Consumer, Family, & Life Skills; The Arts; Language Arts Literacy; Mathematics

By: Joann Porter

Lindenwold H.S.

Academic Focus/
Core Curriculum Standards:

The Arts(Visual and Performing): 1.2

Compassion; Responsibility; Empathy; Integrity; Self-esteem

Students in Family and Life Skills classes, along with students in other disciplines, come together to create a Seniors’ Prom for the senior citizens of the Lindenwold community. Over the course of several months, the students meticulously plan every aspect of the prom, from set designs and food, to budgets, community outreach, and invitations. The theme of the project is “Transforming Lives” because when students see what they have created and seniors interact with these students at the evening they share together, their outlooks are forever changed. 

Target Audience:
Senior citizens in Lindenwold community

Students work on the project during their class periods. The number of periods per week is dependent upon progress. Monthly meetings will be held with the Interact Club and Lindenwold Municipal Alliance.                                                                                                                                             

Smartboard and/or overheard projector with transparencies, supplies for decorating, photography, food service, and invitations

Visual and Performing Arts: Students will create set designs to transform a cafeteria into a prom setting. They will also design invitations, photograph, frame, and present individual photos to each senior citizen, and video tape the prom (which will be presented to their classes).

Comprehensive Health and Phys. Ed.: Students will learn the nutritional needs of the senior citizens and plan, create, and evaluate a nutritional menu with dietary options based upon that research. 

Language Arts Literacy: As they interact with their peers, faculty, seniors, faculty, and community leaders, students will develop writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students will also apply their writing skills when they design the prom invitations.

Mathematics: Students will use basic operations to prepare budgets for various aspects of the prom.

Consumer, Family, and Life Skills: Students use culinary, design, time management, and organizational skills to plan and create the Seniors’ Prom. Students also develop the vital life skills of communication and critical thinking as the project develops.

Hurdles Encountered:

Hurdles: Project organization by students

Solution: Each class selects their responsibilities, and breaks them down into short-term goals over a comprehensive timeline. The process is displayed on classroom walls where students are encouraged to weekly evaluate and make changes.

Performance-based Education: The performance will be based on creating, organizing, implementing, and critiquing of our Seniors’ Prom. Their ability to communicate and problem solve with success with each other will indicate progress.

Cooperative Learning: Family & Consumer classes will work together, each class organizing, evaluating, creating, and combining their efforts to identify and meet the needs of seniors for the prom.

Interdisciplinary Approach: The Family & Consumer Science classes reach out to the Theater, Technology, Art, Video Production, and English classes for technical assistance and support.

The goal of our Seniors’ Prom is to foster compassion and appreciation of Lindenwold’s students, seniors, community leaders, and faculty.

Recognition: Newspaper articles; photo display

Key Findings: Two groups of people that are typically disconnected come together, have a fun time, and transform each others’ lives.

The Lindenwold Municipal Alliance and local businesses assist in the planning and participate through their contributions. Community leaders are invited to attend.; also, Interact Club

The faculty is invited to chaperon the event, invite a senior citizen, or have their classes participate by providing technical support.

Students continually critique both verbally and in writing not only the process of creating the prom, but the core ethical values that it fosters.

Students are graded throughout the process of their goal. Students also complete a “Thumbprint” questionnaire.