LCC Phi Theta Kappa Action Project Impacts Area Classrooms

(Parsons, KS -) Labette Community College’s (LCC) Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Chapter recently completed its Honors in Action Project. This project starts with focusing on the honor society’s study topic, this year’s being The Art and Science of Play. The Chapter decided to research the question, "What impact does play have on mental health?"

With several members of the PTK Chapter majoring in education, the research turned to the impact of play within a school setting. After reviewing findings from several academic journals, they invited Cheryl Jones, a licensed social worker at the Labette Center for Mental Health Services and PTK alum, to speak at a Chapter meeting. Ms. Jones talked about the importance of games when working with children, as they are more likely to be open about issues happening in their lives if they are playing. One example Ms. Jones used was the game of "Connect Four." This game makes you step back and look at the situation before making your next move, which is something individuals need to learn to do when experiencing high emotions. Many games, fidget toys, and breathing exercises can help students and teachers in the classroom when mental health issues may arise.

PTK wanted to apply the information learned from Jones, so decided to create activity boxes for grade school classrooms. They wrote and received a $1,000.00 Honors in Action Grant from Phi Theta Kappa and the Mellon Foundation. The Chapter members reached out to grade schools in both Labette and Cherokee counties to ask if they would like to receive the free activity boxes. The response was overwhelming, with fourteen different schools requesting the boxes. PTK used its fundraising dollars to supplement the grant to ensure all the schools requesting the boxes would receive them.

In early November, Chapter members gathered in the Cardinal Café at LCC, putting together more than 170 boxes for area schools. Each package included over two dozen fidget toys, a Connect Four game, and multiple breathing exercise cards; PTK delivered them to the schools in late November. School administrators and teachers expressed appreciation for these gifts, as over 2,500 students in our counties were affected by the mental health activity boxes.