NEW MONUMENTS
MeMorials ThaT MaTTer
826 National’s Commitment to Inclusion
As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps of learning occur, we commit to inclusion: We will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, immigration status, military service, or disability.
826michigan Staff
Megan Shuchman, Executive Director
Catherine Calabro Cavin, Education Director
Frances Martin, Operations Director
Megan Gilson, Program Manager
Denise Ervin, Program Manager
Caitlin Koska, Volunteer Manager
Kinyel Friday, Operations Manager
Paige Bennett, Detroit Teaching Artist
Maya Jain, Virtual Teaching Artist
Copyright © 2022 by 826michigan and Blotch Books. All rights reserved by 826michigan, the many whims of Drs. T & G Blotch, and the authors.
The views expressed in this book are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of 826michigan. We believe in the power of youth voice and are thrilled that you picked up this book. No part of this book may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher, except for small excerpts for the purposes of review or scholarly study.
Many thanks to Holmes Elementary and our volunteers for their participation in this field trip.
By purchasing this book, you are helping 826michigan continue to offer free student programs. For more information, please visit: 826michigan.org
Table of Contents
About the Program iv
New Monument Proposals
Monument to Water
Monument to Sleep
Monument to Family Game Night
Write Your Own Monument Proposal
Draw Your Proposed Monument
826michigan
New Monuments | iii
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6 About
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About the Program
This book contains writing from 826michigan’s New Monuments field trip program. During this program, students explore what a monument is and can be, dreaming up new possibilities for local ways to honor heroes and specialties, from the playful (coney dogs and magical creatures) to the serious (activists and abolitionists). In collaboration with 826michigan volunteers, students envision and draw these new possibilities, and then write about why they think their new monuments should be built. This project is based on the work by student writers at our sister chapter 826 New Orleans and their publication Courageous, Eccentric, Diverse: New Monuments for New Orleans.
A Monument to Water
There are many things that live in the water like seahorses, fish, dolphins, sharks, starfish and mermaids.
Water comes in many forms and colors. Water is in pools, lakes, beaches, and swamps. It can be dirty or clean. If you swim in dirty water, you can get an ear infection. Water is blue because it reflects the color of the sky, but usually it is clear. All animals need water. Sometimes, bunnies jump into water.
Our monument would include both water and the animals that live in it. We want to put our monument at a busy beach inside a dome so it is protected from tornadoes.
We should have a monument dedicated to water because animals live in it, people use water for fun, and people need water to drink and stay hydrated.
New Monuments | 1
A Monument to Sleep
Have you ever been late to school? We are late to school all the time because we are tired. Sleep is very important for many different reasons. It’s healthy, it helps you stay awake, and you can dream! When you sleep you can do anything you want in your dreams. It also helps grow your brain. A healthy brain helps in school.
Our monument would be made out of metal and will include a bed. It would be located at Frog Island or at our house, where lots of people live and everyone can enjoy it.
In conclusion, sleep helps you get all the things you need to get done. It also helps to inspire you to get things done so then you can go to sleep after!
Mr. Nirva’s Fourth Grade Class at Holmes Elementary
2 |
A Monument to Family Game Night
What do you like to do at family game night? You can do anything! You can play board games and video games, have a movie night, and even try cooking! Family game night helps you bond with your family when you hang out with them. It teaches you teamwork and games last longer than if you play alone. It is more fun, too, when you have someone to play with.
Family game night is important because it helps you have fun, spend time with your family and keeps you out of trouble.
The monument would be a painting of a family and a sign that says “Game Night” with video game controllers made of recycled car parts that can turn into a car. It would be located in the parking lot of a community gathering place so everyone can play together.
On family game nights, you get to go to sleep later! You will go to bed happier than before which is why we need a monument for it.
New Monuments | 3
4 | Mr.
Nirva’s Fourth Grade Class at Holmes Elementary
Design Your Own Monument
WHO or WHAT would you like to memorialize?
Opening sentence to hook the reader’s attention:
What are some facts to support your proposal?
Share your feelings about why the proposed monument is important.
Describe your vision of the monument. Where would it be located? What does it look like? What is it made of?
Conclusion to support your proposal:
New Monuments | 5
Draw or Insert a picture of your group or self-designed monument.
| Mr. Nirva’s Fourth Grade Class at Holmes Elementary
6
Draw or Insert a picture of your group or self-designed monument.
New Monuments
| 7
inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their communities.
Our writing and tutoring programs uphold a culture of creativity and imagination and support students in establishing strong habits of mind. Through publication and community engagement, we provide students with an authentic and enthusiastic audience for their writing.
Our programs provide an energizing creative outlet for students and meaningful volunteer opportunities for community members.
SCHOOLWORK SUPPORT
We organize trained volunteer tutors to work with students one-on-one with their homework after school. Homework support is available for all subjects, for students ages 7–18.
WORKSHOPS
We offer a number of free workshops taught by professional artists, writers, and our talented volunteers. From comic books to screenplays, bookmaking to radio, our wide variety of workshops are perfect for writers of all ages and interests. One of the most popular workshops we offer is our weekly Wee-bots program for elementaryaged writers.
IN-SCHOOL PROJECTS
Our trained volunteers go into local public schools to support teachers with their classroom writing assignments. Based on the teacher’s curriculum, assignments range from writing tales to crafting college essays to exploring poetry.
FIELD TRIPS
Students come as a class to our writing lab to join a group of volunteers, interns, and staff in order to help solve a problem through writing—whether that is our editor Dr. Blotch’s insomnia, our looming story deadline, a mystery in need of solving, or one of the many others we encounter. Our field trips always end in a finished publication of original writing that students take home.
OUR STORES
Our Robot Supply Co. stores are one-stop shops for robots, robot owners, and enthusiasts alike. They are designed to inspire creativity and bring awareness of our programs to the community. In addition, our online store is always open; visit the Robot Supply Co. at onwardrobots.com. All proceeds from our stores directly fund our free student programming. Onward robots!
