On April 29, Levels 5-8 participated in The 1,000,000 Bones Project. Through this project students gained awareness about the current humanitarian conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. After learning about these issues students got to work making many “bones” out of recycled and biodegradable materials. These bones, along with thousands of others made by schools across the country, will be displayed in the Washington, DC mall in June in order to raise awareness about these issues.  Students put their 21st century skills into action while completing this project. It was wonderful to see the students using their creativity, collaboration, and leadership skills to design, create, and problem solve!

While creating the bones, students engaged in animated conversations about the science of bone construction and the purpose of the project. The value and lasting impact of this project was nicely summarized in the post project reflections. A Level 6 student shared that, “When such a heartbreaking topic is presented to a group of kids it is not easy to make it into something happy, but what we did today showed me something different. It showed me that I can make a difference.” A Level 8 student shared that,  “As a Level 8 leader of  this project, I think it helped me become more mature and confident.”  Many students echoed similar feelings of empowerment and growth, as well as appreciation for the opportunity to be involved with a “project that really brought together the Turning Point School community for an amazing cause.” (Level 8 student)