MUSIC
Program Names
Northern Elementary, Newby Elementary and Smyrna Primary Rutherford County
MUSIC
Description:
This program provides students with information on music, feelings
and health. The students are conducting a library search to explore
how music affects one's feelings and health. Students are learning
several psychology terms as well as gaining a better understanding of the
elderly. They are preparing a 20-30 minute musical presentation for
performance at a local nursing home. They are composing a simple
pre- and post-test to compare residents' feelings and reactions.
Age of Participants:
5 - 11
Issue Areas:
Education
Human Needs
Music
Description:
Our program is KWIC (Kids Working to Improve our Community: Inside
and Out). Students will learn with teachers, parents, and artists
and use writing, music and drama to: brighten our communities; raise funds
for families and children in need; build bridges with Spanish speaking
community members; and develop positive relationships with elderly citizens.
They will also continue to care for the gardens and hanging flower baskets
they created in a service learning project this year.
Age of Participants:
5 - 11
Issue Areas:
Environment
Public Safety
Human Needs
Music
Description:
Program Goals - The goals of the project which can be addressed through
the implementation, if the Service Learning Program in the school and community
include: -Increased self-confidence of those third and fourth grade
students who will participate in the program -Strengthened home/school
connection in the homes of those children involved in the project
-Provision of positive role models for young children through the
examples set by third and fourth grade students engaged in reading activities
-Provision of real life learning opportunities for third and fourth grade
students to practice newly acquired skills by extending student learning
beyond the classroom to meet a community need -Increased awareness
on the part of the at-risk families regarding the importance of environmental
education and recycling which will allow them to be active participants
in community goals -Enhanced problem-solving and decision making
skills of third and fourth graders through membership on the steering committee
and through the implementation of program activities -Enabling third
and fourth grade students to become aware of the essential elements of
Service Learning and to increase their ability to make meaningful contributions
to their community -Recognition of the accomplishments and efforts
of all those involved in the Service Learning Projects through awards,
recognition and incentives. Program Activities - The Service Learning
Program will be introduced at Smyrna Primary School in the third and fourth
grades. Initially, a training session will be conducted for all third
and fourth grade students to make them aware of the purpose of the Service
Learning Programs, the goals and specific activities designed to meet those
goals. On-going training will be conducted prior to each individual
activity which will focus on the goals of that activity. Elementary
students will also receive information regarding appropriate expectation
for those preschoolers with whom they will work. Reading Committee
Activity: Third and fourth grade students who have low performance
or achievement in reading will be paired with an Even Start preschooler,
toddler or infant for the purpose of reading stories aloud. The classroom
teacher will coordinate with the Family Resource facilitator to develop
a weekly schedule for short daily sessions. Students will be able
to increase their reading skills as they choose books from a selected list.
Classroom teachers will guide students in questioning, predicting and orally
discussing the story with the preschooler. These reinforcement activities
will increase the older children's reading comprehension skills while providing
preschoolers with a role model for reading as well as increasing their
exposure to written word. Activity: Each week, with the assistance
of the Chapter 1 or Special Edition teacher, third and fourth graders serving
as teachers, will plan an appropriate follow up activity to the book they
read to an EvenStart participant. The student may choose activities
such as art, music, flannel board or movement. Environmental maintenance
of a school area. The children will decide what can be done to improve
the appearance of their assigned area and then develop a plan to accomplish
that goal. Recycling Committee - To enhance the children's awareness
of real world issues, the environmental education program already well
established as Smyrna Primary will be extended to the EvenStart program.
Students who have been recognized as the top recycling students in each
third and fourth grade class will be asked to assist the Even Start students
in recycling. EvenStart families will be the guest of these students
at school-wide recycling assemblies. Third and fourth grade students
will be allowed to develop leadership skills while increasing their positive
impact on the local community. Toy/Book/Clothing Drive - Older students
will be asked to organize and staff a clothes, book and toy drive designed
to provide a resource that will be available to families and children in
need. This after school or Saturday activity will be conducted with
the assistance of staff of Smyrna Primary School. The children, with
the assistance of classroom teachers, will design and write a newsletter
to make the community more aware of the program. They will then work
the day of the drive to sort, size and organize donations. The donations
will then be available to families in need of clothes, toys or books.
Grand Friend Project - A fourth grade class will make three visits to a
local nursing home to visit "grand friends". Prior to the visit,
the class will make seasonal decorations to take to the nursing home.
The nursing home staff will assist in displaying art work, favors, etc.
The class will visit, read, and sing with the "grand friends". New
Kid Survival Kit - The third and fourth grade class design a 'new kid kit'
to be given to each new student who enters Smyrna Primary School.
They will write 'tips for success at our school', include schedules, process
for lunch money, etc. When a new student enters, the office staff
calls a third or fourth grade student to the office to meet the student
and introduce new student to the support staff at the school. Open
House Book Fair - The third and fourth grade Steering Committee and Advisory
Board organize a Book Fair to occur on the evening of Smyrna Primary School
Open House. The students work the book fair and serve as guides for
the open house. All books are half price (an agreement made with
vendors). The students will design flyers and announce that this
is open to anyone in the community. Displays of Service Learning
Projects will be located in the lobby and hallways. These projects
serve as the core of the service learning for the 1996-97 school year.
We allow students on the Steering Committee and Advisory Board to initiate
innovative projects which are approved by classroom teachers.
Age of Participants:
5 - 11
Issue Areas:
Environment
Public Safety
Human Needs
Music