Civics in a Digital Republic: A Transformative Curriculum

Lesson 5: Service Learning: Volunteering and Reflection

A.5 Service Learning VOLUNTEERING AND REFLECTION SUMMARY This two week unit is focused on introducing students to service learning and providing students the opportunity to transform their state required community service hours into a more meaningful experience. Students will examine the local impact of their service and seek to expand their reach to the global realm through a variety of activities. Through reflection and the creation of a blog that shares their experiences reflecting on the service hours they’ve completed, students will be able to genuinely engage with their service requirement producing a more meaningful experience . • Students will examine the school/state policies and requirements of community service hours. • Students will share the number of community service hours they have earned thus far and develop a document averaging these earned hours of the class as a whole. • Students will reflect upon their community service experiences. • Students will discuss and understand the purpose of community service in the context of their civic education. • Students will explore the steps of service learning compared to community service • Students will develop goals for the remainder of the hours they need to obtain. • Students will create a service learning database for future classes that contains contact information and summaries of service activities that were meaningful and effective. RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 36 Service Learning VOLUNTEERING AND REFLECTION continued A.5 RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 37 • Students will construct a service learning blog that documents their service activities and reflections. Learning Activities • Community Service Review • Service Learning Introduction • Preparation/Collaboration • Service/Reflection/Evaluation COMMUNITY SERVICE REVIEW SUMMARY Students will begin this lesson by examining the policies in place that require community service hours for graduation, compile data and establish the average number of hours completed and reflect upon all service completed. • Students will examine the school/state policies and requirements of community service hours. • Students will share the number of community service hours they have earned thus far and develop a document averaging these earned hours. • Students will reflect upon their community service experiences. PROCEDURE • This unit will begin with the exploration of the current requirements and policies for community service hours established by the school, district or state. Students might not be aware of where the requirements come from, so begin the lesson by sharing with students the legislation or policies that require their completion of community service hours. Allow students time to examine and evaluate the current policy. Service Learning VOLUNTEERING AND REFLECTION continued A.5 RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL • After looking at the policies, have students write down the number of hours they have completed of community service. Emphasize the importance of honesty. This unit is meant to help them earn more hours, and knowing where they stand is essential to understanding the direction that must be taken. Create a class document that illustrates the various numbers of hours completed as well as average. • Students must reflect upon the community service hours that they have completed.Have them write responses to the following questions: • What did you learn from your experience? • Will this experience change your behavior in the future? • Howwouldyouhavechangedorimprovedyourserviceexperience? • After taking time to respond to these questions, have students share their responses.You will most likely get a variety of answers from your students, which is the key to reflecting on previous service experiences . We want students to see that they can choose service experiences that have relevance to their lives and that they can learn from. Differentiated Instruction • These lessons are constructed so that teachers are able to address various learning needs in their classrooms as defined by IEPs or 504s.We encourage teachers to present material digitally, orally, graphically and textually. By using a variety of presentation styles, it is hoped that all students will learn. Time Allotment • Two class periods. One hour per class. MATERIALS & RESOURCES Resources • Documentation of the policies of the community service program at the school for analysis. Service Learning VOLUNTEERING AND REFLECTION continued A.5 RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 39 • Microsoft Excel • The number of computers required is one per four students. • Depending on the size of the class you can have students compile the community service hours completed in small groups initially, and then put them all together into one document to analyze the entire classes number of hours completed. • Curriculum Toolbox SERVICE LEARNING INTRODUCTION SUMMARY Students will be introduced to the concept of service learning compared to simple...