SERVICE LEARNINGTIPS FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Who am I?Teacher, Non-profit founder,

Activist

What is the old model of school

charity projects?

● Canned food drive● Mindless fund-

raising● Teacher-directed

● Bake sale

What does the service learning

model look like?

SEE A DIFFERENCE?

What is service learning?

A teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Who does it benefit? .

Goals of service learning:The service-learning project should clearly integrate

the topics being covered in the class curriculumThe project students complete should benefit the

community and the studentThe project needs clearly identified learning

objectivesThe students should be required to reflect on and

evaluate their Service-Learning project and objectives

Where does it take place?

Service-learning takes place both in the classroom and in the community.

Example: Schutz “Connect” Class presents:

Egyptian Poverty & Blanket

Distribution Project

.

STEP ONE: BUILD INTEREST AMONGST STUDENTSUse personal stories or visualization techniques to pique their interest and spark their empathy.Give students voice and choice.In this case, have students close their eyes and imagine going to sleep feeling very cold. How does it feel?

STEP TWO: STUDY THE ISSUE

Start by studying the underlying issue.Pose questions to the students.In this case, why do these people need blankets in the first place?What does it mean “to be poor”?What is poverty? How do we define it? How do we measure it?

STEP THREE: SEEK A SOLUTION

How can we, as a class, improve this situation?Research local non-profits that are doing effective work in the region.Speak to the people themselves to know:- What are your needs?- Are there any organizations you have worked with

before?

STEP FOUR: BECOME AN ADVOCATE

Once students learn about the issue, they need to find a way to tell others about this reality.Become a mouthpiece, raise awareness!Students create a poster which has important statistics and facts explaining their service learning project.

STEP FIVE: FIND A LOCAL PARTNER

When you find a local organization or community leader to work with, be very clear to lay out:

The educational goals you wish to achieve

The amount of money you have to contribute (be clear here that you are not a limitless source of money)

The kind of experience you want for your students (such as being a hands-on experience where students actually meet the recipients)

STEP SIX: RAISE FUNDSLet students provide ideas for fundraisingMake it competitiveMake sure it’s very measurable. How much does

one blanket cost?Keep your results posted in school as you collect

moneyCelebrate those students that are raising money to

encourage othersAsk students on a daily basis what they have done

to improve the lives of your recipients

STEP SEVEN: HANDS-ON SERVICE COMPONENT

Do not simply pass along the money to your local partner.Take your students to visit the people and interact with them.GIve them the satisfaction of personally handing out the supplies to the people in need. This is what they have worked for!Encourage them to go beyond simply saying, “Here, this is for you.” Foster deeper conversations: what do you have in common?

STEP EIGHT: STUDENT FEEDBACK

How did it feel to help these people? Has your impression of their situation changed after meeting them? How would you feel if the roles were reversed and you were the one being helped? What are some other ways you can make a difference?

There are so many questions to ask. When students actively reflect on what they have done, they understand it much more. This can start on the bus ride home or the next day in school or as a homework assignment. It’s good to record their responses on video right after the service. Writing about it also helps them reflect on it in a big picture way.

STEP NINE: CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSDon’t be afraid to let kids feel great about what they did.

If they feel a real sense of achievement, they will feel great about what they were able to do.

This can be done in an assembly where they can share their feedback or in class where they can each say how this impacted them.

The class can look back at photos or video of the service and discuss.

Teachers need to let students bask in their success. They improved people’s lives!

.

This year’s

back-to-school

Backpack

Buddy Program

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBBbHeqyuUM

Now it’s your turn.What can you do?