Student Service Objectives:

–TWBAT collaborate with their grade

level bands about ideas for projects they
Learning Projects can use.
–Teachers of all grade levels will feel NBPTS 5–Teachers are members of
learning communities
more comfortable & prepared to
TLMD: Domain 3–Promotes

St. Polycarp Faculty Meeting April 29, 2021

incorporate these projects into their professional learning for

Presented by Christina Perry curriculum. continuous improvement

Whether you are familiar with service learning projects or not, my goal is for you to
walk away from this presentation with ideas you can use in your classroom for service
learning projects. And I want to provide resources to help you feel confident to
implement them in your classroom practice.
 Pair-Share:
1. How do you incorporate
service in your classroom?
(Big or small)
What do these pictures have in common?

Possible answers–charity, kids, service, fun, adventurous, playing, etc.

 Community Service + Project-Based Learning

What are Student

Characteristics:

● Heavily student run

Service Learning ● Requires reaching

out to the local

Projects?
community
● Connects academic
content to
real-life needs

Both community service and service learning projects are very good and
contribute positively to the world we live in. Community service by itself can be
one-sided, however, and not as fulfilling for the student. By taking community
service and combining it with PBLs, it makes a very well-rounded and
meaningful experience for students. Students identify an issue and plan a
project from A-Z. Of course the age of the students determine the amount and
type of teacher support.

Wolpert-Gawron, Heather. “What the Heck Is Service Learning?” Edutopia,

George Lucas Educational Foundation, 7 Nov. 2016,
www.edutopia.org/blog/what-heck-service-learning-heather-wolpert-gawron.
 Different Categories:
“What we’re talking about here is a ● Advocacy
form of engagement. It’s about ○
○
Awareness
Ex. Ocean Pollution Presentation

leveraging the need to do something

● Direct
○ Hands on
Ex. Warm Clothing Drive

good in the world as a means to help

○
● Indirect
○ Fundraising, collection, or adoption

kids hit their learning objectives.” ○ Ex. Penny Wars

(Wolpert-Gawron, What the Heck Is Service Learning?)

There are three categories for the types of service projects–those focused on
advocacy, which provide awareness or information to a community, direct, which
require students to provide a service directly to a group of people, and indirect, which
provides a donation to an organization. Even indirect service can have a meaningful
planning and implementation process more than just having a canned food drive.
 Benefits
Faith Social Studies Social/Emotional Skills
Why are they ● 7 Principles of
Catholic Social
● Civic engagement
● Democratic
● Conflict
management
● Problem Solving
● Critical

important?
Teaching Citizenship ● Empathy & Thinking
● Faith in action ● But also other compassion ● Communication
● Matthew 25:31-46 content areas! ● Building ● Collaboration
community
 80% 76%
Of students found these projects “highly beneficial.” Of students improved their GPA, were more engaged, punctual,
Improved communication skills, self-awareness, and knowledge and interested in subject matter.
of community needs.

Statistics from https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/service-learning/ Statistics from https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/service-learning/

Increased Student Engagement Why should elementary students participate?

& Meaningful Connections

● It is never too early to
learn about compassion and
caring for others
● They learn how to work with
others
● They are global citizens and
part of the human family→

Makes content come alive! they should learn how to live

meaningfully

It is understandable that teachers of lower elementary grades feel overwhelmed with

the thought of having their students complete these projects. But the benefits are
important for them too. In this article, the author points out that if we wait until
students are in high school to participate in service, then younger students miss out
on learning core democratic values, empathy, and critical thinking skills.
Pair-Share:
1.What is one of the benefits of
Service Learning Projects? How do I
implement Them?
2.What do you foresee being a
benefit for your students?
 Option A: Service Learning Unit (focus on advocacy)
The Teacher’s role is to 1.

2.
Pre-Reflection→ Brainstorm ways to help the
community
Research→ Gather information, chart findings,

help facilitate and guide

figure out how to address the issue
3. Presentation→ Present findings to the school or
larger community

the learning process.

4. Reflection
a. What did you learn about the topic?
b. What did you learn about yourself?
c. How do you now think differently?

A more structured and formalized approach to service learning is to make it a unit.

