By being engaged in action-oriented projects that help their neighbors and then being asked to reflect on their activity, students learn the rudiments of good citizenship, figure out what interests them and increase their sense of belonging. While the idea of service learning is not new, what is notable is the emphasis the book places on a project's success in fulfilling basic learning requirements, which are increasingly mandated by states, and range from writing clearly to knowing where Australia is located on a map. The book helps teachers relate projects directly to elements in a required curriculum. Jim Diers, who directs Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods, which financed production of the book, said the idea in part was to renew the strong relationship schools and communities once enjoyed, a closeness that has frayed in recent years. We're trying to re-establish those relationships.
Projects can vary widely.
In the litter-can project, students designed and painted litter cans located within walking distance of their school. They then took a field trip to a nearby park, picking up litter along the way and depositing it in their cans. A small gesture, perhaps, but meaningful to young children who are idealistic and benefit from putting thoughts into action, said Denise Fogelman, who wrote the handbook. It's a way to feed that hopefulness by putting it into activism. Mieke H. Bomann is a staff writer for The American News Service.