Dec. 10, 2008: Giving Your All

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Use newspaper words and pictures to create "thinking of you" cards for senior citizens who live in nursing homes. Share your cards with a family member or friend.

2. Pretend you are going to help clean up a local park. Find items in the newspaper that you could take along to help with the cleanup. Paste your items on a piece of paper. Explain why you chose each item.

3. With a friend, go through the newspaper. Circle in red stories about situations where you could help by donating your time. Circle in blue situations where you could help by donating items such as clothing or equipment. Circle in green situations where you could help by donating money.

4. Find a newspaper story about an individual who donates his or her time to help others. Draw three circles on a piece of paper. In one circle, list the good things the person did to help others. In the second circle, list any objects or supplies the person used. In the third circle, write down what the person says about why he or she likes to help others.

5. Find a newspaper story about a problem that could be helped by volunteers. Design a plan to solve the problem. Make lists to show the type and number of volunteers you want, the tools and equipment you¹ll need, what you will have to buy, and how you will encourage people to help with the problem. Write a paragraph describing how you will solve the problem.

This week's standards:

• Students demonstrate respectful and caring relationships in the family, workplace and community. (Family and Consumer Science: Interpersonal Relationships)
• Students demonstrate appreciation for diverse perspectives, needs and characteristics of individuals and families. (Family and Consumer Science: Family)
  
  

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)