Whiz Kids: John Adams Elementary School Community

John Adams Elementary School recently shipped 1,020 paper cranes that students, teachers and parents created to help the people of Japan in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami on Mar. 11.

The effort, which was part of a project through Students Rebuild in partnership with DoSomething.org, was designed to ensure students worldwide have a way to support their Japanese peers.

Because of the overwhelming support from John Adams and other schools, businesses and individuals around the world, the Bezos Family Foundation, which had originally agreed to donate $2 per crane created in this project, increased its matching donation to $4. The 1,020 cranes created by the John Adams community that initially generated $2,040 in relief yielded $4,080.

According to Art Teacher Morgan Johnson Norwood, students began working on the cranes as part of an art exercise addressing three-dimensional design and building skills, like following a diagram.

Morgan wanted to learn crane making herself and thought it might be fun to involve the students’ art in decorating her new baby’s room. What started out as a curriculum-based project evolved into a community effort with a mission once the events in Japan unfolded. Not only were the students highly motivated to overcome their initial frustration at learning the complex skill of crane making, but they were connecting their efforts with current events and asking questions ranging from the plate tectonics to the environment to human emotions, said Norwood.

Norwood shared that they “compared and contrasted the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, a story about a girl who attempted to create 1,000 cranes while she suffered leukemia resulting from the atomic bomb in World War II."

The 6-week project involved students from 1st to 5th grade. In fact, every student in each 2nd to 5th grade class learned to make cranes and donated at least one. Morgan estimates that about 350 people, including teachers, parents and siblings, were involved.

“As news unfolded from Japan, momentum began to build, and this little class project suddenly became viral.  Students began teaching other students, parents began emailing and calling to ask for origami tutorials and how they could help out at home, and teachers began making cranes in their own classrooms," Norwood said. "Everyone wanted to show their support and to help Japan in any way they could, even if they didn't have extra financial resources.  Ultimately, the John Adams family produced 1,020 cranes for Japan before the deadline, and the energy from our school community on this project was so inspiring."

Although it took several classes for students to become experts, they learned a great deal along the way. They learned craftsmanship and manual dexterity (lining up edges, making crisp folds), following step-by-step instructions, interpreting a diagram, comprehending symmetry; perseverance, activism and "using art as a means to connect with current and past world events; as well as the ability to teach others a new skill,” according to Norwood.

Here is what some John Adams students said about the experience:

• "Folding paper cranes is not only fun but calming.  The whole idea of making cranes for the survivors of the earthquake in Japan is pretty life saving." - Serenity, 2nd grade
• "Making cranes made me feel passionate and good." - Amanuel, 2nd grade
• "When we were starting the paper crane, it was hard, but with practice it got easier.  You need to take your time to do the paper crane.  If you don't take your time you will always make mistakes." - Nana, 2nd grade
• "When you make cranes and you do it right, you feel happy, but it's not about racing or anything.  It's about thinking carefully about how to do it and taking your time." - Aaliyah, 2nd grade
• "I'm excited because I got to be a part of this project and help people who are struggling.  Now I'm really good at making cranes." - Zaria, 4th grade

As a memento, students were also asked to create a crane to hang in the school hallway along with a wish for themselves, a friend, family member, school, another country or the world. 

Here are some of the wishes that were shared:

• "I wish for world peace." 
• "I wish everyone could have one more life." 
• "I wish I could be Spider-Man." 
• "I wish my great-grandmother could live long enough for the summer." 
• "I wish I knew my nana and my cousins were going to be OK." 

Kudos to the students, teachers and parents of John Adams Elementary School for providing such a stellar example of how one community can turn an educational experience into a community event for the benefit of their counterparts on the other side of the world.