Service-learning: Can we actually make a difference?

Mina HogsettEnglish Language Fellow

What’s our focus?“Volunteer – you can put it on your cv!”“Volunteer – so you can graduate!”“Volunteer – you’ll get an award!”

or…

Every class should have…

…a visual representation of before, during, and after the service learning project.

Lesson Ideas - What’s best for your students?

• A World Without: Have students describe (in detail!) a home/community/world in which no people ever helped each other. What are the impacts of doing NOTHING? Eventually have students answer the question of why community service is important for us to participate in (don’t answer it for them!). Class should also form a definition of service learning.

• Picture Gallery: (I’ll email to you) After students examine many pictures depicting different types of community service, make a solid definition of service learning together as a class.

“Pay it Forward” Movie• Watch a short cliphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TghkityJ4u8(to save video, go to keepvid.com and paste the

address above into the box. Download the mp4 onto your computer/USB).

• Download the entire movie (with English subtitles!!):

http://udhexz.blogspot.com/2009/04/pay-it-forward-2000.html

• Tower ActivityGive small (3-4 students) groups a limited amount of time to build the tallest tower using only given supplies. *English only! For an added challenge, tell teams that no one can pick up any

materials from the table unless they ask a teammate for them first (to practice oral language).

• Yarn Web ActivityMake a web of yarn with the involvement of each member of the class.

…How does the tower or yarn web activity represent

service learning?• Problem solving• Critical Thinking• Everyone’s doing something!• Working toward a goal• Teamwork• More?

Quotes (Appendix 1)• What do you think the quote means?• Do you agree with it or not? Why?• Connect the quote to your service learning

project.

• Write a letter to the author of the quote OR• Write a letter to your future son/daughter

teaching them the quote and how to apply it to their lives.

Going beyond• Mentoring• Pledge partners – pick up any trash within 2

meters of you. Report back to partner.• Write a letter as a representative of your

community asking for volunteers to come help.• Plan an “Active citizen” award. First, students

identify core values. How can they practice these in their everyday lives? Through volunteering? Make a checklist?

• Writing to mothers who have lost their children.• Making a service calendar• Designating responsibilities to students (“litter

students”) etc

Um Batin High School Schedule Access Community Service for Sunday March 25 (9am-12:45pm)

Overcoming Challenges

7th Grade (9:00 - 10:50) Time Activity Session Leaders (High School Students)

9:00-9:20 Welcome and student introduction activity. What is a challenge? 12th Graders

9:20-9:30 The Blind Experience Sarah, Balkees 9:30-9:45 Extreme Sports Stories/Videos Fatma, Ayat

9:45-10:00 Music in Common (Story, Lyrics, and Song/Video) Esraa, Nereman, Reham, Rodaina, Hanin, Hadil 10:00-10:15 Conflict Resolution Sabaah, Nasreen, Doha, Esraa 10:15-10:30 Teenage/High school/personal challenges Small groups (Yusif with the middle school boys) 10:30-10:50 Make peace/challenges posters for the middle school Saha, Bora, Tagreed

8th Grade (11:00 - 12:50) Time Activity Session Leaders (High School Students)

11:00-11:20

Welcome and student introduction activity. What is a challenge? 12th Graders

11:20-11:30 The Blind Experience Yasmin, Mariam, Rosan 11:30-11:45 Extreme Sports Stories/Videos Nabila, Manal 11:45-12:00 Music in Common (Story, Lyrics, and Song/Video) Esraa, Nereman, Reham, Rodaina, Hanin, Hadil 12:00-12:15 Conflict Resolution Sabaah, Nasreen, Doha, Esraa 12:15-12:30 Teenage/School/personal challenges Small groups (Yusif with the middle school boys) 12:30-12:50 Make peace/challenges posters for the middle school Sousan, Jasia, Somah, Yasmin

Host a visitor to speak to students about volunteering

ShatilRina Okby 054-3465419

NispedAriel 054-7919340

AjeecOffice 972-8-6405432

AlnhoudKeren Or 050-7294956

(…continued)

Bedouin Volunteer TentWafaa 054-3387210

American Embassy Speaker Risa Levy Levyrx@state.gov

Soroka Hospital Volunteer CoordinatorTammy Lomenfield 6403030

Additional Resources

• Video of people who have volunteeredhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSmAz34NA0

• 366 Community Service Ideashttp://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/serviceideas.shtml

Share Your Experience!• Share your volunteer experience with Access students

from around the world:http://accessnetwork.ning.com/main/authorization/signIn?target=http%3A

%2F%2Faccessnetwork.ning.com%2F

• Share your volunteer experience with anyone from around the world:

http://nonprofit.about.com/u/ua/volunteers/favoritevolunteerop.htm?#lisk=wjnfpwbns%3E20021%3b3621333|hfz%3E50b162e024g5%3b%3b11646f75%607%3b16%3b06%60g|%60la%3Emlmsqlejw|ajqwkgbwf%3E23%2c14%2c2%3a%3b6|%60m%3EJpqbfoFOE|dfmgfq%3Ee|djufmmbnf%3Eejqpw\mbnf|nbjo%3Enkldpfww%3bCdnbjo-%60ln|slpwbo%60lgf%3E|pm%3Eobpw\mbnf

Username: IsraelElf Password: Bedouin

Planning for the project(I’ll email this page to you)

Identifying Community Problems We Can Help to Solve

Directions: Work with a partner and write down your ideas about problems or needs you have observed. Addressing one of these needs could become a volunteer project for the class.

Needs of students at our school:

1. ____________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________

Things that need to be done around school:

1. _____________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________

Things that need to be done in our village:

1. _____________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________

Things that need to be done in the Negev or Israel:

1. _____________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________

Incorporating English Text into the Classroom

• Starfish story (Appendix 2)

• Articles/stories of volunteerism around the world (Appendix 3)

In groups: Create common Bagrut questions

• International Volunteer Day Packet (Appendix 4)

Feel free to email me for help!mhogsett8@gmail.com