Annual Family Engagement Event Proposal: “Savannah Learning Festival”

 

Annual Family Engagement Event Proposal: “Savannah Learning Festival”

Overview

The Savannah Learning Festival is an annual family engagement event designed to bridge the gap between home and school learning. By connecting families with hands-on demonstrations and activities that reflect current curriculum themes, we aim to foster a collaborative learning environment that encourages participation, exploration, and celebration of knowledge. With the generous support of $5,000 from the City of Savannah, we can create an engaging event that brings together families, educators, and community partners.

Proposed Demonstrations and Activities

1. Math in the Kitchen: Cooking with Fractions

– Description: Families will participate in cooking demonstrations where they learn to measure ingredients and create simple recipes. This activity will allow them to apply fraction concepts in a practical setting.
– Activity: Participants will work in pairs to make personal pizzas or fruit salads, using fractions to determine ingredient amounts.

2. Storytelling and Narrative Practices

– Description: A storytelling workshop where families collaborate to create their own stories, connecting narrative skills from the classroom with personal experiences.
– Activity: Each family will create a story map and share their narratives through oral storytelling sessions or puppet shows.

3. Science Exploration Zone

– Description: Interactive science experiments led by teachers and community scientists that align with the science curriculum.
– Activity: Hands-on experiments, such as making slime to explore chemical reactions or building simple circuits, allowing families to dive into scientific concepts together.

4. Art and Culture Corner

– Description: Art stations where families can create projects that reflect cultural heritage while learning about different artistic techniques.
– Activity: Collaborative mural painting or crafts that reflect local Savannah history or cultures, tying art to social studies.

5. Reading Relay: Literacy Activities

– Description: Engaging literacy stations focusing on phonics, reading comprehension, and vocabulary development.
– Activity: Families can participate in reading challenges, interactive book readings with local authors, or create their own storybooks together.

6. Health and Wellness Workshops

– Description: Workshops focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and mental health awareness.
– Activity: Cooking demos on healthy meals, yoga sessions for families, and mindfulness activities for stress relief.

Community Partners

To enhance the learning experience and provide resources, we could partner with the following community organizations:

1. Local Chefs and Restaurants: Collaborate with local chefs to lead cooking demonstrations.
2. Savannah Cultural Arts Center: Partner for art-related activities and storytelling workshops.
3. Local Universities: Engage education majors for volunteer support and facilitation of science experiments.
4. Health Organizations: Work with local health departments or fitness centers for wellness workshops.
5. Public Libraries: Collaborate for reading activities and author presentations.

Celebration and Connection Activities

To celebrate and connect what families already know to the curriculum, we will incorporate the following opportunities:

– Showcase Student Work: Display student projects from various subjects throughout the school, allowing families to see their children’s accomplishments.
– Family Competitions: Host friendly competitions (e.g., cooking contests or science fairs), with prizes that encourage further learning at home.
– Resource Fair: Provide families with take-home resources that include educational materials, recipes tied to math concepts, or reading lists aligned with classroom themes.
– Feedback Stations: Create spaces where families can share their thoughts on curriculum topics they want to explore further, fostering a sense of ownership in their child’s education.

Conclusion

The Savannah Learning Festival is an opportunity to honor the vital role of families in their children’s education while creating connections between home and school learning. By dreaming big with hands-on demonstrations and engaging community partners, we can cultivate a vibrant learning environment that celebrates knowledge, fosters collaboration, and strengthens our community ties. With the support of the City of Savannah’s funding, this event will become an annual highlight that families eagerly anticipate each year.