Over the last two weeks or so, my students had been making paper cranes for Japan as part of a the Students Rebuild project. Here is the article my students wrote about the project.
Have you heard about the disasters in Japan? Here in Amesbury, Massachusetts, the students at the Cashman Elementary School are working on making paper cranes to raise money to rebuild Japan in their time of need. For every crane, two dollars are being donated to Japan. We are sending our 159 cranes to the charity Students Rebuild in Washington State. According to Japanese tradition, any person who makes 1000 paper cranes will be granted one wish. Students were inspired by the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. The goal of Students Rebuild is to reach 100,000 cranes. All the cranes that are sent in will also be put into a work of art to be displayed in a Museum. A crane can make a difference and so can you!
By: Helena M, Paul J, Jeremy I and Jackson W
I was so proud that they were able to create so many cranes! Cranes are not an easy task, but some students really caught on and a couple acted as traveling teachers to other classrooms. It was an amazing experience!
~EMP
Thank you so much for all the information you give us each day. I find your blog very informative and thought provoking. I’ll be making another post referring other teachers to your site and the work your students are doing to raise money for Japan. I hope many more classes will join yours in this effort!
Sandie, That is very sweet. Thank you. It is so nice to know that people are even reading what I write, let alone getting something out of it.
I guess this would also be a good place to add one more little anecdote:
The final picture on this post is of “Miwa Crane.” My students named her. She is about 25 years old. When I was in third grade a Japanese family moved to my town and one of the three sisters was in my grade. We became instant best friends and our families grew close. After a couple of years, Miwa and her family had to move back to Japan, but before she did, she made me three small paper cranes: one for each person in my family.
Over the years, I held on to them carefully. Recently my own two children found them and adored them and no matter what I did to keep them around – only one remained. (I’m sure the others are around here somewhere.) On Friday morning, I saw this crane and after some thought, decided to send it along with the others. A heartfelt moment…
When I told my students this story they begged me to keep it, but I knew it was time to let this sweet little crane spread some luck on the other side of the world.
I guess I needed to get that story out! 😉