service you want to do and your zip code and a search will bring up all the opportunities in your area. I am very excited about using this site with our 4-H leadership Clubs. We focus on community service and sometimes the 4-H Youth have a hard time deciding on a service learning project. This is a great resource to share with the leadership committee to use as they work to decide what projects to bring to the club to vote as their service project.

How I am currently engaging learners

Wow this is my first blog.
I feel a little out of my comfort level since I am not the traditional classroom teacher.
I currently work for the University of Kentucky Kenton County Cooperative Extension Center as a 4-H Agent. I Teach in a variety of different ways. I teach programs in several Kenton County schools, evening and Summer classes. At the University of Kentucky 4-H Youth Program we really try hard to have programs that engage 4-H youth to learn skills they may not get in a traditional classroom setting. All of our programs incoporate hands on learning. I feel having something the youth can feel and touch engages them and enhances their learning. I choose to read The complete guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility to help improve our 4-H Leadership Program we currently have at the Kenton County Middle Schools. I hope to expand my knowledge and become more effective in engaging our 4H Youth.