Clayton Huey Elementary and Center Moriches Middle School in the Center Moriches Union Free School District recently collaborated on their annual Monster Match activity. The project began with Clayton Huey second graders drawing original pictures of monsters, which were handed off to sixth graders in the middle school’s consumer science course. The older students transformed the drawings into stuffed animals using their sewing skills.

In Ms. Phillips’s art class, second graders created their very own imaginative monster drawings. The drawings were delivered to Jennifer Voelger, family and consumer sciences teacher at Center Moriches Middle School and the organizer of the activity. She thoughtfully matched each drawing to a sixth grader based on their sewing skill level. As the final assessment of their sewing unit, the students color matched, interpreted patterns, used scissors and pins correctly, sewed on buttons, and applied a variety of hand-sewing stitches they’d learned to create the stuffed animals. The middle schoolers then hand-delivered the monsters to the students at Clayton Huey.

When the activity originated, sixth graders designed and sewed their own monsters. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Voelger wanted to reestablish a connection between her students and their former elementary school. Art teacher Brenda Blumberg suggested using second grade artwork, and the collaboration was born.

“From the very first year, the project has been an incredible success. Beyond the skill-building and assessment, it becomes a meaningful act of generosity,” said Ms. Voelger. “At first, my 6th graders often feel a little disappointed that their hard work will be given away, but that sentiment changes completely on the day we walk together to the elementary school to deliver the finished monsters. The pride and joy they experience when they hand their creation to a younger student—often a complete stranger—are truly moving. It’s a beautiful moment of selflessness and connection that they remember long after the project ends.”