3.1 - How Can Student Driven Community Service Fit into Content Areas?

Objective

The learner will classify examples from non-examples of student driven community service projects supporting curriculum.

The learner will generate an explanation in writing of how student driven community service projects can fit into their own subject area.

Activity 1

You will begin this lesson with a short reading: Establishing Curricular Connections. This reading highlights five different starting points for linking service learning to educational curriculums. The reading provides details and examples for each of the five points of entry.

Take notes in your Learning Journal of any connections you make as you read. These connections could be ideas for your own project, ideas that you like, ideas that you disagree with, or similar situations in your own school. Title this entry Points of Entry Notes.

Activity 2

Now, you will read examples of ways that student driven community service can fit within various subject areas.

After you read, please post two reflection posts on the Discussion page for page 3.1. Your reflection posts should answer the following questions:

1. Did any of these ideas surprise you?
2. Can you think of any more examples that you would add to a content area list?

After making your own post, please read through what others have posted, and comment on at least one post that interests you.

Activity 3

Many projects can fit in multiple subject areas. This can provide cross-curricular connections for our students.

Click the link below to read through an example project. Next to the project description are many different Curricular Connections that this project supports. You will see how one project can support a wide variety of subject areas.

Curricular Connections Example

You can use the following chart to help organize the curricular connections you can make. Across the Curriculum Worksheet

Download the worksheet above. Use the chart to identify as many curricular connections as possible to the following project: A group of students want to work with and improve the lives of the elderly residents in their community.

When you think you have run out of ideas, click here to see a completed chart. Elders Across the Curriculum Answers

After reviewing the answers, write a reflection in your Learning Journal. Discuss how your ideas compare? What content areas do you have trouble finding connections for? What content areas do you find easy to connect with student driven community service? Did any of the connections surprise you? Title this entry Across the Curriculum Reflection.

Assignment

Pick one subject area. If you currently teach, select a subject area that you teach. If you are not currently teaching, select an area that interests you or that you would like to teach. In your Learning Journal, explain in writing how student driven community service could support the curriculum within this content area. Be sure to give examples.

Move on to 3.2 - How Can Student Driven Community Service Fit into MY Curriculum?

Back to Unit 3: Incorporating Student Driven Community Service

References

Service-Learning Project Ideas. Retrieved November 27, 2012, from Ripon College Office of Community Engagment: http://www.ripon.edu/offices_resources/oce/ServiceLearningProjectIdeas.htm

Service-Learning Strategies: Idaho's Practical Guide to Service-Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2012, from Idaho State Department of Education: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/learn_serve/docs/Service-learning%20strategies.pdf Youth Service America. (n.d.). Protecting the Environment through Service-Learning. Retrieved September 24, 2012, from Youth Service America: tools.ysa.org/downloads/modules/environment.pdf