I read this post today and it made me ponder the beautiful link between our inquiry-based learning and power for good. I thought I would pass it along.
There Is No Honest Rest: All the Things I Would Rather Be Than Good
Author: laurielprice
Mulch Donuts
What feels “good, helpful, itchy and pokey” all at the same time?
Making “mulch donuts!”
The third graders from Ms. Hunger’s class spent the morning of MHCSD out behind SPARC, helping the native plants thrive by filling and hoisting buckets of mulch to flagged plants and then creating a “mulch donut” around the plant. Margaret, from Clean Water Services, explained how helping native plants improves water quality by supporting the ecosystem along the water. When asked why this was considered “service,” the children replied, “ It helps keep the water clean by providing shade” and “so animals can live by the water.”
I’m So Happy to See You Today!
A year ago while running through the neighborhoods near OES, Missy Smith and I passed by a house with a young boy, around 4 years old, standing out front. We both gave the standard wave and “hello!” But what came back to us, projected across the lawn, was the most joyful “I’m so HAPPY to SEE YOU today!” This young boy made our day with his words. In less than five seconds, he said something in such a way, that a year later we find ourselves still talking about it. Are words Service? Can we learn from them? One young boy taught me that the answer is YES!
The Sort of Things the Giving Chapel Brings
I lingered after Giving Chapel and I am so glad that I did. What I witnessed was beautiful and humbling, all in one. A masterful thing happened under the instruction of Chaplain Jenny: the great sort of things. Each pew was marked with a sign: 6-8 Year Old, Diapers, Legos, Small Stuffed Animals, etc. Then, the fifth graders were asked to look carefully through the bags and get their belongings to the appropriate pew. Parents were asked to help clarify and sort and re-bag. I was struck by the thoughtful contents of each artfully adorned bag.
Pull Saws, Drill Bits, Lag Bolts and Crescent Wrenches…
These were the tools of the third grader doing service in Mrs. Hunger’s garden during the week of Homecoming. Mr. Arensberg brought a few third graders out at a time to assist with work in the garden. He also supplied the coveted tools. During what might have been the only hour it didn’t rain on Monday, everyone worked on those old garden beds. Mrs. Hunger has a vision that each child will have a plot of their own, within which they can experiment. Mr. Arensberg hoped to make progress towards this goal during this week’s service of our OES “home.”
Not So Empty Bowls
Ingredients:
132 bowls, Seven Paint Colors, Paint Brushes, Second Grade Artists, Fourth Grade Artists, Upper School Volunteers, Faculty Volunteers, Parent Volunteers
Master Chef: Ms. Synan-Russell
Infuse Artists with sense of service and feelings of hope at Bell Tower Ceremony. Give each artist a bowl, seven colors to choose from and one brush. Play some beautiful music and observe with wonder while 132 bowls come to life. Brush with a clear glaze and bake in the kiln. Sell for a good cause.
OES Lower School Service Learning 