AUBURN - Busy little hands grabbed at the brightly colored markers scattered on the art room tables in Herman Avenue Elementary School.

The second-grade students concentrated hard as they drew pictures of flowers, rainbows and American flags.

"These cards are for the victims of Hurricane Katrina," second-grader Jack Pflug said. "They need some help cheering up."

Art teacher Jessica Rice initiated the card-making project earlier this week. The cards will go to two elementary schools in Baton Rouge - Mayfair and Scotlandville. Both schools are currently housing hundreds of displaced students from New Orleans.

"These kids are doing what they can to help cheer up those who have lost everything," Rice said. "It is the best way to truly teach them about caring for others."

The stack of cards collecting on Rice's desk are filled with messages of cheer and hope. Students also took the time to write poems and short stories.

"I want the recipient of these cards to be able to read them, and even if for only a split second, not think about anything bad," Rice said.

At the front of Rice's classroom is a large clear jug labeled "Cash for Katrina."

As students walk in and out of the classroom they drop in coins and dollar bills.

"These kids have been giving money right out of their piggy banks," Rice said. "It really gives them that sense of being able to help someone."

In January, Rice also coordinated similar projects to help those countries devastated by the Dec. 26 tsunami in Asia. These projects also serve as learning tools and comply with many of the standards laid out by New York state, which require students to use art to understand social, cultural and environmental dimensions of human society. Rice noted there are some lessons the state just doesn't cover.

"These are hard life skills to teach," Rice said. "There are no guidelines or standards to explain something like this."

Rice's students have been turning in two to three cards each; many students have even been making extra cards at home.

Rice has been conducting the project on all grade levels and hopes to send more than 500 cards.

"I want these cards to be like a torch and get passed from hand to hand and spread as much cheer as possible," Rice said. "It is important that our students know that they can help, even in small ways."

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235

or ashley.lipsky@lee.net