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| What We Did |
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| Our Presentation was spread over two days. Both included a video and a hands-on activity. We visited three different schools: Lake Michigan Catholic, St. Joe Catholic Watervliet, and E.P. Clarke, and worked with their 5th or 6th graders. The first day focussed on being Hearing and visually impaired. After handing out nametags we brought the kids together and asked them if they knew anyone with hearing or visual impairments. Then we put the video in, and the kids watched us interview two people- both were hearing impaired. Afterwards we asked the kids what they thought would be tough about being hearing or visually impaired. We also stressed that all people are created equal and that everybody has limitations. After some good feedback we started the hands-on activity. This activity placed the kids in similar situations that a blind or deaf person might be in. In brief, they were palced in groups on one side of the room and they had to cross to the other side using two to three carpet squares. The catch was that some would be blindfolded and some would not be able to talk or recieve verbal commands from their other team mates. The kids all did a fabulous job working together as a team. After a couple of tries they figured out that they all had to take care of eachother and communicate effectively and creatively. Throughout the activity we talked to the kids about what they found to be difficult. Afterwards everybody came back together and we got feedback from the kids. We asked them what they learned and how they would treat handycap people in the future. This discussion made for a perfect conclusion to the day's presentation. The second day focussed on being in a wheelchair. The presentation was set up the exact same way as the first one. In the second video the kids met a girl who has Spina Bifida and is confined to a wheelchair. The activity for this presentation put the kids in two different wheelchair situations. First they had to get dressed in a seated position without using their legs. Second they had to go shopping. With a list of items to find, the kids had to maneuver their way around crowded tables and obstacles. After the activity we again got feedback from the kids. They all seemed to feel genuinely sympathetic towards people with handycaps. With our job completed we said our final goodbyes. |