Phase 1
Articulating Students’ Ideas About Community Issues
Homework assignments
Written expression was
rather limited in this first phase as no connection to their own lives had yet
been made. The following
assignment was given after a day of brainstorming their own personal interests.
Homework “What do you and your family
think should be in the park?
“I think they should
put a big Alaska science center there and have a walkway to the river and have
the other side of the park just the way it is so people can have picnics and
play games and such. The science
museum should have most of the walls made of glass so you can see the river and
the others. “ Paige
“Little sister: She thinks we should make benches a
little closer to the river.
Mom: She thinks we should make a little pond
so ducks and other animals will have
a place to rest without being pushed downstream.
Dad: We should have a
person like a park ranger to make sure no one litters and if they do get some
sort of fine.
Kahlia: I think we should plant trees in a row
and make a ath so people can walk through it. Also, we should have a handicap ramp.” Kahlia
“My mom thought a
little coffee shop and a restaurant.” Kyle
“Family talk about
the Park
Mom- archery center,
seashell museum
Dad - play park,
recreation center
Brother- soccer field,
skateboarding park
Sister – swimming
pool, horse track
Me – skateboarding,
park, lake”
Eli
#1 What are the best ways
to gather information from our community?
#2 Should we focus on
City of Soldotna residents or on a larger section?
#3 Who would be a great
person to interview in detail?
Selections from DOT Student Journals
1. To get a lot of
people’s attention we could put an ad in the paper talking about the
park. What should be done, voting
how the pollution should be dealt with.
How people can help. Info
about the park.
A paper could be put up at
Fred Meyers. My sister says
that a lot of people look at the bulletin board at the bathrooms.
Then an address would be
written in the paper and bulletin board, then they would ask people to write
letters of opinions or ideas for the park.
2. My mom thinks the Kenai
Peninsula should vote on the DOT Park because they would probably use it and
they have to pay taxes for it.
My dad thinks that it
should be voted on by the Kenai Peninsula. Because tourists will come and enjoy
it. Also, he thinks it should only
be the city because people outside Soldotna only will be they’re only in
Soldotna for a few months. So they
shouldn’t vote because they don’t pay money for it and they only
would use it for a few months.
My mom says tourists
should not vote because they do not live here year round.
3. Mom -City Planners,
Teenagers, people of the community.
Dad- Pete Sprague. There is a lady on city council, but I
can’t remember her name. City people, younger people of the
peninsula.