Bright and early the LASA team started the day as usual with a hardy breakfast.  Afterwards, we prepped a lesson plan for the students we had met at Brooklyn Heights. Our lesson included goal setting, peer pressure, and hygiene. 

Once we were set, we decided to go to Durban China City, an indoor swap meet to buy toys, games, and decorations for the renovation of the daycare center.  After we purchased all the supplies, we went to Brooklyn Heights to present our lesson plans to the classes we met yesterday.

Once we arrived at the school, the group divided into two groups of three. Each group went into two separate seventh grade classrooms with students from ages 12-14. We started off with an “ice breaker”  where we asked the students questions about their likes and interests. Once all were a little more comfortable and adjusted, we began talking about setting goals and the steps to accomplishing those goals. First our group members shared personal experiences and we spoke on situations where peer pressure could have affected our current status. We explained both negative and positive forms of peer pressure and talked about the outcomes of giving into peer pressure. After stating the importance of making the right decisions in life, we brought up hygiene as both a short-term and long-term goal. Some of the LASA members took part in skits for the kids and tried teaching them some dance moves. By the end of our stay both classrooms had children dancing and singing.

We ate lunch at Brooklyn Heights, courtesy of the staff. While finishing up we received the news that fair housing protests were being held at the hall where the daycare center is located in Bottlebrush. Due to this event the director of the daycare center was concerned for our safety, so we will return tomorrow to finish the work we began yesterday. We used our free time to begin planning for tomorrows lessons for the Brooklyn Heights School.

Based on everything that happened during our day, we felt accomplished that we were able to encourage the students to pursue their dreams, but at the same time disappointed that we weren’t able to work on the renovation of the daycare center.