Massapequa School District

Massapequa High School 9th grade Studio in Art students and (Massapequa’s) Lockhart Elementary School 6th grade students collaborated on a global awareness project through the Books of Hope Organization. Two hundred and twenty-five students met for a bagel breakfast to learn about the culture, geography and deplorable living conditions in Uganda. They were challenged to create ABC books that will be delivered to an elementary school where children can learn their ABC’s and also learn how to create the images in the books.

The students were paired and assigned a letter of the alphabet. They brainstormed ideas for subject matter that would be appropriate for the books. Each Ames student created a linoleum print for his or her chosen word and each Lockhart student created a related poem (using many different types of poems). Each poem is identified by type and in the back of the book there is a description for each type.
There were 4 teachers involved in the making of the 5 ABC Poetry Books. One of the 4 teachers, Vickie Ahearn also made a “How-to” book with the students for the linoleum printing process. We were able to secure a donation from our local Chamber of Commerce, UPS Store in Massapequa Park donated copies of the book pages, Sandra Mohan-Dunn donated book covers and Speedball Art donated printing supplies that we will send to Uganda along with the books so students can make their own prints.

The process from beginning to end was documented in a multimedia video that was submitted for a Chase Multimedia in the Classroom Award (for Global Awareness). It was one of 10 projects selected as a finalist and was displayed at the Teaching & Learning Celebration Conference in NYC on March 7, 2008 where there was an awards presentation where Mrs. Ahearn received $1,000 for her school.

Also submitted was number of the original linoleum prints to a national contest sponsored by Speedball. Three of them were chosen as grand prizewinner, first runner-up and honorable mention in a sweep of the 7th -9th grade category.

Technology was heavily integrated into the project. A video camera, digital camera, computer (Microsoft Publisher software, Clip art), color printer, document camera (ELMO) was used, and Smart board for presenting, teaching and creating.

The books, supplies and CD of the multimedia video,were sent to the Books of Hope Organization in Wisconsin in June. Their representative  accompanied the shipment of materials to Uganda where they personally delivered these items to the schools in need.