Pictured: Junior Jack Holden worked with students on a pizza-making simulation.
Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District
Second graders throughout the Massapequa School District were thrilled when they were visited by high school students for lessons on careers, community and financial responsibility. It was part of the High School Heroes program through Junior Achievement, a 17-year tradition in the district than connects elementary and secondary students.
Throughout March, students from grades 10-12 visited second grade classes at each elementary school. Denise DeLury, the school-to-career coordinator, said about 100 high school students signed up to take part in the experience, which gives them insight into child-related professions, such as teaching.
Massapequa High School students visited Birch Lane Elementary School on March 31 to teach the Junior Achievement “Our Community” curriculum to second graders.
They implemented Junior Achievement’s “Our Community” lesson, which supports the second grade social studies curriculum. Before visiting the elementary schools, the high school students received training with Ms. DeLury and Junior Achievement Program Manager Lorraine Englander. The junior teachers reviewed the lessons, materials and expectations, and also learned classroom management techniques.
In one activity, second graders opened up a pizza shop and had to fulfill orders. On little paper pizzas, they added stickers representing the topics requested from each order, and they were paid in fake money for everyone successfully completed. Later, they had to pay taxes on it.
Second graders learned how businesses operate by open up a pizza shop and fulfilling orders.
The youngsters took part in a decision-making lesson to make choices for their community, did a voting exercise and explored different jobs that are essential to a functioning community.
Junior Kara Jahrsdoerfer said that the High School Heroes program imparts important lessons for the future. She enjoyed spending a day at Birch Lane Elementary School, connecting with the kids.
“I want to be an elementary teacher,” she said. “I thought this would be a good way to see what I have to do when I get older.”
Recent Comments