Introducing... The Shoebox Project for Schools!

Back to school with The Shoebox Project! Over the summer we developed an engaging and relevant curriculum for schools about homelessness. We're so excited to empower youth to reach out and give back this year!

At The Shoebox Project, we believe that EVERYONE can make a difference. This school year, we want to promote community engagement and volunteerism among our youth while offering a fun, interactive way for students to give back to their local community.

The Shoebox Project For Schools is a unit of 12 lessons aimed at informing youth in Grades 7 and 8 about homelessness in their communities, the causes, the issues and the potential solutions.   

Some of the main objectives of The Shoebox Project for Schools are to:  

• Help students dissect the complex issues surrounding poverty and homelessness, particularly as they relate to women
• Challenge stigmas and stereotypes
• Foster empathy and understanding
• Promote community engagement and volunteerism

This program allows teachers to meet current Ontario curriculum expectations for Language, Media, Math, Health and Wellness and Art while educating our youth about an important social issue.  Each lesson in the package contains detailed plans, curriculum expectations, background information for the teacher and the students, multimedia videos, engaging activities and answer keys. The lessons are designed to challenge and inform students as well as provide them the opportunity to develop all areas of their learning skills.

Here is a sneak peek of the table of contents for the unit and our introductory package to teachers!

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Interested in learning more about The Shoebox Project for Schools? Here's how!

Students: Show this blog post to your teachers and parents. Consider starting a club at your school or running a fundraiser to collect items to make Shoeboxes. Contact your Local Coordinator to find out how you can get involved in a Shoebox Project drive near you! We can help you brainstorm ways to incorporate The Shoebox Project into service learning projects, birthdays, or holiday parties. 

Teachers: Email us if your interested to start using The Shoebox Project for Schools in your classroom. We would love to help make it a successful addition to your curriculum!

Parents: Talk with teachers you know and let them know about The Shoebox Project for Schools.  You can also volunteer your time and help students start a club or fundraiser to make Shoeboxes for your community. Feel free to contact your Local Coordinator to discuss other ways of supporting The Shoebox Project in your area!

​For more information regarding this program or if you’re interested in bringing The Shoebox Project to your school, please contact Lesley Hendry at lesley@shoeboxproject.com.

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Author

Natasha Rankin is an Ontario certified teacher and a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. This is her 6th year of teaching and she has taught both primary and high school in the United Kingdom and in Canada.