We Have A Dream...A Field of Dreams

   I started discussing Martin Luther King, Jr. with our second grade classes over two weeks ago.  We don't get to have Social Studies each day so I started earlier than usual.  I introduced the concept of segregation with a shoestring vs. non-shoestring activity I always use.  We read stories and had lessons about his life, his impact, how things have changed, and sadly, how some things are still unfair at times. Like many elementary teachers, I planned on discussing our dreams, but this year it went a bit further.
  We took a closer look at MLK as a child.  We took a long look at the famous picture of him as a boy and how he had stated "someday I am going to turn this world upside down."  The students made the connection on their own with that statement and our Seven Habits.  They saw how he was thinking like a leader way back then.
  We talked about how real leaders see things that others don't.  They observe, study, discuss, and then take actions to make changes.
   Our conversation deepened, "We see things every day that need to change. What things do you notice? That make you feel uncomfortable?  That you wish were different?"
  "...the kids that got shot at school..." a student stated.
  "...the commercials with the hungry kids..."
  "...the people from the hurricane..."
   Wow. I realized these kiddos were quickly going deeper than I thought they would. But I wanted to bring it closer to home and make a connection they could relate to.
  "What about here? At our school? What are things you wish were different?  Things you notice that you wish other people would too?"   I was thinking they might talk about the pieces of trash we find on the playground or paper towels we pick up when someone before us has somehow "missed" a rather large opening.
  But one student instantly stated, "Our baseball field."
  "Tell me what you mean."
  "Well," she began. "Our dugouts need to be fixed and painted.  We need some new fences.  Our bleachers are falling apart...." Then students started interrupting her with things they noticed, too.
   I was amazed.  It was January.  Most of the students hadn't been to the field since summer league ended in July.  It isn't even next to the elementary building, but they had noticed and remembered details. I was proud of them and told them so.  I tried my best to connect it back to MLK and fairness between schools and trying to make a difference.  I'm not sure that happened, but good things did.

  We listed some things we knew were facts on our Promethean Board:
 *We have a dream...a better baseball field
 *Observe, Study, Discuss, Action 
 *Improvements take time, energy, money, and leadership.
 *Kids can be leaders.  Kids can make a difference.
 *Leaders discuss.  Non-leaders complain.

  We spent some time last week looking at some pictures of  high school baseball fields from the computer. Many of the students have never been on a baseball or softball field away from our small town.  Most will never go to a college or MLB field to see how grand they can be.  Our dreams started to grow and we took a few minutes to write and draw.

    I'm not sure what will happen, but I have a feeling by the time this 2nd grade class is in 9th grade, they will be playing on a pretty nice small town baseball field.  They are already dreaming about it!

I love the orange and black dugouts.  The
kids actually offered to paint them during
recess. :) :) :)

"I want a water fountain for our baseball field and I
want a telephone for our baseball field. I want a new
dugout and steel bleachers."