Supporting our Troops - Letters and Carepackages for Soldiers

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Content - Learning About:
American Symbols, Citizenship, Writing Letters

Service Need: There are citizens just like us who are fighting to keep our freedom and allow us to live in a place that remains free. It is important to show how much we care for these people and show them how vital they are.


Service Idea: Write letters and create care packages for soldiers overseas to enjoy

Preparation:
Study American symbols as well as the importance of being a good citizen and helping others. Speak to students about soldiers, what they do and why they are important.

Action:
Students and families will bring in various items from the list of needs that soldiers have provided in Parent Newsletter. Students will also write letters of appreciation to the soldiers to be included in the care packages.

Reflection:
Class will discuss their actions after the completion of the project and the care packages are made. How do they feel, what else could they do, how could they encourage other students/families to become involved.

Demonstration:
Students report their experiences to other students/families/faculty

Youth Voice and Choice:
The students are choosing what to write as well as other ways to help soldiers and their families.



Curricular Connections:

ELAKW1 The student begins to understand the principles of writing. The student
a. Writes or dictates to describe familiar persons, places, objects, or experiences.
b. Uses drawings, letters, and phonetically spelled words to create meaning.
c. Accurately prints name, all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet, and
teacher-selected words.
d. Uses left-to-right pattern of writing.
e. Begins to use capitalization at the beginning of sentences and punctuation
(periods and question marks) at the end of sentences.

SSKG2 The student will explain that a map is a drawing of a place and a globe is a model of the Earth.
a. Differentiate land and water features on simple maps and globes.
b. Explain that maps and globes show a view from above.
c. Explain that maps and globes show features in a smaller size.

SSKCG2 The student will retell stories that illustrate positive character traits and will explain how the people in the stories show the qualities of honesty, patriotism, loyalty, courtesy, respect, truth, pride, self-control, moderation, and accomplishment.



Skill Development:
Letter Writing
Sentence Structure
Handwriting Skills

Books:
Soldier by Simon Adams
Daddy is a Soldier by Kristen Hallowell
A Paper Hug by Stephanie Skolmoski

Community Contacts:
AnySoldier.com
Families of Students