These often focus on advocacy, which does not necessarily require students to leave
the school to go somewhere else. The findings can be presented to the school in an
assembly, to parents in an evening event, visually on posters or on social media, etc.
These can be completed individually, in groups, or as a whole class.
1. Pre-Reflection 2. Research
K-5 6-8 K-5 6-8
● Reading a book together ● Independent research ● Visit other classrooms to ● Independent Research
that addresses an issue ● Current events get survey data ● Creating online surveys
● Exploring current events ● Discussion on social issues ● Ask parents questions and ● Making connections between
● Framing a discussion around record conversation the content and the service
a unit of study ● Videos and discussion with project
graphic organizers

PRE-REFLECTION Research Presentation Reflection Pre-Reflection RESEARCH Presentation Reflection

https://www.cnn.com/cnn10 Adapt these Kinder Research Projects to have a service learning theme to it.
3. Presentation 4. Reflection
K-5 6-8 K-5 6-8
● Recorded video on Flipgrid ● Individual Google ● Class sharing ● Class sharing debrief
or Seesaw Presentations ● Picture ● Art project
● Picture ● Research paper ● Written reflection ● Reflection paper
● Class poster/collage (cross-curricular too!) ● Recorded video ● Video response
● Diorama or showcase for ● Infographic to share with
parents the community
● Presentation given to the
whole school

Pre-Reflection Research PRESENTATION Reflection Pre-Reflection Research Presentation REFLECTION

These are very similar in method, but the intensity and scaffolding will vary by grade
level.
Option B: Service Project (direct or indirect)
● Same essential
elements of the
● Actively serve in
the school or
● Can be used as the
culminating project
Pair-Share
1. Can you think of any
unit, but includes larger community of a unit or to
a service provided meet specific
standards

examples?

The other option for service learning projects is a more traditional service project that
involves a direct service provided or funds/goods donated.
These can start as a unit and culminate in a service performed. But can also be done
as a small one time project or an extended year-long project.
There are many ways these can be implemented. The next slide shares some ideas...
Focus can be on...
Save yourself time by
making it apply to many
Social Studies/Civics Christian Service Other Subjects

● Write a letter to ● Giving gifts at ● ELA: collect books

the principal or Christmas to donate; tutor

standards!
local government ● Writing cards to younger students
member those in the to read
● Extended ● Math: run a
military or
student-run food student store;

Ex. Immigration with Dignity of the

hospital
drive shapes art project
● Bullying, climate ● Kindness,clothing to donate
the needy,

Human Person; Ecosystems with Care

change, ● Science:
homelessness... visiting the community/school
lonely... garden; beach/park
clean up
for God’s Creation

Social Studies/Civics: focus on societal issues, democratic processes like voting, You can even be ambitious and make a big project cover math, science, ELA, history,
citizen’s rights, caring for the community/environment, etc. For help with examples, AND religion standards all in one!
assessment tips, and planning guidance, check out this website.
Christian Service: focus on the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and caring for
those in need; emphasis is on doing these works in love (which should be an
emphasis in any service project)
ELA: incorporation of reading, writing, or speaking skills. Can be the main focus or a
skill incorporated.
Math: incorporation of real life applications of math skills. Can be the main focus or a
skill incorporated.
Science: incorporation of various scientific topics of study. Can be the main focus or a
skill incorporated.
For ideas of projects by subject area, check out this document. (please adapt to fit
your needs as designed for high schoolers)
More Examples:
● Clean up school yard or park

A word on
● Help at a food pantry
● Read or Sing at a local nursing or retirement home ● Students learn more
from hands-on

student-led
● Host a fundraiser for charity
○ Movie nights ● Greater ownership of
○ Bake sale their learning
○ Raffle ...even Leadership

projects...
●
MO
ideas he RE
○ Game night
○ Haunted House opportunities
○ Jump-rope-athon re &
○ Candy fundraiser here!
● Clothes Drive

For younger students, this can look like the teacher providing students with a few
choices of topics and options for presenting information, as well as providing the
resources and sheets needed to guide their learning and implementation.

For older students, they can brainstorm ideas from scratch and collaborate on how
they will implement the project. They can conduct their own research with guidance
from the teacher where needed.
Now You Try! Activity Google Docs
Brainstorm with your grade-level band
one fully outlined student K-2 3-5 6-8
service-learning project or multiple ideas
that are grade appropriate on your shared
Google Doc (next page) Culminating Activity Culminating Activity
Now You Try! Thank You!
Please take some time to
complete this post-survey to
share your takeaways
Culminating Activity