8th Grade Service Learning Documentaries

For our final eighth grade Exploration project, students took part in a service learning unit. Not only did they volunteer with a variety of community organizations, but also they created personal action plan to make a difference. They created videos on iMovie to document their process. We're extremely proud of their work! 

Healthy Communities:

This group volunteered with organizations that provide public health services in prevention, awareness and/or care. In small groups, they also chose a public health issue to study. They researched contributing factors, the problem and the effects. They also had the opportunity to interview experts in the field. After gaining an understanding of the issue, they came up with an action plan to fix it. For example, one group studying access to clean drinking water created an educational campaign including posters and a Facebook page. Another student who studied infectious diseases such as Ebola, found out that one major problem is the long distance people in West Africa have to walk to a clinic. He decided to create a walk-a-thon to raise awareness and funds. He raised over $200 and donated it to Doctors Without Borders. Another group studied mental health in teens and held a staff training on how to recognize signs of depression in teens. Check out some of their videos below!

Healthy Communities Group 1- Mental Health

Healthy Communities Group 2- Drinking Water

Healthy Communities Group 3- Ebola

Greening Our Walk:

This group worked to beautify our neighborhood around MS447. They learned about native species, tree bed care guidelines, soil and gardening. They helped to improve the tree beds on our block by removing the large bricks and aerating the soil. They also mulched and planted native species. Check out their videos below! 

Greening Our Walk Group 1

Greening Our Walk Group 2

Be the Change:

This group studied hunger and homelessness. They volunteered at a variety of soup kitchens and made lunches to bring to CHIPS. They also studied some of the contributing factors and effects of homelessness and came up with action plans. For example, one group is working on raising funds for the Cuyler Warren food pantry to renovate their kitchen. You can donate to this project here. Check out their videos below! 

Be the Change Group 1

Be the Change Group 2

Middle School Mentors:

This group volunteered at a local elementary school, P.S. 38. They remembered how anxious they felt in fifth grade about the big transition to middle school. They created middle school readiness workshops and delivered them at P.S. 38. Also, they invited students from the elementary school to tour M.S. 447 and showed them the ropes. Our student mentors and their mentees took a lot away from this experience!

6th Grade Aquatic Activism Volunteer Trips

To close our Aquatic Activism unit, our sixth graders are taking part in volunteer days. They are helping out a variety of organizations including the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, the Billion Oyster Project and the Partnership for Parks. Families are welcome to help pitch in on our final sixth grade Exploration days (6/17 & 6/18).

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy:

We learned about the importance of keeping waterfront parks cleaned and helped out by cleaning up the salt marshes.

Partnership for Parks:

Billion Oyster Project in Red Hook:

We raised over 300 baby oysters in our classrooms and reintroduced them into the NYC Waterways in Red Hook on a very rainy day.

Billion Oyster Project on Governor's Island:

Students presented their $1628.36 check to the Billion Oyster Project. They also cleaned donated oyster shells from restaurants and created bags of shells that will be used for oyster reefs.

Hudson River Trust:

We helped by cleaning up trash along the Hudson River Park. It was too rainy to take pictures, but we got great feedback from the organization.

6th Grade Aquatic Activism Action Plans

In our final sixth grade unit, Aquatic Activism, sixth graders are learning about the threats to our
NYC Waterways. In response, they are creating individual action plans to help make a positive change. The students were given several different choices: fundraising, volunteering, making a personal change, advocacy and education. Some students are raising money for organizations like River Keeper, Gowanus Canal Conservancy and the Billion Oyster Project. We have compiled over $1000 to donate to the Billion Oyster Project through our students' fundraisers. Other students are volunteering by cleaning up or planting in parks near waterways. Some chose to make personal changes in their water usage by tracking their water use and decreasing it over time. Others chose to write letters to our politicians advocating for legal changes. Some are choosing to educate others about the threats and how they can make a difference.

Sonia gave an educational talk at the Community Bookstore about our waterways. She drew quite the crowd!

Ian and Craig held a bake sale at Prospect Park to raise money for the Billion Oyster Project!

Clara created a blog to educate people about our waterways.

Gianluca also created a blog to educate people about our waterways. 

Noah volunteered with River Keeper:

 Koby wrote letters to politicians asking them to clean up the Gowanus Canal:

Will G created a model to educate people about wastewater run-off:





















Genovia and Sasha held a bake sale to raise funds for  aquatic life at Prospect Park Zoo:

Brisa and Amelia held a bake sale to support the Billion Oyster Project

Pippa created a movie to educate people.

Max also created a movie to educate people.

Holly quizzed her family and then created an educational video.

Ivan created a parody of the song Something Big by Shawn Mendes to educate people about CSOs.

Zellie created the amazing comic story: Hydro Girl!