Write Now! Intergenerational Pen Pals

What do you think of when you hear the word service? How about the word project? These are the two words that, when combined, stir fear in many students' hearts. Service projects are often a part of high school curriculums, as creating and building meaningful change in local communities is something that can teach more than any classroom.

When my school gave me the assignment to conduct a service project at home, I panicked. I had no idea what to do, or even how to begin something so daunting. A good service project, I learned, isn’t a band aid that tries to fix every broken system, it should simply fill a gap.  I thought back communities I had visited in the past. I thought about my grandfather, who spent his later years in a care facility, and the cards and drawings that my brother and I would make for him. I remembered how, as girl guides, we would make cards every Christmas for the residents of a care home and drop them off while singing some Christmas carols.

Mabel, back right, with Grade 6 students and their letters

After doing some more research, I found that intergenerational connections can help alleviate loneliness for those in long-term care facilities, and that writing with a purpose can strengthen literacy skills in students. The idea of pen pals between students and residents at care facilities felt like something that would be meaningful for both the students and the seniors. With this in mind, I reached out to my former teacher, Ms. Hitch, to talk to her about this idea.  

After some chats about how to best go about this project, I began to create some materials for the students. With help from Ms. Hitch, I put together guides on how to write letters, what appropriate content could be, and some fun prompts to get things started. I then put Ms. Hitch’s class in contact with Sunridge, a local care home, where Dennis, the activity coordinator, was eager to receive the cards.

Grade 6 student with their senior pen pal

After the seniors had responded, I had the opportunity to visit Ms. Hitch’s class to talk with them about letter writing. I was delighted to hear the enthusiasm that the students had for their pen pal, and we discussed how to go deeper in our written responses to the seniors. I also had the opportunity to read some of the letters -- a genuinely lovely experience.

The care and attention to detail that the seniors showed, combined with the excitement of the students, led to the most moving, honest and entertaining letter exchange across generations. 

by Mabel, a 2021 Sunrise Waldorf School Alum