Heat and Texas go together. Hurricanes and Texas go together. Drought and Texas go together. Unfortunately, when you combine heat, drought, hurricane winds, and Texas you get wildfires.
Our wonderful state has been repeatedly scorched and singed this summer. It has been heartbreaking to hear of the many communities that have suffered great loss due to the fires. One of the hardest hit is just a short drive from here; Bastrop, Texas. Over 34,000 acres were burned and over 1,000 homes were lost.
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| Bastrop, Texas |
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| Smoke seen from space. |
During our social studies unit entitled, Communities, the students discussed the many characteristics of a good citizen. Inevitably, the discussion turned to the many communities in need throughout the state. Being the kind and generous ages of 6 and 7, our students eagerly embraced a relief effort to aid the community of Bastrop.
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| One of the members of my team is married to a local minister with connections to a church in Bastrop. He contacted them to get a better idea of what items would be most helpful. As a result, our second graders went into action and collected toothpaste, tooth brushes, baby wipes and soap. Our drive lasted a little over a week and was very successful. |
As I read through the reflective journals that my students wrote, it was heartwarming to think about what a lasting effect this project will have on them. They were all so very proud of the work they did, and have experienced the joy that comes from help others in need. I am adding some pictures I took on the last day of the drive. My little friends were busy boxing and labeling the donations. In order to protect the privacy of my students, I erased their faces. Unfortunately, you won't see the joy and excitement on their faces. But, enjoy the pictures anyway.
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| Boxing up baby wipes... |
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| Sorting through toothbrushes and toothpaste... |
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| Where is the end of the tape? |
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| Packing up bars of soap... |
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| Lining up boxes... |
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| A job well done! |
2 comments:
Wow, that's awesome! Little children really are so much more giving than we are at times!
like the idea of local community service that students can relate to on a personal level. Two thumbs up to the parents who supported the effort and to their wonderful teacher who followed through to provide a real positive experience to giving for the class.
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