Creating a Service-Learning Unit in Ten Easy Steps

STEP 1: Think about your curriculum. What is one service-learning project that would fit in with the curriculum that your students are studying? ________________________________________________________________

STEP 2: In what particular discipline (class) will the project occur:____________________________________________________________

STEP 3: What is the organization (school, group, etc.) that you will be working with and what are its needs? How will you assess these needs?

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STEP 4: State the academic goals of the unit that will link service to this organization with learning in the classroom and also name the core ethical values this unit will foster.

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STEP 5: What PREPARATION will be necessary for this unit?

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STEP 6: What SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES will occur in the unit?

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STEP 7: What Core Curriculum Standards will the unit address?

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STEP 8: What kind of REFLECTION will be used and how will it tie into character education?

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STEP 9: What kind of assessment will you use in this project?

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STEP 10: What kind of RECOGNITION will you have to celebrate success?

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Example: Creating a Service-Learning Unit in Ten Easy Steps

STEP 1: Think about your curriculum. What is one service-learning project that would fit in with the curriculum that your students are studying?

ART: Upper level students making puppets that teach the primary grade students lessons in character.

STEP 2: In what particular discipline (class) will the project occur: Art/Language Arts.

STEP 3: What is the organization (school, group, etc.) that you will be working with and what are its needs? How will you assess these needs?

The Pre-school or First Grade Class of Parkview School. Discussion with their teacher reveals the need to teach skills of getting along and being nice to one another.

STEP 4: State the academic goals of the unit that will link service to this organization with learning in the classroom and also name the core ethical values this unit will foster.

� To develop an appreciation of puppetry as a cultural and artistic tradition.

� To develop oral and written communication skills through oral presentation and puppet show to the First Grade class.

� To participate in a collaborative project that requires planning, problem-solving, technical skills and artistic effort.

� To experience the value of helping others, demonstrate responsibility and develop empathy through an interdisciplinary service project that addresses the Core Curriculum Standards. (Core Values)

STEP 5: What PREPARATION will be necessary for this unit?

Motivational Internet assignment with a focus: "Let's teach each other something new about puppets." Students must explore Web sites to prove or disprove the statement that puppetry is a new art, designed just for amusement. Teacher makes arrangements with pre-school/1^st grade teacher about date, time and site of concluding puppet show.

STEP 6: What SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES will occur in the unit?

� Internet assignment that shows puppetry belongs to a rich tradition of teaching others.

� Deadlines given for project stages: paper sketch; cut-out design; head, body construction; making clothes; oral presentation in class, , writing of puppet script; performance; journal article.

� Rubric given to explain grading.

� Completion of puppets with students presenting the autobiography of their creatures to the class.

� Creation of puppet skit (usually with help from English Department) that stresses social and emotional skills.

� Actual puppet show for primary school students.

STEP 7: What Core Curriculum Standards will the unit address?

Visual & Performing Arts 1.1-1.3, 1.5; LAL 3.1-3.4; Career Ed/Life Skills/Character Education 9.2 A,B,C,D.

STEP 8: What kind of REFLECTION will be used and how will it tie into character education?

� Student journals during the preparation and action stages.

� Class discussion on their feelings after the performance.

� Student written and/or oral response to this question: To improve students' writing skills, the art department supervisor has indicated that this unit be replaced by a term paper on topics such as "The Origin and Development of Puppetry as an Art Form." Defend this project, explaining its academic and emotional worth to you.

STEP 9: What kind of assessment will you use in this project?

Student puppet graded according to rubric Student skit graded according to rubric.

STEP 10: What kind of RECOGNITION will you have to celebrate success?

Joint party with primary students and upper level students after the puppet show. Local media coverage.