Model Service-Learning Program

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Kids Sew for Kids

Created by Ava Mendelson, Montgomery County Public Schools
Subject Area: Home Economics
Grade Level: 6-8

"Kids Sew for Kids" is a service-learning project that has been infused into an eighth grade Home Economics sewing semester class. Students work in pairs and select an outfit to make for a homeless child. The outfits are color coordinated, and each partner sews one piece. Outfits have ranged from sweat suits to shorts sets to backpacks for school in all size ranges.

To fund the project a community partnership was established with G Street Fabrics. Through their "Community Ties" program we were supplied with fabric, patterns, and other notions that were needed for the outfits. Dee Taylor, the person in charge of their promotions department in Rockville, was our contact person. She not only gathered our supplies for us, but also gave us a list of local homeless shelters that were in need of our outfits. With outfits completed and letters attached from the students to the recipients, a field trip was planned to deliver everything to the selected shelter, Helping Hands.

Preparation: In addition to preparing the students with the necessary sewing skills, one week was spent on defining service-learning and homelessness.

Action: A large part of this section of the project, about 4 weeks, was spent on pattern layout, cutting, and construction of the outfits. Letter writing and a visit to deliver the clothing completed this portion.

Reflection: Several days were spent on thinking about what we had accomplished. A discussion of the field trip to the shelter centering around what we saw and learned was followed by several other class activities.

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