Writing Assignment Description

Centennial Elementary’s 4th and 5th crews did research on extreme weather as part of their expedition on The Impact of Natural Disasters. Students localized the expedition by focusing on how global warming is increasing the consistency and amount of extreme weather incidents. As part of the interdisciplinary unit, the students then created sketches for T-shirt designs based on what issue they wanted to draw the communities’ attention to in art class with their art teacher. Centennial students worked with the Ink Lounge, a screen printing business who donates 100% of their profits to support the community and give "action" to current issues. The Ink Lounge exposed a series of 10 of our designs onto silk screens which the students used to pull prints onto t-shirts during their art class time. Students wore their T-shirts to a local climate change march to draw attention to the issue. It is our hope that as students grow out of their shirts that they pass them on to other community members, which would keep our cause alive. Our students then wrote letters to Colorado’s lawmakers, including Governor Polis, demanding that they take action on climate change.

Assignment
Ms. Erica modified the final performance task of the Impact of Natural Disasters module. Instead of writing a PSA about the importance of preparing for a natural disaster, students wrote letters to local lawmakers, urging them to take action on climate change. This assignment maintained the original standards of the module.