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William Penn Charter School

8th Grade Creative Writing Project

 

In September I met with the 8th grade English classes at the William Penn Charter School to assist with a creative writing project which was designed to help the students connect on a deeper level with the book ENDANGERED by Eliot Schrefer. The book exemplifies how an individual can turn their compassion for an animal into action with the story of Sophie, a young girl who risks her life to protect an infant Bonobo named Otto, during an armed revolution in the Congo.

After relating my personal experiences with orphaned orangutans and the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina to those of Sophie and Otto, the students were asked to write a fictional essay about navigating a dangerous situation with a beloved animal. They were asked to describe the bond with that animal and the scenario was to include a conflict with a resolution, albeit good or bad.

CLASSROOM PHOTOS HERE

I am pleased to report that the students rose to the occasion brilliantly; creatively expressing their love for animals, and their sense of adventure. A wide range of animals inspired their stories --

                          

                            Read Ayana's paper about Pepper   Allison, Lexie & Mia with Allison's fish

I applaud the faculty for teaching compassion and centering the project around the importance of caring for the animals in our lives. Thank you Penn Charter! Gigi

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22reasons strives to implement programs like this in schools and libraries throughout the Greater Philadelphia area -- please contact us if you are interested in teaching compassion!


 

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