Activity Bags for Hospitalized Children

Following a teacher-led discussion on community civic participation, 20 fourth-grade students decided they wanted to make a positive contribution in their community. The students brainstormed various community organizations as potential candidates and decided to work with the local Children's Hospital to create activity bags for children who were receiving long-term convalescent care. The project began with a letter writing campaign to solicit local businesses for donations. The students also wrote press releases to local newspapers, and articles for the school newsletter. The students designed and distributed posters on the school grounds and presented regular announcements on their school intercom system. Once the donations streamed in, the materials were separated into age-appropriate groups and assembled into the activity bags. Students then collaborated with the local troop of the Boy Scouts of America to deliver the bags to the Children's Hospital. The students addressed the English-Language Arts Content Standards throughout this service-learning activity.