The GAP School Social Skills Curriculum:2007-2008

The Social Skills curriculum is the cornerstone of The GAP School. It is the number one question asked by parents: Do you address social skills? Absolutely – five days a week throughout the day and in a class.

Social Skills-Grades: 2nd-4th grades
This classroom time is spent not having to perform academically which seems to be a big relief to our students who are trying so hard in their academic classes. The physical atmosphere is different. There is direct time for verbal and non-verbal processing. Students enjoy the spotlight compliments, play therapy, fun and interactive team building exercises and they learn that they can start trusting. School becomes safe again!

The content of the Social Skills classes involves:

1. sense of self and belonging
2. conflict resolution
3. identification and control of emotions
4. owning your choices
5. developing confidence and self-respect
6. appropriate body language
7. empathy for others
8. verbal pragmatics
9. making and keeping friendships
10. maintaining family relationships
11. identifying your role models

Students have the opportunity to explore these topics through real-time, situational and dramatic play, as well as, through literature and films. Each student maintains a portfolio of projects, journal writings, poetry, and pictures.

Social Action Projects: 5th-8th grades
Students in 5th grade and above will step it up and be engaged in social action projects during the year that explore the six essential elements of achievement: passion, vision, preparation, courage, perseverance and integrity – helping students to make personal connections between the concept of achievement and themselves. Students will also engage in critical thinking about achievement and themselves.

 

They social action projects revolve around the spirit of empathy, heroes, leadership, choosing different paths, tolerance and finding their place in the world.

 

Our “Social Skills/ Social Action” class eagerly  participate in community outreach projects.

Students are introduced to the 2007-08 “Embracing Our Differences” project, in which they are explore concepts of global diversity, tolerance, and acceptance. They participate in various forms of expression through class discussions and art academy projects, with the intention admission and acceptance to the public gallery.   
     
Students also participate in a school-wide food drive to benefit Sarasota’s very own “All Faiths Food Bank”. This year students filled two barrels of food (300 + items). Through this project, students explore concepts such as generosity, empathy, community involvement, ending hunger, and understanding nutrition. Each year, all teams participate in the readings of Stone Soup stories and explore concepts of community. Teams prepare stone soup for the annual friendship luncheon at Thanksgiving.

GAP School students also participate in holiday decorations. We partner with DAYS INN (Clark Rd) to create and decorate a winter holiday tree for the hotel’s lobby. 
     
The older teams complete a Human Growth and Development program focused on the education and awareness of puberty, adolescence, bodily changes, health and wellness. They also have the opportunities to practicing their leadership skills as peer mentors and Teacher Assistants on a weekly basis.

Another school wide program is the Change for Change ShelterBox USA project. ShelterBox USA is the American affiliate of a grassroots international disaster relief organization that was founded in 2000 as a Rotary Club project. ShelterBox provides and aids in distribution of vital emergency shelter and survival tools in the critical and immediate post-disaster period. Each ShelterBox contains enough equipment for a family/unit of 10 people. This includes: a tent, sleeping bags/blankets (thermal), cooking stove, utensils, basic took kit including trenching tools, water containers and purification tablets, ponchos, ropes, bin bags, and childrens’ activity pack. The project has provided worldwide relief in over 30 countries including Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
 The GAP School will raise $1000 collectively to sponsor a ShelterBox. Once the donation is made, the students follow its journey to learn the stories of the recipients. It allows our students to experience a global community.

This project is motivating, promotes math, social action, long-term planning and team building. It is also an action plan that relates back to the Trunk Program. It will give our  students the ability to understand that they can do something to change the world.

Currently, The GAP School is the only school in Sarasota County participating in this outreach program.