6th grade students from Scarborough, Maine advocate for UNICEF
© Elizabeth Tietgen
During the 2006-2007 school year, Elizabeth Tietgen's 6th grade homeroom at Scarborough Middle School in Sarborough, Maine, undertook a service-learning project focusing on UNICEF and the needs of kids in the developing world. Meant to last a few weeks, it turned into a year long student-centered activity that had tremendous results.
The decision to research UNICEF resulted from a discussion in social studies class about the needs of children around the world. The students started by learning how UNICEF began, how it operates and how it uses its resources. They then researched the needs of children in different countries around the world, and how UNICEF meets those needs. Using the information they learned, creative displays were made showing UNICEF at work.
In January they then wrote, filmed and edited a public service announcement (PSA) bringing awareness of UNICEF's efforts, to the community. Many students willingly gave up time in homeroom, study hall and after school to work on them. The PSA's were eventually aired on the local cable television station.
In April, the information the class had gathered and the PSA’s were displayed at Scarborough Middle School's Annual Academic Festival. All who attended—including the superintendent, members of the school board and members of the Scarborough community—left both impressed and better informed about UNICEF and its work, helping the world’s children.
This project has carried over into the current school year. Many of Ms. Tietgen's former students, who have moved on to seventh grade, approached Ms. Tietgen last fall, and asked about participating in the annual Trick-or–Treat for UNICEF campaign. They encouraged friends to participate—about 30 students in total—creating a great success. Former students have even shared with Ms. Tietgen's current class what they learned about UNICEF. To them, UNICEF is more than just a project they "had to do." What they learned has made them responsible and very much involved citizens of their community and the world.
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