Onion Foundation Awards $800.00 Author Grant to Governor John Fairfield School

The Fairfield PTO would like to extend a huge thank you to Susan and Fritz Onion of the Onion Foundation https://www.onionfoundation.org for awarding our school an $800.00 grant to help bring Author & Illustrator, Kevin Hawkes, www.kevinhawkes.com to Fairfield School next May. The author/illustrator's goal is to help children develop a deeper understanding of how a story is created and learn to use real-world experience to communicate their feelings and ideas through writing and art.

Why is the Author Visit Important for Students?

Reading comprehension, writing, and the development of self-expression are essential parts of early childhood education. Kevin Hawkes is an excellent role model that brings these vital curriculums full circle. With Kevin's guidance, we hope that children develop a deeper understanding of how a story is created and learn to use real-world experience to build their writing. In particular, we want children to understand that art is an essential part of storytelling.

Art education teaches children about color, layout, perspective, and balance and teaches children to observe the world they live in keenly. Our goal is that children will take the author/illustrator experience and apply this in their weekly reading and writing workshops.

When children learn to communicate their feelings and ideas through writing and art, they become more confident, empathetic, and socially aware human beings. We intend that Kevin Hawkes's visit becomes a childhood memory that sparks their imagination, builds their confidence, and encourages them to strive towards achievement.

Hands-on Activities

We plan on connecting Kevin's literacy and art presentation with hands-on, experiential learning for our students. Our focus will be on his book, Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly. Parents have volunteered to purchase a butterfly growing kit for each grade level. The butterfly kits will stay in the school library. Each time the students visit the library, they can watch their insects undergo metamorphosis changing from a caterpillar to chrysalides into butterflies. Students will even have a chance to feed them!

Curriculum Tie-in

Our school librarian will introduce and read Kevin's books with all Fairfield K-2 classes. During reading aloud, she will do an author/illustrator bio and discuss a book illustrator's role. Since we are focusing on the book Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly, our greenhouse volunteers help children plant milkweed seeds in the greenhouse and replant seedlings in the spring. Milkweed is the one plant that monarch butterflies lay their eggs. Also, our students will learn about pollinator populations and their role in our food supply. Teachers will teach students about metamorphosis and life cycles in their classrooms.

Blowing Milkweed Seeds, Children's Garden, Fort William's Park, Cape Elizabeth, Maine.