What is Service Learning? •Service Learning “is a process whereby students research an issue in a community, plan services to address that issue, and implement those services.” •“Service-learning is different from volunteerism in that it is, "...a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities." (Fiske, 2001)

Combining Service and Learning •Writing a healthy recipe book to distribute to local doctor offices is service •Researching the types of diabetes is learning •Students who study diabetes, conduct a survey in their community or online research, and help create helpful pamphlets or volunteer at a local event related to diabetes in order to assist people is service-learning.

Examples of Past Projects *Your issue will be on one of these levels. Local: Cross-age tutoring State: Participating in a beach cleanup National: Influencing government by attending a rally on an issue that is hurting a specific community OR write to a Congressman Global: Raising awareness about women’s rights or creating books for schools

What’s Involved? Community Issue: Issues that cause people, objects, groups, or places to struggle, need assistance & benefit from others’ help Services: actions you take to help those groups that are struggling Services will fall under one of three categories: Influencing the government, contributing to the community, or informing citizens Organizations: You can locate an organization to partner with to complete services. Adult Supervisors Grades: 1) Action Plan- Research, service ideas, and plans to carry out services 2) Culminating Project- Presentation of project & assessment of services 3) Checkpoints- Community Issue research paragraph, current event presentation on Community Issue, and blog reflections

Services: Influencing the Government

Services: Informing Citizens- Red Cross and Storm Safety

Services: Contributing to the Community

Schedule Learning about Service Learning and Components of the project (mid January) Preparation/planning o Choose Community Issue (end of January) Complete research to understand why this issue is a problem o Develop Services (early February) o Contact Organizations (Second week of February) o Creating an action plan & getting approval (End of February) Execution of service activities (March- mid May) Reflection (on-going) Create Culminating project (mid May) Celebration & Evaluation (end of May)

Schedule School: Home/Community: o Research & writing of action plans o Reflection activities o Preparing culminating project o Presentations at “Day of Sharing” Home/Community: o Ongoing service activities o Reflection Activities o Finishing culminating project

Guidelines for Safety and Success •All service activities must be chaperoned by an adult. •You may not begin service activities until action plan has been approved by both teacher and parent/guardian. •Keep in mind: Services will not involve the collection of money, however it will involve serving the community, influencing the government, and informing citizens. → We will teach you to “Think outside the box!” •Students may NOT collect money.

OK, So Can I Work With My Friends? •You must work with at least 1 other person. •You may work with a group of up to 4 people (including yourself). •Group members MUST be on same team •Group members do not all need to be in the same social studies class