Grade 6: Service Learning Visits to the JFS Food Pantry
As part of their Grade 6 service learning unit, students spend the year learning about food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness. Throughout these lessons, sixth graders not only learn about solutions to these issues, but they also build empathy, understanding, and compassion for others while being inspired to make a positive change.
This year, one of the ways sixth graders are being empowered to make a difference is through regular visits to Jewish Family Services (JFS) Weinberg Food Pantry in Denver. According to the JFS website, the "The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Food Pantry in Denver assists individuals and families facing hunger and food insecurity. For some, the pantry helps weather an emergency; for others, it provides supplemental food to make ends meet without sacrificing a family's health and well-being."
Weekly, Grade 6 students will volunteer at the food pantry with their advisory group. Each advisory will go at least three times for a total of 24 weeks. Each group includes students, a teacher, and two GPA parent volunteers. During their service visits to the pantry, sixth graders sort donations from grocery stores such as King Soopers, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's, stock shelves, and clean and organize the pantry, preparing it for the next day's visitors. Stay tuned for more stories about the Grade 6 service learning program throughout the year!
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
