| Fair Trade Fundraiser Program: Idea Share - Teachers' Feedback |
From Karen Wilke, teacher in La Crosse, IL:
Today our student teacher did the "What’s Fair" lesson (Unit 2, class 2). She had the students "harvest" coffee beans to take to the buyer. Some had clothespins to pick up the beans, some had spoons, a ladle with holes, etc. So each group had a challenge. She then paid each group for their harvest according to the lesson, but she really played up the parts. It really made an impact on the students.
We used Google Earth to fly over the CONACADO cooperative and Dominican Republic. I tried to get to the school where are pen pals were last year but it was difficult to be sure we had the right address. Students are researching where the products are grown and harvested and flying there using Google Earth. We are using snapshots of the area to put into a powerpoint to integrate technology. Later, we will have them create the public service announcements using iMovie. I am taking pictures and video (though it takes time to download and edit). We are training students to help me.
From Liz Lacey-Gotz, Minnesota Waldorf:
"We have 7th or 8th grade students as chairs of the fundraisers. We gave each student an envelope and 1 case of chocolate and they keep track of their money. It's part of the Waldorf Curriculum at 7th-8th grade, the business block. The fundraiser serves as a project to figure out business, the exchange of doing something to get something."
From Julie Nieman, Green Team Advisor, West Liberty-Salem School:
 "We have approximately 65 people involved in the club that conducts the recycling throughout the school and we also do community service projects. Each month we meet and learn about different environmental issues. One of the themes of one our meetings was about organic farming. We did the fundraiser with your products and based our meeting around this topic. We set up a mock "Compost Cafe" with soil squares (brownies) and chocolate lattes (choc. milk) and served them while they watched your DVD about Fair Trade and Organic Farming. They also played the Bean Game where they pretended to be farmers and marketing their crops. They played the different roles of farmers and buyers and learned about the industry. The Cafe and its content was a hit and will be used in our club on a regular basis!
Our club was just recently selected this week as one of the "top three new student programs" in our district by the Ohio School Board Association for this year so we will be setting our booth up at a convention and spreading the word about going green!"
How to bring the message home
Educators and parent organizers are working hard to incorporate Fair Trade teaching into the classroom. Librarian for the Atrium School in Watertown, MA, Victoria Lane, appreciates how the Equal Exchange Fair Trade fundraiser is able to involve kids "ethically and honorably" in fundraising. Lane gets them involved by getting them to make the connection between simple acts, such as buying a candy bar, and changing the world. Lane also suggests creating activities, such as a letter writing campaign to large chocolate companies demanding they adopt fair trade practices, as a way to channel this energy and information in productive ways.
Parent organizer in Edmonds, WA, Rick Doughty, also feels this program sends a "reassuring message" to kids. Doughty showed the Equal Exchange 13 minute movie, "Awaken your consciousness," focusing on scenes that depicted living conditions of children in other countries. As kids develop their worldview, it can sometimes be overwhelming. The Equal Exchange Fair Trade fundraiser helps inform them of global relationships while empowering them to make responsible choices in their everyday lives and purchases.
The Equal Exchange 13 minute video, "Awaken your consciousness," can be found online at http://www.equalexchange.coop/new-video. While not created with a student audience in mind, parents and teachers are able to incorporate parts of it into the fundraiser program as we work to develop a video specifically designed for the education and motivation of young fundraisers.
For Spanish Teachers
Translated for intermediate Spanish classes by Gordon School Spanish Teacher, Suzanne Pezzuli, Lesson #2 of Unit #2, "What's Fair?" Game from Equal Exchange's Fair Trade Curriculum.
Share you stories with us! Email fundraising@equalexchange.coop and tell us about the unique ways you are motivating members of your group.
| |
|
