Bridging the Generations Event

“Building a strong democracy requires a long view – and everyone at the table. No one generation can do it alone."

Cogeneration

Students sometimes ask why do we need to learn about civics? Civics is how we connect to our community, region, state or nation to improve or change them. This requires all types of people to work together. As Bill McKibben said " Young people are building the world they’re going to have to live in. We want to shape the world that we’re going to leave behind. Those two things mesh up beautifully."

However, we are losing our intergenerational connections. Older generations want to share their knowledge and experience and young people want their input, but there are few opportunities to do this. We're living in the most age-diverse society in human history and, simultaneously, one of the most age-segregated." This event is intended to break down some of the intergenerational walls and talk about the importance of connecting to one another.

A select group students will have breakfast with the Volunteers and engage in an icebreaker activity. Then all of my students will be the audience for a panel discussion of the Volunteers' civic life. Students will prepare for the opportunity by brainstorming questions in. class and completing the homework assignment linked below. They then will have the opportunity to ask questions. Then in order to truly bridge the generation gap, Volunteers will then be able to ask questions to the eighth graders.

This is how breakfast conversation was facilitated. The Bingo cards include a mix of generation-specific and timeless fun facts and conversation starters around which the students and volunteers connected. This was used during the breakfast where students and Volunteers would have liked more time. Click on the picture of the Bingo card below for a quick example of what the cards look like or use this link that explains more about the Bingo.

This is the worksheet that prompted them to reflect. Student responses can be found here or by using the button before the photos labeled "Student Thoughts on the Event After Reflecting.

An adventurous spirit willing to engage in this important experiment.

A willingness to speak in front of and with 8th graders.

Committed to being recorded for the Groton Channel and posterity.

Been CORI CHECKED (stop by the Groton Dunstable Middle School North office with ID ASAP to get CORI checked. It will take less than five minutes.)

Our Volunteers agreed attend:

• A preparation meeting on October 22.
• The event on October 29, starting at 8:00

8:00-8:25 Catered breakfast hosted by Eighth grade volunteers.
Followed by panel discussion for the eighth grade.