By: Faith Chang and Julie Bazzetta

GLOBALIZING THOMASBORO

What Thomasboro Offers

Bank Fire Department Grocery Store Post office Gun Shop 1 Café/Diner 1 Bar Community Building 2 Playgrounds 2 Churches Technology in the

ClassroomCommunity Building

Grocery Store

Café/Diner

Gun & Knife Shop

Post Office

Bar Bank

What Thomasboro Needs

A Window into the World

Why? Students lack general outside experiences that can expand awareness and appreciation for students of different cultures, ethnicities, races and religions.

Survey

Survey of all 2nd & 4th grade students… 1. Have you lived anywhere else

besides Thomasboro? If yes, where? 2. If you could travel to another country,

where would you want to go and why? 3. What do you do at home after school? 4. What is your favorite thing to do in

Thomasboro? 5. Do you have a T.V.? What shows do

you watch? 6. Do you have a computer at home? 7. Have you visited another city, state

or country? 8. Does your family own a car?

What We Found

68% have lived outside of Thomasboro. Rantoul, Champaign, Urbana,

Mohommet 95% have visited another city or

state. Rantoul, Champaign, Urbana, Chicago Florida, Ohio, Michigan, New York,

Nevada, Arizona 81% have family or friends that

live in other states. New York, Florida, Arizona, Virginia,

Missouri, Indiana, Montana

Important Note!

When asked if they could travel to another country and where they would want to go and why, this is what we found… “Africa, I would like to see elephants.” “Africa, because it can teach you all kinds of

languages.” “Hollywood, to meet celebrities.” “Florida, because I like sand and oceans and

it’s fun.” “Alabama, sounds like a nice place.” “Don’t know any countries…”

HUH??

Technology

T.V. Computer Car0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2nd4thColumn1

2nd Grade- 12 Students 4th Grade- 10 Students

What do Community Members Think?

Former Teacher at Thomasboro (+20 Years of Teaching)

o Concerning Issues of Diversity “I had the hardest time

teaching my kids about what a curb was because they had never seen one before…they just don’t have enough outside experiences.”

“Most of the kids don’t plan on going to college. After high school, they look for a job.”

Thomasboro Social Worker

Concerning Issues of Diversity “ Thomasboro is a school of different races…I

do have a curriculum for all grade levels called "Teaching Tolerance", which does a tremendous job talking about people of different races and cultures and acceptance.  Overall, TGS has done fairly well addressing issues of diversity at the school.”

Men of Thomasboro

Concerning Issues of Diversity “We solve all kinds of issues from Thomasboro to

the world.”

Financial Issues Lack of business because of

the closure of the Rantoul Air force Base.

Most students are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Parents do not have high paying jobs (factory workers).

Not many after school activities—go to Rantoul or Champaign/Urbana.

Recommendations Pen Pals/E-Pals with

another country http://www.epals.com/

Benefits: Cultural awareness and

appreciation Tolerance A direct connection to

the outside world Writing/Grammar skills

(proof-reading) Connection with other

subject areas

Video Exchanges Students would make short

videos about their school, home life, the community, etc., and share this information with another school outside the country (pen pal country) using flip cameras.

The teacher or the students (depending on grade level), could put these videos together and send them via email.

Ex: http://www.youtube.com/wat

ch?v=j9gXSbpdmMk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0UhLBq81yg

Questions?

Thank you!