SUPPORT DRAW

Have you ever known anyone who has suffered from a natural disaster? How did it affect them and the places where it happened? Here in the midwest, and specifically the Greater Detroit area, we might only hear about the devastating effects of tsunamis, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions that frequently happen around the world. Tornadoes, flooding, and wildfires are more commonplace to us, but all specifically called 5th graders to action as shown in their Expedition study of natural disasters.

The use of multimedia research and predetermined text sets gave students the opportunity to write opinion essays and record podcasts about the repercussions of natural disasters. As students cited the evidence, they convincingly legitimized the need to be prepared for natural disasters and were able to draw conclusions around the fact that it’s best to gradually prepare items for your family’s emergency preparedness kit, so that you won’t be stuck out of luck when they do strike.

Thematically, students were exposed to a whole slew of genres to gain and make connections over points of view around this subject matter. Eventually, we found DRAW or Disaster Relief At Work in the field to support.  Located in Pontiac, MI., this non for profit nationwide agency supplies ultimate survival buckets to those who have suffered the repercussions of natural disasters. 

Through our service project, we raised over a thousand dollars selling baked goods for their disaster relief efforts.  Help us to continue our Celebration of Learning by donating your time and talent or money to their cause because no one should ever have to survive a natural disaster alone.  Go to: 

https://drawbuckets.org/ to extend our work to support DRAW’s worthy cause.