A culminating assignment

 Opener: Review (5 minutes)

• Review information about the MPA and the LIP grant applications from the previous lessons

 Discussion: Criteria (10-15 minutes)

• Introduce the cumulative activity and the criteria
• Assign project with a due date

 Activity: Newsletter, Promotional Video or Funding Letter (30-40 minutes)

• Students choose one of three culminating activities:newsletter, promotional video or funding request
• All three activities encourage students to take the point of view of someone who would have been part of the mental health movement in order to reflect on the purpose and impact of organizing

Group activities: Make a newsletter or promotional video

• • In groups of three or four, students create a newsletter or a promotional video that would introduce (ex)patients to their organization in the hopes that they would support and/or join
  • The newsletter should have printed material from the website as well as original writing and should be approximately four pages long
  • Original pieces could include: A letter from the editor reflecting on the beginnings of the organization; a report from a (fictional) demonstration; a letter to the editor discussing the impact organizing has had on their life
  • The video should reenact material from the website as well as additional support to promote the organization.
  • Original pieces could include: interviews with organizers reflecting on the discussing the beginnings of the organization; special news reports about the organizations’ events and services ;or ex-patients reflecting on the impact organizing has had on their life.
  • The video should be four to eight minutes in length

Individual activity: Write a letter requesting funding to start a community initiative

• Students write a letter to a funding agency (fictional or otherwise) asking for funds to start a community initiative
• Letter should include: reasons for initiative; what the initiative would involve and who it would include; what it would hope to achieve; and provide examples for other initiatives that are examples for the type of work they would want to achieve
• Students will need additional time either in class or as homework to complete the assignment
• Review criteria and due date
• Students’ work should be displayed for the rest of the class (or school) to view.  Promotional videos should be shown in class if time allows.  Viewing other students’ work reinforces concepts and offers satisfaction to many students who have worked hard and will be proud of their projects

 Reaching All Learners

• Students who struggle with written work have the option of working in a group to produce a promotional video to show what they know.  As students have been supported in the gathering of information, students should be able to contribute to the group well
• This option will not work for all learners and teachers should be prepared to modify the written requirement for the letter.  In some cases, removing the emphasis on editing and form may be enough to allow the student to succeed.  In other cases, an oral presentation or reduced output will be necessary

 Extension

• Have students organize a Mental Health Day for the school to create awareness.

 Resources

• Students use their notes from previous research from other lessons.
• Ideally, students would have access to the computer lab to review material and create their report.