Mar. 27, 2023 -- Literature can do a lot of things, including entertain, educate and inspire. For Mindy Hamilton’s multi-age class at Fairfax School, the experience of reading books about animals in need has led them to take action.

After immersing themselves in several novels, including The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob, and the children’s classic Shiloh, the class has embarked on an International Baccalaureate Exhibition project that will benefit local animal shelters. And they recently got a big boost in the form of an IB Primary Years Programme Scholarship worth $500 from the Ohio Association of IB World Schools.

They plan to use that money to buy basic items that animal shelters rely on such as dog and cat food, and laundry detergent and other cleaning supplies. They then hope that the school and community will help by donating toys and treats so they can put together laundry baskets full of donations for multiple shelters.

“They’ll want to share because kids like animals, especially dogs and cats because they’re cute,” said Caedan of the school helping out. His classmate Liam hopes so because “If the animals don’t have a home, they’ll be lonely, sad and scared. But they’ll be a lot happier if they have toys.”

The 5th graders in Ms. Hamilton’s room will use this project as their 5th Grade Exhibition, a culminating activity for IB World Schools, exposing the 3rd and 4th graders in her class to that experience as well.

They’ve had to exhibit multiple IB traits so far, including being inquirers as they researched the needs of animals shelters and being caring by creating Thank You cards for shelter staff.

They’ll also be visiting each class in their building to make a public appeal for donations. They’ve written up a script that describes what they’re doing and why, adding another IB trait to their project: risk-taking.

“I’m nervous but happy” about visiting the classrooms, said Caedan. “It’s a big thing for me to talk in front of big crowds.”

Reading about animals without a home provided some interpersonal lessons as well from making connections to children who are homeless or in foster care to recognizing that animals have feelings too. “Sometimes Bob [the stray dog in The One and Only Bob] would have trouble controlling his emotions,” said Liam. “Just like people.”

Samir was relieved that Bob found a home at the end of the story and hopes that this class project can lead to happy endings for local animals.

If any readers would like to donate items to Fairfax School, they can be dropped off in the office through April 21.