Grades PreK–2 • Glen Ridge, New Jersey
World Well-Being Week
Forest Avenue’s early childhood students get a head start on service learning with World Well-Being Week. The “Big Six” universal needs of children around the globe are the focus in this program designed to raise awareness of the authentic needs of children around the world. One of the first steps for these early childhood students is to determine the difference between wants and needs. Students learn that children around the world need clean water, adequate food, physical health, mental health, appropriate housing, and education. Age-appropriate activities are planned for WWB, beginning with a day of books to introduce the concepts of character education and the formation of “wondering questions.” Next, small groups of students move through stations to meet local doctors who teach them about malnutrition and disease. The WWB Fair includes making toys with only the simple materials that are provided and eating what would constitute a meal in an impoverished country. To conclude the week, students put financial donations into wooden animals to represent the animals their contributions will purchase through the Heiffer International. WWB works to create a caring school community now and promote a caring global community in the future.
Heifer Project International. Little Rock, AR: Heifer International. Web site: www.heifer.org.