The monsters dreamed up by Donegal kindergartners no longer live only on paper. Thanks to a special collaboration with sixth-graders at Donegal Intermediate School, the colorful creatures sketched in classrooms this winter were transformed into handmade felt plushies, surprise gifts that quickly became treasured keepsakes for many students.

"What makes this year unique is that this year's sixth-graders were the recipients of the project the first year in 2020 and now made the project themselves for our current kindergartners," said Kelly McCart, Donegal Intermediate School art teacher. "This feels 'full circle' to me because these sixth-graders now have the opportunity to return the favor in a way."

McCart explained that Karen Schlasta, a kindergarten teacher at Donegal Primary School, agreed to complete the project with her after McCart suggested the idea based on an assignment she'd completed with high school students in another district.

"This was my first year at Donegal, and I wanted to create connections," McCart said, noting that in the beginning, the students worked with art teacher Jessica Good to design the monsters. "In the years following, the monsters have been created in the homeroom teacher's classroom. This year, we are up to five classrooms participating in this special project."

This year's project started in January.

"A kindergartner creates a drawing of a monster," McCart explained. "This is usually tied into the curriculum through ELA and math. The teacher reads the story 'The Color Monster' by Anna Llenas. In math, the students learn about shapes and how shapes can be used to create larger pictures."

Using a template, the students work on designing their monster, before McCart's sixth-graders learn basic sewing techniques to turn the drawing into a plushie.

"These plushie monsters are then gifted to the kindergartners as a surprise," she said. "Many of them become keepsakes. I have a few sixth-graders who still have their projects from kindergarten."

Through a grant from the Donegal Foundation, the project also brought in guest artist Ben Masters.

"He is an artist who sews using refurbished sewing machines that he pedal-powers using bicycles," McCart said. "I choose him to come into the project and collaborate with students because I wanted to show students how sewing can be a craft for everyone and can be sustainable. I also wanted to show students that artist skills can be monetized into careers someday."

Masters told the students how he combined his love of cycling and his passion for sewing.

"He then explained how he uses recycled materials like bike tire tubes to create bike bags on his sew-cycle machine," McCart said. "Students were excited to see technology and engineering combined with art and creativity in this way. He then offered feedback and sewing tips to students as they were finishing their monsters."

Once the plushies were finished, the sixth-graders held a video visit with the kindergartners and wrote notes to the recipients of their projects.

"It feels very fulfilling and joyful to be able to make them smile," said sixth-grader Cameron Carroll. "Also, it's nice how we get to make one for a kindergartner when we got them in kindergarten a long time ago too! Also, it is a great project for us to learn to sew and make other people happy."

Sixth-grader Emerson Buckner enjoyed reliving the memory of being on the other end of the project as a kindergartner, while both Cameron and sixth-grader Addison Buckwalter noted they still have their plushies they received in kindergarten.

Added Cameron, "This project is a great project for sixth-graders and has a bit of joy."

McCart encourages teachers in other districts to consider a similar project.

"This is a neat way to give back to younger students and create community in a district," she said. "I recall having a sixth-grade buddy when I was a kindergartner. When we foster connection and do something special for someone else, students can feel a sense of empathy and pride in making something with their own hands as a gift. It is very exciting for the kindergarten students to see their work come to life."