PROJECT SHARC:

(Students Helping the

American Red Cross)

Highlander Way Middle School

Technology Literacy and Art Students

8^th Grade

Power Point and plaster…what do these two things have in common? In this lesson, 8th grade Technology Literacy and Art students collaborate to help the American Red Cross. PROJECT SHARC (Students Helping the American Red Cross) seamlessly weaves the concepts of collaboration, integration, community involvement, civic responsibility and authentic assessment.

Technology students researched the Red Cross, produced multimedia Power Point slide shows and played these for the Art students. Art students created ceramic masks (to visually represent what they saw and learned about the American Red Cross and the people they help.) Technology students then wrote letters to local business owners as well as parents, administrators, teachers, etc. asking them to “sponsor” a mask by making a minimum $25 donation to the American Red Cross.

During a “Day of Authentic Assessment” all masks were displayed as well as the Power Point slide shows, sponsors and others were invited and students were given the opportunity to share what they learned through the lesson process. Donors received a “Certificate of Authenticity” (created by the Tech students), which is signed by the artist, and framed. When all is said and done, all students demonstrated what they have learned, connections with the community were made and students grasped first-hand what it means to have civic responsibility.