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Goal

EXPLORE our wonderful Naples Community! THINK about the connections made between the classroom curriculum and the community! DISCOVER that learning carries over from the classroom into the community!
Our goal is to immerse our special needs students into learning opportunities outside of the classroom. These learning opportunities will allow them to make real life connections from the Modified Unique Curriculum that is taught in the classroom to the Naples Community in which they live. Students will increase their understanding of classroom based instruction with the opportunity to also practice social skills by following social rules of the community. 

What will be done with my students

The students will be immersed into community based hands-on learning experiences. These experiences will allow our students to make connections outside of the classroom environment. There will be five planned community based experiences.
1) We will travel to the Recycling Center in October to connect the information from the Unit Topic, Scientific Inquiry. The connections made will be demonstrated through participation in a Modified Curriculum science fair focused on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
2) We will travel to Palm Cottage/Naples Pier in January to connect the information from the Unit Topic, History. Students will look at life in Collier County and how it has changed over time. The connections made will be demonstrated with a poster project titled Then and Now.
3) We will travel to the Daily News News in February to connect the information from the Unit Topic, Government. Students will look at the right of free speech through the newspaper and how this impacts daily lives. The connections made will be demonstrated through the development of a class newspaper within the classroom.
4) We will travel to the local Publix in April to connect the information from the Unit Topic, Economics. Through a tour of the various departments, students will look at ways to earn money through the variety of jobs available at Publix. They will also have the opportunity to shop using a shopping list prepared in the classroom. The connections will be demonstrated by preparing a simple meal within the classroom to share with their peers. During this shared meal, student will be encouraged to discuss the variety of workers and various jobs available at the local Publix.
5) Students will travel to the local Estates Library in May to connect information from the Unit Topic, Life Science. Students will listen to a variety of books regarding Life Science read by the local librarian. She will also share the summer reading program with the students. Students will choose a book to check out that explores how and why offspring resemble its parents. Students will also receive their own library card after filling out the application in the classroom. Students will demonstrate connections by preparing a final school year poster project on offspring and its parents.  

Benefits to my students

All of our Modified Curriculum II-III students have Intellectual Disabilities. Typically students with Intellectual Disabilities (IND) struggle academically, socially and with communication skills. All students will practice these skills in a hands-on, inclusive setting within the Naples Community. This is also an opportunity to teach the public awareness and acceptance of persons with disabilities. We feel it is our job to help all students belong. Part of our job is to educate the wider community about the needs of a child who may be perceived as "different" to help them become embraced as part of the community.  

Budget Narrative

Each field trip will require an estimated 3-4 hours of transportation costs, including driver wages of 21.50/hour. Each trip would require no entrance fee, just transportation cost. Each trip would conclude with a packed school lunch picnic to a local community park. The picnic lunch will allow students the opportunity to spend time among their peers to discuss their observations and experiences of each field trip.
Due to a variety of circumstances,many of our Special Needs Students never have the chance to experience our beautiful Naples Community. These five community based trips would enhance their learning within the classroom and also allow them new experiences outside of the classroom.  

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