By Heather Lusk
Counting money, measurements, writing and social studies are all things that children in first grade will learn. But Carolyn Moore’s students are learning these skills in a practical way that will also help others.
While learning about community helpers, Moore’s Pleasant View Elementary first graders decided to raise money to buy food for the Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership by sponsoring a hot chocolate stand.
“They made the signs, they’re learning to count quarters, they have to measure liquid to make the hot chocolate,” Moore said. “We even integrated writing skills to ask for donations.”
As a result of the student’s letters, Meijer donated a gift card to purchase cups, straws and marshmallows. Trader Joe’s donated 240 packets of organic hot chocolate.
The students even wrote to the town council for suggestions on appropriate locations for a hot chocolate stand in January. Town council president Jeff Papa helped facilitate holding the fundraiser at Greek’s Pizzeria and owner Mike Cole offered to donate 15 percent of his profits during the event.
During the Jan. 24 sale, students formed an assembly line to create each drink (customized with or without marshmallows), kept track of orders and made change. After three hours they had sold 116 cups and had raised a total of $356.19 before the final contribution from Greek’s.
Moore and other Zionsville teachers have been inspired to bring attention to the community after attending a project-based learning in-service last summer. Moore brought these ideas to her classroom and asked her students for ideas on ways to become community helpers.
The students brainstormed ways to give back and narrowed down four groups they would like to help and from whom they would like to learn: teachers, firefighters, police officers and animal shelters and veterinarians. The students held discussions with representatives from each group, and through this they learned that animal shelters struggle to feed animals that are often malnourished.
“It’s hard for shelters to afford high quality food, and the students really ran with that,” Moore said.
Last October during fire safety month, Moore’s class led a Gatorade-drive that resulted in 1,300 bottles being donated to the fire station. Students agreed that for their most recent project they shouldn’t ask for donations but should instead “work for this one,” according to Moore.
