Poverty Project

This purpose of this project is for students to embark on journey to understand the issues that surround poverty and to learn how they can take action for social change. Students will begin their journey with our Human Library. Students will begin by speaking with elders from our First Nation Communities about their own stories and thoughts about poverty. Students will continue researching people’s thoughts, beliefs, hopes and dreams surrounding the issue of poverty by checking out more human stories from a variety of cultures. Students will then begin to weave stories together to better understand the complex landscape of poverty.

As they do this, they will begin to speak with political leaders from municipal, territorial and federal to see what is being done about poverty and what can be done. This will help students better understand the role of politics in the issue. Students will cook once a month for our the Outreach Van, work at the Food Bank, and meet with other organizations and stakeholders in Whitehorse to further develop their understanding. Students will develop an action plan to understand how they and others can help contribute to the eradication of poverty.

Some of their learning, messages of hope, and their thoughts will be expressed through poetry, articles, letters to officials, Claymation films, art and public service announcements. These activities will grow and change as students take ownership of the project. A final presentation will be planned for the end of the year. Students in my class will begin a Social Justice club for the school and implement smaller initiatives school wide.