Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Project.

In her novel, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, Amy Krouse Rosenthal writes an entry on "Change": 

This money was left here intentionally and is specifically for your use. I know it's not much--perhaps just enough to treat yourself to a cookie, coffee, a lottery ticket, donation to the homeless, a new pair of socks... In any case, I hope it changes your day for the better. All I ask in return is that you let me know how you spend it. You don't have to sign your name, and a prepaid postcard is included. Enjoy.

Every week, for close to a year, I left an envelope containing this note, some loose change, and a stamped postcard addressed to my P.O. box for a random stranger to discover. I'd like to say that I set out to do this for purely altruistic reasons. But, more accurately, I did it because I'm easily bored/easily amused, and experiments such as this inject a morsel of suspense into the week. That, and I really like getting mail. (52)

In our classroom, we are writing our own "Encyclopedias," and we opted to vary this project to make it our own. A couple of our modifications:

1. Communication will take place via a blog (this one, obviously) as well as through email (loosechangetheworld@gmail.com). The teacher will have sole access to the email account to protect the anonymity of the students. 

2. The change envelopes we distribute will include a note that instructs people to use it to help someone else. 

Stay tuned as we brainstorm our ideas and start Loose Changing the World.