Spring 2010 The Animal Cruelty Issue Ms.Kyles Class
How Writing Can Change the World...
Welcome to Writing to Change the World, an online publication of Isaac Dickson Elementary School. The content you see on this website was researched, created, written and approved by fifth grade students who participated in a year-long project. This is the second edition of Writing to Change the World.
From a class discussion:
Writing can make people aware of things that need to be changed.
Writing can persuade people to change their minds.
Writing gives us history.
You can read about history and learn so that history won’t repeat itself.
Writing has provoked ideas, spread religion, brought people together.
Writing makes the world more interesting because you can learn new ideas and learn about other places and people.
Writing can change history by changing people feelings ( example: civil rights writing, newspapers raised awareness).
Important letters that kids write to the President can change his point of view.
Fantasy can inspire imagination, kids can imagine a better world( example: Harry Potter).
Books keep you from being bored and educate you.
Reading something can change your point of view.
You can learn and understand about other people, learn about other cultures, writing helps us to make connections.
Writing helps us to learn, helps with confusion.
Writing helps with inventions and getting things done.
Ms. Kyles' Class to Help Animals by Helping Local Non-Profits by J. Hurley, Parent Volunteer
Leiscester--Ms. Kyles' fifth grade class took a field trip to the Asheville Humane Society Shelter as part of our project. They interviewed volunteer coordinator and educator, Jim Fulton, met cats and dogs and played with puppies. They took photos, videos, and even mp3 recordings. The field trip was an important learning experience and very powerful. Many of the students were very sad to see how many animals need help.
After another long discussion about all the ways in which we could help to ease the suffering of animals that have been abandoned or abused, the class decided to raise $100 to sponsor a "brick" for the Humane Society's new building and to do a pet food drive for Meals on Wheels. “Asheville Humane Society is thrilled that the students at Isaac Dickson Elementary are arranging a fundraiser to purchase a brick for the opening of the new Animal Care Campus," says Hans Wolgefarht. Community Outreach Coordinator for the Asheville Human Society. "It makes us hopeful to know that even the young of age in Asheville exhibit generosity towards the homeless animals of Buncombe County. We appreciate their contribution and mindfulness.” According to their website, the Asheville Humane Society is building an 11,000 square foot Adoption and Education Center with privately raised funds. The center will provide a healthy, low-stress, family-friendly environment to house cats, dogs, and other animals that are ready for adoption. The center has been designed to provide ample space, state-of-the-art noise and disease control, and stress-reducing animal housing, improvements which will greatly increase adoption placements, saving the lives of countless animals."
Meals on Wheels provide meals to elderly people who might not otherwise eat healthy or at all. Their pets are very important to them and they need food, too. Meals on Wheels has a pet food program. From their website:
"In conjunction with local pet stores, veterinarian offices, schools and scout troops, MOW-ABC collects pet food from throughout the community to provide to low income seniors who might otherwise share their lunch with their two/four-legged friends. Financial contributions to the program have provided low-to-no cost spay/neuter programs and veterinary assistance to seniors with sick pets."