Share the Gift...Change a Life Photo Album

We hope that you all enjoyed our "Share the Gift...Change a Life" project this year. Here is a collection of some of those special moments. We wish each and everyone of you a very properous life.

Love
Mrs Abrams, Mrs Dilmore, and Mrs Keck

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Our Share the Gift...Change a Life project is based on the book by Jim Stovall, "The Ultimate Gift". It tells the story of twenty-four-year-old Jason Stevens. When Jason learns of the death of his billionaire great uncle, Red Stevens, he is eager to receive his portion of the fortune. Like his other greedy, ungrateful relatives, Jason only cares about monetary gain. Red recorded a series of video messages that Jason must follow in order to receive his eventual inheritance. Through a year long journey, Jason discovers the importance of many life-changing gifts, forges meaningful relationships that he never knew could exist, and learns to give back to others in need.

This year our students will participate in exciting activities that address the 12 gifts of the story. Students will be exposed to each of the twelve gifts that Jason experiences. They will have the opportunity to address each theme and engage in activities and discussions that provide insight into their importance. Through the completion of the activities, hopefully students will gain an understanding of their ability to make a lasting positive impact and experience a rewarding year in our Math/Geography classes.

These include:

★ The Gift of Self/Gratitude
★ The Gift of Friends
★ The Gift of Giving (Service Project Component)
★ The Gift of a Day
★ The Gift of Learning
★ The Gift of Laughter
★ The Gift of Problems
★ The Gift of Family
★ The Gift of Money
★ The Gift of Work
★ The Gift of Dreams
★ The Gift of Love

Gift 1… "Gift of Self/Gratitude"

This lesson is designed to take our student’s experiences and frame them in such a way that they can begin to make their lives what they know they should be in order to create their own versions of “The Ultimate Gift”. In this way, we can all begin to Share the gift and Change our lives. Students created Gift bags, boxes, or baskets full of items that reflected their unique characteristics.

Gift 2…"The Gift of Friends" Freedom Walk

We have connected with "America Supports You" On Sept. 11, Greenwood Lakes Middle School faculty, staff, administration, JRROTC, and students joined with America Supports You, a Department of Defense program recognizing citizens support for our military and communicating that support to members of our Armed Forces and their families.

We received recognition from Allison Barber, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Students also wrote letters of encouragement to be sent to our military. Student designed a "postage stamp" to be affixed to the letters.

We also celebrated “Constitution Day” and “Veterans Day” with programs and lessons from the “History Channel”.

Gift #3… "Take the Lead To Help Others" Community Service Component

Using examples of the generosity demonstrated by the story's lead character, Jason Stevens, students are urged to learn to take on responsibility by designing and conducting a service project that allows them to give away
part of themselves to others in need.

Today...We have connected with local daycare centers and elementary schools to promote "Firstbook". We participated in Jumpstart "Read for the Record" and Dr Seuss's 50th birthday. Our participation in the Seuss celebration included making 1,100 birthday cards for the "Cat" to send to Random House Inc. as part of Project 236, a nationwide initiative to get books to disenfranchised students through the First Book project.

The goal of Jumpstart's Read for the Record campaign is to raise public awareness about significant disparities in early education.

How Jumpstart's Read for the Record Works...
Read the official campaign book, "The Story of Ferdinand".

We are members of Seminole County's Partners in Preservation...Students will participate in Air Potato Raid in January.

We also support Steve Irwin's Australian Zoo by wearing Wildlife Warriors bracelets.

We have donated animal supplies to our local Animal Services of Seminole County because of a fire to their building. Students collected 500 signatures on a petition to be sent to our Florida senators encouraging their vote on "Buck's Bill" the bill supports Pet Safety and Protection Act.

Students also adopted a child from Nambia.

Students knitted blankets and booties for newborns at the Winnie Arnold Hospital.

Gift #4… "Gift of a Day" World Space Week Balloon Launch
We joined educators and space enthusiasts around the world to celebrate World Space Week, Oct. 4-10, 2007. This year's celebration commemorates the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, marking the beginning of the Space Age. World Space Week is the largest public space event in the world, with celebrations in more than 50 nations.

Gift #5… "Gift of Learning" Mathlincs Project
Project You Be The Teacher
Mrs Dilmore, Mrs Abrams and myself have joined a Math/Geography Collaboration project called MathLincs. We have posted links to our classroom blog on our class webpage.

We participated in classroom webinars with Discovery Education...Planet Earth, Discovery Science/Nasa Astronauts, Build it Bigger with Danny Forster, Meerkats and Mr Wizard.

Gift #6… “The Gift of Laughter”
Project “Our Gift of Laughter” Survey:
Our class designed a survey to be shared. We will take our results and make graphical representations of the data.

Gift #7...The Gift of Problems
Our classes have written letters to our Congressman and Senators about "Global Warming" and its effects. One student designed a "Protect the Environment postage stamp" to be affixed to the letters.

Gift #8...The Gift of Family
We have created tote bags with various games, books, and dvds. Bags are taken home and shared with their families. A journal is kept with each bag so families can share their observations.

Gift #9...The Gift of Money
Gift #10...The Gift of Work

Stock Market Project
How do stockbrokers and financial analysts determine what stocks to buy? Students will collect data about a company and use formulas to analyze the data. Activities will help them better understand how stockbrokers and financial analysts track stock performance to determine what stocks to buy.

Gift #11...The Gift of Love
Gift #12...The Gift of Dreams

Dear Sweet Parent/Grandparent Gift Bag filled with photos, letters of love, and dreams.

100 acts of kindness from Martin Luthor King’s birthday to Valentines Day…students performed a 100 acts of kindness to represent the beliefs and philosophy of Martin Luthor King.

I have a Dream Speech authored by our students

Final outcome..."Life lived to its fullest is its own Ultimate Gift.”