As a part of my PolarTREC Education and Community Outreach Plan, I began a project to involve classrooms and community groups in my expedition. I borrowed an idea from a former PolarTREC teacher and began a flag activity. First, in June, I asked my students to replace the traditional end of the year teacher gifts with gift cards to a local craft and fabric store. They were very generous and I was able to purchase pain pens and many yards of blue ripstop nylon. I also purchased white denim fabric and paints for an Antarctica animal project I'll describe in a future journal.
In early September, some friends generously donated their days off to work for 2 afternoons cutting and sewing 140 flags.
Thank you Robin, Patty, Gloria, and Sandra! Then I used emails, Facebook, internet list serve groups, and word of mouth to tell people about the project. If they sent me a flag request, I would send them a blank flag and directions for decorating it. Then they would send it back to me and their flag would be flown on the Oden and in Antarctica, then returned back to them after the expedition.
Well, the decorated flags have been arriving in the mail and WOW, do they look great! Here's the flags in group 1. If you don't see your flag don't worry, I have 2 more groups yet to post photos of. And if you have a flag you haven't sent back, it's not too late. I just need it by Dec. 2 so I can pack it! Keep watching my journals to see where the flags get flown!
Lesson Learned: Ask for help with a big project, and how it turns out! You won't be disappointed!
Gloria helped cut A LOT of flags!
Robin sewed all the flags! Thank you!
Monlux Magnet Elementary School, Rm. 14 - My classroom flag!
St. Patrick's Day School-Thousand Oaks, CA
Rice Elementary School-Rosemead, CA
Chapman Hill Elementary School-Salem, OR
Monlux Elementary, Rm. 34-North Hollywood, CA
Monlux Magnet Elementary, Rm. 20-North Hollywood, CA
Ivy Academia Entrepreneurial Charter School, Rm. 10-Woodland Hills, CA
Pine Grove School-Avon, CT
Ridgemoor Elementary School, Rm. 21-Sun City, CA
Monlux Magnet Elementary, Rm. 29-North Hollywood, CA
Lawndale High School-Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Wilson K-8 School-Tuscon, AZ
Baldwin Stocker Elementary School-Arcadia, CA
Monlux Elementary School, Rm. 11-North Hollywood, CA
Monlux Elementary School, Rm. 26-North Hollywood, CA
Monlux Magnet Elementary School, Rm.15_North Hollywood, CA
Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, Rm.106-Tarzana, CA
Flags in Group 1 Hanging In My Room. Don
If you haven't sent back your decorated flag, it's not too late! I just need them by Dec. 2 or 3 - then they'll be packed and on their way to Dallas, Texas, then Santiago Chile, then Punta Arenas, Chile and on to the Oden. Where will your flag be flying next?