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My 9th grade physical science class conducted a unit on recycling. Students learned how a few simple choices on disposal of unneeded items, or garbage, can make an impact on the future condition of the Earth. I then used the Lions Club Share Your Vision video, and the class took this (eyeglass recycling) on as a community project. The video immediately gave visual (pardon the pun) proof of how recycling helps all of us, and that there is more than one way to recycle.
In turn, students’ interactions with parents and other adults fostered even more ideas, bringing the school into the home. Seeing the joy on the faces of the receivers of the glasses in the video had great impact, leaving the students with no doubt of their responsibility to help those less fortunate. They were also forced to listen to, consider, and respect the ideas of fellow classmates, work as a team, and problem-solve as a unit.
Sherry Gillum
Hope Christian Academy
Kissimmee, Florida
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After viewing Share Your Vision with my junior high student council group, they planned a campaign to collect glasses to donate to the Lions Club. But it didn’t stop there…the student body so enjoyed being on the giving end that they looked for other avenues of community service. That was two years ago, and they have since stocked food bank pantries, collected clothes and toys for shelters, and more. Those former middle-schoolers have gone on to our high school where they tutor migrant children, cleared debris from Hurricane Charley, and are now active in raising funds for tsunami relief. It all started with a video on sharing…what a great life lesson taken to the heart of a middle schooler!
Robin Shipp
Princeton Christian School
Princeton, Florida
After receiving the wonderful program, The World Needs You. Volunteer!, funded by Lions Clubs International, I asked a 5th-grade class in my school if they would be interested in learning about volunteering. They watch the video and caught on to the volunteer spirit. They decided to clean up an empty lot in the neighborhood and we were able to integrate Lions clubs with the Co-nect Community and public speaking curriculum.
The lot was cleaned on Earth Day, April 28, 2004. Students made t-shirts and a poster that was hung on the lot’s fence to let the community know what they were doing. We were able to rent rakes, shovels, brooms and garbage pails through the Jersey City Incineration Authority. After our cleanup, one of the students made a speech about volunteering and being a champion.
In closing, I would like to sincerely thank you for giving the students a sense of pride. In my five years working in schools, I have never heard students express such a sense of ownership and accomplishment in their community.
Nicole Adler, RN
Whitney M. Young Jr. Middle School
Jersey City, New Jersey
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I have been using VPW material for several years in my classroom of students ages 11-17 who are "in crisis.” One of the techniques that I use to motivate my students is to give them the responsibility of being a big brother or sister to one of the younger students (ages 3-8) in another classroom in our school. The Jelly Belly Factory Tour video presents the perfect opportunity for my students to mentor their little brothers and sisters, using both math and science skills.
Some of the math objectives that we can cover with activities following the video are colors, counting and sorting. In science we address the quadrants of taste on the tongue. We usually wrap up the lesson with blind taste tests to see if we can taste while holding our noses and then by creating our own recipes.
The activities are fun and yummy too and the sense of pride that my students gain by stepping outside of themselves and helping others is immeasurable.
Linda Locklear
DHS Regional School, Ocean Campus
Toms River, New Jersey
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