Upper Elementary Homework Due May 22, 2018 - Community Work

As you know, being a part of a community is a huge part of our work here at Great River.  We work to support each other in our classroom community, build connections with other levels, and go out into the larger community around us to learn new things.  

We are approaching the end of our year and many students are very focused on crafting big work to show their learning.  Alongside this academic work, we would like to give you time to do community work as well.

Plan some work to do in your neighborhood, city, or larger Twin Cities community.  This work should support those in need, improve the environment, or somehow make your community a better place for others.  Examples might include: organizing a neighborhood trash clean up, planting flowers for a neighbor, serving food at a free meal organization, collecting supplies needed for an animal shelter, cutting buckthorn with a local public land trust, or even visiting your local city council, representative, or other elected official to advocate for a cause about which you care deeply.  

Write an essay describing your experience.  Give details about what you did and why you chose that work for yourself.  Include who you believe your work benefitted and how doing the work affected you.  Please include photographs if you can. Quotes from others you worked with or served would make your work more engaging - consider interviewing others as you work.  

This is our final homework of the school year.  You have two weeks to organize and carry out your work because you may need to coordinate with your family and involve others.  Please take time early to make a plan so you are not rushing at the last minute to do this work. Well planned and thoughtful community work is usually more beneficial to others and more satisfying to the worker.  

Essay Basic Requirements:

Your essay must be edited for basic grammar, spelling, and mechanics.  It is okay to ask an older student or an adult to help you with these edits.  Your essay must be organized into paragraphs with topic sentences, and it must be legible.  

Fourth grade students should write at least three paragraphs, fifth grade students should write at least four paragraphs, and sixth grade students should write at least five paragraphs.