Subject area: Applied learning
Integrated subjects: Multidisciplinary
Teacher: Sheryl Dunton, (425) 204-4900
www.renton.wednet.edu/talbothill/
School: Talbot Hill Elementary School, Renton School District
Grade level: 1-5
"In the process of creating a product or service, students learn to use group process skills, set goals, and communicate effectively with each other and their customers."
Britta Carns, curriculum director, Renton School District
Abstract: The students at Talbot Hill Elementary are part of
a MicroSociety® of caring and responsible citizens. Talbot Hill’s
Ventures program simulates a functioning community with student-run businesses
and services. All students at Talbot Hill are part of the Ventures program.
Together they run a bank, newspaper, T.V. news, and several businesses with
government agencies for taxation, licensing and dispute resolution. Students
have a chance to practice everything they learn in the classroom during their
Ventures activities. Reading, math, language, social studies, and technology
become practical tools, rather than abstract concepts.
Service-learning projects have been designed, planned and implemented by individual classrooms. These projects have included: collecting food for an Emergency Feeding program, beautifying the school and local neighborhood by planting flowers, collecting change for our Ventures program, creating a quilt for a local hospital, making and filling school bags with supplies for children in Tanzania, recording books on tape for hospitalized children, selling a student-created book to raise funds for a reference library for a low income community, and offering storytelling and reading activities to the school.
Connections to Goal 4
However, Ventures has significance beyond teaching basic skills. Running a business
teaches the consequences of behavior: students must work to get paid, cooperate
to get a job done and plan ahead. Work ethics are emphasized: responsibility,
performance, citizenship and respect. The Ventures program encourages service-learning
as part of being a responsible citizen of the Talbot Hill community as well
as the city of Renton community.