"Our class wanted to do a rewards incentive," said Hadley. "So, we contacted Mt. Clemens Public Library, which is right down the street from us. We chose it because it was free, so all the kids were able to sign up if they wanted to go and had a permission slip. We walked down to the library, and they had a presenter who set up everything for us."
The library experience kicked off with story time featuring “The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors.” Afterward, students got to participate in their own “Battle of Rock Paper Scissors” game. "They battled each other, and then they had to spin a wheel to see what they landed on—rock, paper, or scissors,” shared Hadley.
“The whole point was to incorporate a STEM activity," Duff explained. "After playing the game, students had to graph the results, which turned into a fun lesson on probability."
Fourth and fifth graders took part in the STEM activity, while third graders had their own hands-on learning activity. In addition to the activities, students received a full tour of the library, learning where everything is located and discovering that libraries today offer more than just books.
Students participated in a STEM activity and were able to see everything the library has to offer the community.
"They found out the library had PS5s, Wiis, and all these other things they could play," Duff shared. "They were all saying, ‘I’m getting my parents to take me here!’”
To earn the trip, students had to meet specific behavior expectations. "It was a positive behavior reward," Duff said. "Students had to have no suspensions and be in positive standing with fewer than three behavior infractions, so a lot of our kids were able to go.”
Not only was the trip a great way to reinforce positive behavior, but it also introduced many students to a place they had never visited before. "A lot of the kids had never been to the library," Duff noted. "Now, they know it’s a safe place where they can do homework, get books, rent movies, and take part in after-school programs."
This trip is just the beginning of incentives planned for students at Prevail Academy. "We have two more trips lined up," Hadley said. "We’re going to a Tigers game, where students will learn about the science behind weather and how it affects the game. We’re also planning a visit to the Henry Ford Museum, which students are really looking forward to."
Great job coming up with creative ways to encourage and reward positive behavior!
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About Prevail Academy
Prevail Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Mount Clemens, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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