Each year Mrs. Boverhof’s class participates in a service-learning project that involves a local nursing home. In the fall the activity director of the nursing home comes over to Cedar View to help prepare the students for this experience. She explains how they can best go about interacting with the residents. The importance of good habits of mind is emphasized as she discusses respecting their homes and challenging themselves in many different ways as they begin this new adventure.

Once a week the fifth graders in her classroom walk to Metron to share in a variety of activities with the residents there. Some of the projects they have been involved in have included helping to plant a garden, playing board games, writing letters for the residents, reading to and with them, making crafts, performing plays, and a variety of other things.  This year some of the supplies will be paid for through a grant from our education foundation.

When the students return to the classroom they record their memories. The information they collect goes through the writing process and is turned into a book that is presented to the residents during a culminating tea party in June.

We asked the students what they most enjoyed about their weekly trips to Metron. Takoda Hunn said, “We like getting to know the old people and making them happy.” Carlee Mouthaan likes the activities too!

The lessons that are learned throughout this year-long experience reach well beyond the classroom and into our community for many years to come.