Service · Activity

Stages of Service Learning

5th & 6th Grade

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Activity: Students listen to the video about service learning. They discuss the stages of connecting what they are learning to needs in the community. They work as a class or in small groups to write a service learning plan. 

 

Materials needed: the video; a poster board and magic markers to be used to record the stages of service learning - ideally, the chart can be created through a discussion after viewing the video or the teacher can create it ahead of the activity; writing paper and materials for students if they do the activity in small groups

 

 Chart: Stages of Service Learning



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  1. Investigation


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  2. Preparation 


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  3. What do we need to achieve our goal? 


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  4. Who might be able to help us? 


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  5. How can we help?


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  6. Take action, determine what kind of service you want to provide: work directly with people, animals or the environment; indirect help which means you don’t see those who you help; lend your voice to a cause you believe in; do research about an issue


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  7. Reflect 


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  8. Demonstration - show and tell what you did




 

Directions: Introduce the activity: “Today we will watch a video about service learning and discuss it. Then you will have an opportunity to brainstorm a service project, and draw up a plan, following the guidelines in the video. This will just be an exercise this time to make a plan that follows the stages of service learning. In the future, we will use what we learn from this exercise to plan a real service learning project that we will do as a class.” Show the video, pausing to clarify and discuss the stages. Create or provide the chart of stages. The next part of the activity can be conducted in two different ways, depending on the sophistication of your learners. Two options:  



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  • Put students in groups of 2 or 3 and tell them to follow the guidelines for making a simple service learning plan, one that is actually something they could do. Tell them to follow the steps in order. Give feedback as they work on their plans. If there’s enough time, ask student groups to present their plans to the class. 


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  • Do this part with the whole class, focusing on choosing one service project and going through the stages with all students




 

Wrap it up: Explain: “It’s always good to do service projects, but if we don’t think about what we’re doing and if we don’t evaluate our experience, we won’t learn some important lessons. Keep investigating - stage one -  and let me know when you think of something we can do as a class or in a small group. We’ll vote on your suggestions, choose service ideas you like, and use these stages to guide us in completing the projects.”
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