Herricks students between the ages of three and 17 collaborated on a social-emotional learning project addressing positive coping strategies for fear, worry and anxiety. In the Child Study Practicum, an experiential teaching education course at Herricks High School, students in grades 10-12 planned interactive stations for their preschool-age participants exploring and identifying emotions. During morning meeting, preschoolers enjoyed a story written by the course facilitator, Mrs. Armoza, about a young boy who worries at bedtime and utilizes his “monster buddy” to express his feelings in a positive and healthy manner. Preschoolers then designed their own “monster buddy” in class and their designs were sent off to the “monster factory.”
At Herricks Middle School, Ms. Steinhauer’s eighth grade Home and Careers classes received their designs and carefully recreated the monsters into plush dolls for the preschoolers. These diligent students felt a commitment to recreating the monsters exactly as the preschoolers had designed. Creating the monsters by hand and writing letters to their preschool recipients helped to promote an appreciation and importance of compassion and empathy.
The students in Home & Careers created a special monster delivery box to send their carefully crafted “monster buddies” back to the Child Study Practicum class at the high school. A special delivery arrived at the room just in time for the holiday break and the young participants of the Child Study Practicum met their three-dimensional “monster buddies.” The excitement of receiving their buddies and realizing they were based on their own designs was palpable as multiple students expressed that the dolls would help them sleep at night.
This project addressed the social-emotional needs of various age groups and enabled students to work together to accomplish a meaningful goal. Student-driven projects like the “monster buddy” present valuable opportunities to take ownership and find meaning in service to the community while benefiting the student as well.
Story submitted by Syntax.
