Students learn about the needs of older adults and how to help.

Objectives:

• TLW understand some of the needs that Senior Citizens have.
• TLW assist Senior Citizen in activities such as lawn care, grocery shopping or other household needs.
• TLW gain experience helping others and learn about good citizenship.

Materials:

• Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie de Paola
• Journals

Plan:

1. Read Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie dePaola aloud to class.
2. The teacher will initiate a class discussion regarding helping the elderly.
3. Example questions to jump start a discussion:
   • Do any of you have a person in your life (i.e. a grandparent or neighbor) who is elderly and needs help?
   • What do you think of the fact that Bob once taught Bobby to walk and now needs Bobby's help in regaining his ability to walk?
   • When people get older it becomes harder for them to do everyday tasks. Can you think of some of the things that may become more difficult to do as we age?

1. The Teacher will ask students to brainstorm ideas for ways in which the class could help out Senior Citizens who might need a little extra assistance with household chores.
2. Students will then provide services to a senior citizen of their choice for a minimum of five hours outside of school over the next two weeks. (note: teacher should make sure parents are aware of who the student will be helping)
3. The student will keep record of the services rendered and keep track of how many hours they worked and make sure to get the signatures of both the parent and the senior citizen.

1. Once students have completed their hours they should write a response to what they learned about senior citizens, how helping people had an affected them, and do they plan on keeping in touch with their senior friend?