On Tuesday, May 30th third-grade students at Union Academy showcased their ideas for advocating and creating partnerships with local non-profits. The 3rd Grade App Expo is the concluding event for a service-learning project which began in November.
According to Mrs. Catherine Rogers who leads this endeavor, students began the project by first talking about what is a "cause". Next they used technology to research local non-profits to learn who and how they help in the community. As a group they selected a non-profit and brainstormed a smartphone app that could help their cause. From there, students contacted their organization by email to gain more information about the cause and to receive feedback on their application idea. Student groups then pulled all of their research together to finalize their app idea, design a logo, and create a presentation for the App Expo.
This service learning project accomplishes a number of 3rd grade standards. Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are constant parts of the project. In addition, the project teaches students to practice self-advocacy, learn about social justice, and to develop as a citizen. Students feel empowered to be agents of change and they discover how they can work with others to create good. Group work nurtures skills in conflict resolution and negotiation. Most importantly, Apps For A Cause helps students learn the power of their own voice and their ability to solve real problems.
This year Union Academy has made an effort to increase service-learning projects, tying community service into academic curriculum. Mrs. Rogers' Apps For A Cause is an excellent example of how reading, writing, and social emotional learning can all be accomplished through the vehicle of helping others.
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