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Fourth-grade students at Jefferson Elementary are thinking about giving instead of receiving this time of year.
“We talk about how good it feels to give and not receive,” Bette Nelson, a fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson, said.
The students donated the money they would have spent for a classroom gift exchange. The money was used to purchase fleece to make blankets. Those blankets have been donated to various social service agencies throughout the years, Nelson said. For the last several years the blankets have been donated to South Side Mission.
The students use the gym floor to assemble the blankets just before Thanksgiving and then take them to South Side Mission in December.
“They talk about the Mission and what it is all about,” Nelson said about the field trip. The students then hold up the blankets they made and mothers that are served by South Side Mission select which blanket they would like for their child.
“They get to stand up and hold up their blankets and they are so proud,” Nelson said.
The students work in small groups to make the blanket. They take two pieces of fleece material and cut strips around the edges and then tie those strips together.
“It was actually very fun. I have one my babysitter made for me but I’ve never made one,” Peyton Brown said.
Parent volunteers also help during the project to get the blankets done. They also help get the fabric ready.
Becky Meyer helped her son, Ben, and his group work on a blanket. They also cut all the fleece for the project.
“We moved the kitchen table and squared them all up,” Meyer said.
The work goes by fast with many hands.
“I think it’s pretty easy. I thought it would be hard, I’m happy about that,” Ethan Mallinson said.
Nelson said the students learn a lot from doing something for others. Past experiences at South Side Mission have left an impression on the students and the staff.
A few years ago the students were leaving and a toddler was crying because she did not receive a blanket. Nelson discovered that the mother only took one blanket for her younger child because she did not want to take two blankets. The students talked about it on the return trip to Morton and decided to make another blanket for that child. That same child was at South Side Mission when they returned with the finished blanket and the Jefferson students, by chance, had selected her favorite character — Dora the Explorer — for fabric for that blanket.
“They come away with so many lessons,” Nelson said.
Both fourth-grade classes at Jefferson participate in this project that has become a holiday tradition.
Fourth-grade students at Jefferson Elementary are thinking about giving instead of receiving this time of year.
“We talk about how good it feels to give and not receive,” Bette Nelson, a fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson, said.
The students donated the money they would have spent for a classroom gift exchange. The money was used to purchase fleece to make blankets. Those blankets have been donated to various social service agencies throughout the years, Nelson said. For the last several years the blankets have been donated to South Side Mission.
The students use the gym floor to assemble the blankets just before Thanksgiving and then take them to South Side Mission in December.
“They talk about the Mission and what it is all about,” Nelson said about the field trip. The students then hold up the blankets they made and mothers that are served by South Side Mission select which blanket they would like for their child.
“They get to stand up and hold up their blankets and they are so proud,” Nelson said.
The students work in small groups to make the blanket. They take two pieces of fleece material and cut strips around the edges and then tie those strips together.
“It was actually very fun. I have one my babysitter made for me but I’ve never made one,” Peyton Brown said.
Parent volunteers also help during the project to get the blankets done. They also help get the fabric ready.
Becky Meyer helped her son, Ben, and his group work on a blanket. They also cut all the fleece for the project.
“We moved the kitchen table and squared them all up,” Meyer said.
The work goes by fast with many hands.
“I think it’s pretty easy. I thought it would be hard, I’m happy about that,” Ethan Mallinson said.
Nelson said the students learn a lot from doing something for others. Past experiences at South Side Mission have left an impression on the students and the staff.
A few years ago the students were leaving and a toddler was crying because she did not receive a blanket. Nelson discovered that the mother only took one blanket for her younger child because she did not want to take two blankets. The students talked about it on the return trip to Morton and decided to make another blanket for that child. That same child was at South Side Mission when they returned with the finished blanket and the Jefferson students, by chance, had selected her favorite character — Dora the Explorer — for fabric for that blanket.
“They come away with so many lessons,” Nelson said.
Both fourth-grade classes at Jefferson participate in this project that has become a holiday tradition.
