community day - AGLA

At Aveson, multiple grades are educated in multi-age classrooms, encouraging cooperation and synergy between students. This cooperation peaks one Wednesday every month on Community Day, when all our grades work together all day in student led educational activities. On Community Day every student becomes part of a “village” consisting of 2 students from each grade on campus. Older students mentor younger students and younger students get a chance to help their “big brothers and sisters” fulfill student-led expectations. Community Days largely focus on environmental, cultural and world issues affecting us and help us to remember that we all have a responsibility to make our world a better place. It's beautiful to see all of our amazing students working and learning together!

An example of a past community day:

6th grade Advisory
March 17, 2010
“DO SOMETHING” Commitment to Action

9:15-9:30
Sit in Circle
Review Agenda
WARM UP GAME - 3 NOSES

9:30-9:50 HUG TIME reading!
Read to the students “Hug Time” Discuss the “HUG” as an analogy for “ACTION”
“Hug Time” is an analogy for “Taking Action” Jules has decided that he must DO SOMETHING to make the world a better place, so he sets out to “hug the world”
He does some pre-planning (makes a list) and gathers together all the resources he'll need and sets out to meet his goal.
He fails, of course (only hugs 200 or so) but when he is at his darkest moment he is offered a “hug”
Translation: It takes a village........ We are stronger/smarter/more capable/more effective as a group than any one individual ever could be............. we must all commit to act (hug the world) if we are to reach our goals.

Possible Discussion questions:
What did you think of the book? Did you believe Jules could do it? (hug the world)
Where did Jules go? (list the places) Why didn't he just stay in his own city?
How do you think a “hug” can change the world?
Have you ever tried to do something as big as Jules? How far did you get?
What will happen next in the story of Jules?
MATERIALS: HUG TIME “BOOK”

9:50-10:00 HUG VIDEO
A short video asking, “How have you hugged the world?” material Video

10:00-10:30 (ART ACTIVITY) Random Acts of Kindness Art Activity
Jules' “HUGS” are random acts of kindness.
Each student is given a “card” -
On that card they come up with Random Act of Kindness and artistically represent them.
Village members work in pairs to create a “Kindness card”
Villages can decide how to place the cards on the poster board they receive. (In the shape of a peace sign, the shape of a person, scattered about, etc) Posters will be displayed at C.O.L.
Discussion: What is a random act of kindness? Can you think of a time you performed a random act of kindness? Can you think of a time you received a random act of kindness?
MATERIALS: Posterboard. Cards(20) Markers. Crayons.

10:20-10:30 SNACKS (overlap)-p- (hot/cold scavenger hunt)
A scavenger hunt activity will have the students searching for their snack. See below
Materials: Check Mix. Marshmellows. Chocolate Chips. Juice. Cups

10:45-10:55 (EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY) Learn about your “PEN PAL”
Each village will be provided a “Pen Pal” from an International School.
A map (to color) is provided. A list of fun facts is provided at
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Places/Find/
Materials: Map. Fun Facts List.

10:55-11:20 (WRITING ACTIVITY) Send a “HUG” to “PEN PAL”
Each village will be given a large self addressed stamped envelope. As a village, send a “HUG” to the International School you have been assigned.
Each student should create a “HUG CARD” to be placed in the manilla envelope.
The goal is to receive a response from the school for each “HUG” sent.
Materials: Manilla Envelope. Hug Cards. Pencils

11:20-11:50 Lunch with Your Village
Clean up and circle up. Circle whip with reflection questions. (High/ Low - thumb)

11:50-12:30 Lunch Recess

12:30-1:30 Return to Advisory

ADVISORS
Final Reflection in Advisory circle (highs and lows)