Parkview Elementary Students Use Lessons to Help Classmates

Parkview Elementary School second graders transferred classroom lessons into a service project to benefit students at their school.

As part of their unit of instruction on money, the classes launched a schoolwide Change War, which lasted three weeks and brought in more than $1,300. As the Change War money came in, the students would count it to reinforce their lessons.

Teacher Melissa Johnson said that as part of their reading lessons at the same time, the students read a couple of books about people in need.

“It inspired the students to want to do something,” she said.

They decided to use the funds raised to create Summer Packs for Parkview students in need.

On Friday, Feb. 17, the second graders, their teachers – Johnson, Mary Holsten, Shawna Davidson, Kara Metzner and Andrea Watring – and parent volunteers went on a field trip to Equity Bank, where they learned about how money is handled, the difference between wants and needs, and the importance of saving; Dollar Tree, where they shopped for personal hygiene items, non-perishable food, books, school supplies and small toys to include in the packs; and McDonald’s, where they were treated to ice cream cones.

Then they returned to school, the students paired up and took turns selecting a dozen items to include in each of the more than 100 Summer Packs they created. The packs are being stored at the school and will be distributed to students at the end of the school year.

Second grader Clayton Tankersley said the process was a “whole bunch of fun.” He liked shopping because they could pick items for students who need help. Johnson said the experience was valuable for all of the students.

“It is awesome,” she said. “They really loved it.”

SUMMERPACKS1: Second graders Clayton Tankersley, left, and Sarah Miner consider which items they will include in a Summer Pack they are creating for a student in need on Friday, Feb. 17, at Parkview Elementary School. The second grade class organized a schoolwide Change War to raise the funds used to buy hygiene items, non-perishable food, books, school supplies and small toys.

SUMMERPACKS2: Raigen Hayworth, left, and Briyleigh Galloway select books to include in the Summer Pack they are building.

SUMMERPACKS3: Second grader Darian Buell packs food items into a Summer Pack she is helping create for a student in need.

SUMMERPACKS4: Parkview Elementary student Parker David looks over the items he has selected during his shopping trip Friday at Dollar Tree. The students also visited Equity Bank and McDonald’s.

SUMMERPACKS5: Second graders, from left, Reece Green, Abbi Diaz, Ivanna Cantadellarosa and Isaiah Alvarado are all smiles after making their purchases at Dollar Tree.