Zoo School Project: Kids With Character!

As you know, our class is headed to the Edmonton Valley Zoo for AN ENTIRE WEEK in January! HOLY MOLY GUACAMOLE! To qualify for one of the highly sought-after weeks at the zoo, a year-long project must be submitted and selected. Drumroll, please!......Character education will drive OUR awesome year-long Zoo School project! 

Our Zoo Project

Character Education is when we intentionally teach our students about the traits that will help them become successful, caring individuals. We strive to encourage our children use their God-given gifts to be the hands of Jesus to others! 

Throughout the year, our project will focus on 6 key character traits; trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring & perseverance. We’ll read zoo animal stories that feature these character traits, and then students will deepen their understanding through journal prompts, reflections, activities, and Bible readings.

Perseverence

We began our project by reading the folktake Give Up, Gecko! When the animals find themselves thirsty and without water, they decide to dig. The large animals try, but give up. The medium animals try and give up, too! Even small animals try, but quit. Then an itty bitty little gecko tries and tries, and eventually finds water! He sure didn't give up!

This story highlights perseverance and promotes a "growth mindset", which is what we celebrate and encourage here at Holy Redeemer. We value hard work, persistence, & effort! Have a look!

http://big-change.org/growth-mindset/

After reading Give Up Gecko!, we focused on something tricky we wanted to learn that we promised not to give up on! 

I won't give up until I learn to build a robot.

I won't give up until I learn to do a handstand.

I won't give up until I learn to BBQ.

We will continue to read animals stories featuring perseverance! Isn't everything new a little tricky at first?

Psssst! Hang on! Stay tuned for part 2 of our Zoo School Project ... it's really exciting! (Hint: This second part of our zoo project is digital, eeeek!)

My blog posts from last year's phenomenal zoo school week can be found here, here, here, here and also here! Get excited!

Writing prompt courtesy of Deanna Jump can be found HERE.