Kindness Towers Here (n44)

reinforce the concepts that each of us has an

impact upon one another and that each of us can

make a difference. To remind all members of the

learning community that each person has a story

to share. To practice all components of the writing

the start of this lesson, which truly could be

modified for any grade level, students will be

introduced to the project “KINDNESS TOWERS

HERE”as a teacher-developed approach to commemorating

September 11th. The unit will focus on the positive

impact that each individual can have on others.

It will demonstrate that we can be heroes in our

own lives and in the lives of others when we make

the choice to be kind. Students will be asked

to consider John Donne’s quote “No man (or

woman) is an island”. Discussion about the

quotation and about students’ recollections and

feelings regarding September 11th will be generated.

students will work in triads for prewriting,the

first step of the writing process.(Students may

need a quick review of the writing process components

at the beginning of the year.) Each triad will

be given three different stories: one regarding

the heroism surrounding September 11th, another

about any random act of kindness and the last

one would be a teacher-written model describing

the kindness of a student. Students will read

and discuss the stories. Then each student in

the triad will orally share his/her own story

regarding the kindness theme with the other members

of the group. The listeners may direct follow-up

questions to the storyteller which will assist

each writer in developing the details for his/her

story.

Next, students will work independently to write

their first drafts of their own kindness stories.

Revising, teacher- and peer-conferencing, more

revising and publishing the polished pieces will

follow. The publishing segment will take two forms:

1. students will share their pieces aloud within

the classroom and perhaps within the larger learning

community and

2. students will display their stories in the

shape of two towers either on the wall or on the

cardboard structures. They might also be shared

on parents’ night and/or in the local newspaper.

Teachers would also be invited to add their stories

to the towers.

VARIATION: A multi-generational approach could

also be applied to this project. High school students

could collaborate with senior citizens at local

senior centers or with younger students in elementary

or middle school to complete the KINDNESS TOWERS

extra credit, students will be invited to submit

their own ideas for projects to further honor

the people who lost their lives, the heroes of

Karen Rezendes, Alternative Center for Education,