Secret Agents for Change

Last month 3^rd grade classes were busy running the Secret Shop, a place where Primary and Middle School students shopped for holiday gifts from reasonably-priced items donated by Lowell families. The project allowed the 3^rd graders to practice their math, money handling skills, social, and leadership skills. The project wraps up this month with students writing letters and sending the donations to their chosen local charities.

 

Choosing a charity to donate to is no easy task. Guiding the process, 3^rd Grade Teacher Kathie Clements posed questions to the students such as: What is important to you? and Where do you want to see your money going? The students conducted research using the online service Charity Navigator, which rates organizations based on their financial health, accountability, and transparency.

 

“We learned about valuable programs helping those in the DC area,” said 3^rd Grade Teacher Ashlie Webb. The students chose the charities SOME (So Others Might Eat) and Martha's Table, which both have four-star ratings from Charity Navigator. As IOUs are collected, the Secret Shop is expected to have raised a little over $1400. Each charity will receive an even split of the donations.

 

“The Secret Shop provides an opportunity for 3^rd graders to experience being change agents,” said Laurie Carter, 3^rd Grade Teacher. “We saw first hand that even young members of communities can make contributions and serve their community!” said Ashlie Webb. Secret Shop, a beloved tradition at Lowell, not only offers valuable learning experiences for the 3^rd graders, it empowers them to serve their communities—a kind reminder for us all to seek opportunities to be in service to others.