I have decided to work with seniors/elderly. I feel that much can be gained by the student from working with those who have come before them. I sometimes feel that the younger generation does not see or appreciate the elders that are around them. Sometimes seniors can seem “different” to students and they tend to not interact with them. For these reasons I have chosen to collaborate with Western Home Communities on this project. I am hoping to go on Tuesday and talk with the volunteer coordinator. On this visit I hope to share some of my ideas along with gaining insight on some opportunities they see are needed at the community.
As of right now I am wanting to create a project that would help students see that elders have a rich and interesting history and that at one time they were just like the students. I would like students to collect the stories of the senior(s) they would be working with along with pictures of the senior and memories that they hear from the senior(s). Then collaborating with their senior(s) they would collectively make a book of this. Or they could each make their own book. Full of mixed media including writing, sketches, photographs, and multiple forms of color. I feel in doing this the student would gain by learning about their elders and seeing the rich history they have. The student would get experience in taking interesting portraits. They could/ would study portrait photographers and maybe share their new knowledge about photography with their senior. The student would be practicing layout design and composition along with color theory/scheme. The senior/elder would benefit by having someone to talk to who is interested in hearing what they have to say. They would also be creating themselves and using art to tell their story in book/journal form with mixed media.
I am overall very excited about the possibilities this project holds. I seem to have a growing desire to just go in myself and create with the elders in and around the community. I hope and pray I will be able to use this project in my future classroom.
http://www.westernhomecommunities.org/about-us/volunteer-opportunities.aspx
This is a great idea for a service learning project! Not only will students gain a powerful relationship with the person they are working with but they will also be valuable art skills! I think that this lesson is a great way to connect the community and also the two generations. I can't imagine how wonderful it would be as an elderly person to have someone in their life who wants to hear their story. To further the art interaction maybe consider having the students teach the elderly person some part of the mixed media that they are working on themself.
ReplyDeleteyou should act on this desire this summer and then you will have examples and experience for your future classroom. I am so excited to hear how passionate you are becoming about this project. Remember just a short time ago, there were so doubts... use your talents to brighten the day of someone else.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! I like how it is a long term exercise that has the potential to cover several mediums. On top of that, spending time with the elderly several times will allow your students to develop relationships with individuals they may not have a chance to meet. This will help them grow as individuals and provide them with excellent professional development.
ReplyDeleteI love that you highlighted the reciprocal benefits that you are striving for with this project. Although the details were not worked out yet, you knew what the end goal was and could use that to guide your choices for the lesson. I think keeping the ends in mind as we develop our ideas helps us to ensure that everything we plan between now and then is supporting the cause. Can't wait to see your presentation! :)
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