Pay it forward

The overarching theme of 7th grade at SGS is “positive change from the ground up,” as students work to both develop their own individual voices and advocate for the rights and needs of others. The PIF project allows students to take this work to the next level by using their burgeoning skills to champion positive change in the world around them.

What is Pay It Forward?

The Pay It Forward Project embraces the notion that our students are fully capable of becoming change agents right now. Seventh graders chose issues they found personally meaningful and created multiple products to raise awareness about them. Throughout the process, they learned and practiced a variety of skills as they assumed the role of activist. Each student worked to make change starting at “the faucet” level by identifying, researching, and addressing three main root causes of the issue. This culmination is a chance for students to showcase and celebrate the hard work they have put into the Pay It Forward (PIF) project.

A Culmination of the 7th Grade Curriculum

The 7th Grade Pay It Forward project blends skills and concepts we’ve been working on in all of the core disciplines. Students used class time to accomplish an impressive number of tasks. They conducted research, wrote and recorded a podcast, created a work of art, analyzed the perspective of stakeholders regarding their issue. They additionally determined the primary root causes and impacts of their issues, and identified possible solutions. Finally, students created a website to showcase the multiple dimensions of their work.

Primary Goals of Pay It Forward

1. Students understand that they have a responsibility to act for positive change in the world. They see that they are able to make a real difference, not just in the future but now.

2. Students understand that meaningful action takes many forms and comes in many sizes. They identify possible courses of action, consider differing perspectives, and identify actions that could address the root causes of their chosen issues.

3. Students are able to act in ways that reflect and reinforce their personal values.

In the course of their Pay It Forward projects, students worked to...

• Develop independent research skills and time management skills.

• Develop specific note-taking strategies.

• Consider the difference between a root cause and an observable symptom.

• Develop empathy by recognizing and reflecting on multiple perspectives.

• Address and communicate about an issue using multiple mediums.

• Use evidence to support claims.

Website Navigation

• Individual websites for each student’s topic are included on the 2021 Student Projects page

• Student oral representations (to be uploaded after May 21)