"Change for Change"
by Liz Robinson
Posted June 7, 2012
Ms. Gartner’s kindergarten class spent the month of May working towards a great goal to support a very worthy cause. At the beginning of the month, Ms. Gartner and Mrs. Ranieri decided to have the class sponsor a child through World Vision Canada, and introduce the concepts of raising and donating funds to support children who are less fortunate – focusing on why it’s important to reach out to others in need.
Through lessons and discussions, Ms. Gartner shared her personal experience of sponsoring a child named Tito with her family for the past several years; the recent gift her family sent Tito - which was a new bike; and the impact that the gift would have on his life. The lesson linked with the classes unit on transportation and how because of the bike, Tito was now able to travel for work and make money to help his family and support himself.
Inspired by the story, the class then chose a five year old boy named William from Guatemala to sponsor for $40 a month. The class learned what $40 looks like, what could be given up to save the money needed for the sponsorship and how much each person would have to give to help.
Together they talked about how small changes could help save about $2 each per month to put towards the cause; Mrs. Ranieri decided she would have one less McDonald's coffee a month and Ms. Gartner decided to forgo one Starbucks coffee a month and donate that money to help William. Students also set up a “change for change” bucket outside of their classroom and took donations from parents, teachers and students. In total, the class far surpassed their $40 goal and raised an impressive $170.20 – enough to sponsor William for fourth months!
“We are so excited to be talking about how we can share with others, how important it is to give to those in need, and what great skills and practices these are building in our students,” says Ms. Gartner.
The class will be having a final raffle to raise funds on their 'graduation day', June 12, so that next year’s kindergarten class can continue to sponsor William. Thank you to all who contributed to this great cause and donations will continue to be accepted until the last day of classes, so stop by the Kindergarten room and share spare change if you can!
