Creative writing assignment leads to goat gift

What started out as a creative writing assignment for Imelda Wagstaff's second-grade class at Madrona Elementary School in Thousand Oaks grew beyond her expectations recently when her students' enthusiasm led to a gift for Heifer International.

Wagstaff provided each student with a dollar bill with the instruction that they were not to spend it on themselves, but to think about how they could grow that dollar and eventually make a donation with it to someone in need. Their writing assignment would describe how they would accomplish this.

At first the students considered toy sales, lemonade stands and book sales. A suggestion was made that they could put their plans into action. The students created a marketing plan and sold baked goods to their schoolmates during recess. The initial $19 netted $140 through the bake sale.

With this money, the class purchased a goat and a flock of baby chicks for a needy family through Heifer International. Each student wrote a fourparagraph essay describing the project in detail. The essays were displayed on the classroom wall for open house.

These second-graders have set an example to other students that everyone, no matter how old, can make a difference.

For more information about Heifer International, visit www.heifer.org.