Don’t Shed A Tear, Volunteer

Grade Level: 3-5

Academic Areas: Language Arts, Social Studies

Duration of service: 1-2 Months

Character Virtues: Giving, Civic Virtue and Citizenship, Responsibility

Service Areas: Human Services, Public Safety

 

 Service Learning Project:

During a semester long project, students will research, investigate, and contact all local volunteer organizations. Students will become familiar with community agencies that need volunteers to meet challenges within the community. Then students will design and construct an informative flyer about community needs using technological knowledge and skills. Students will have "A Mailing Party," sharing treats as they stuff envelopes with the flyer they have completed. Representatives from the volunteer agencies and parents will be invited to participate in the "Mailing Party."

Goals and Objectives

Academic

Learning Goal: Students will become familiar with community agencies that need volunteers to meet challenges within the community.

Standard: Social Studies Standard #5 Civics, Citizenship, and Government

 

Learning Goal: Students will design and construct an informative flyer about community needs using technological knowledge and skills.

Standard: MST Technology Standard #5

 

Service

Community need: Lack of volunteer participation of community members

Possible Community Partners: all local volunteer agencies (ex. fire department, Red Cross, hospitals)

Objective: Students will increase the public’s awareness of the need to volunteer in the community.

Objective: Students will create a document to inform community members about specific volunteer needs, opportunities, and agencies within their community.

Character

Virtue: Civic Virtue and Citizenship

Objective: Students will understand the needs of their community and the community’s role in meeting these needs.

Virtue: Responsibility

Objective: Students will explain why volunteering is a citizen’s responsibility.

Key Activities

Key Planning Activities

  1. Students will brainstorm a list of volunteer organizations within their community.
  2. Students will learn how volunteers can help the community. They will research and investigate all local volunteer organizations.

 

 Key Service Activities

  1. Students will write letters to each organization asking for information regarding their needs. (Information can be in the form of a letter or speaker.)
  2. Students will create a written document to inform community members about specific volunteer needs, opportunities, and agencies within their community.
  3. Students will increase the public’s awareness of the need to volunteer in the community by distributing the document (flyer) to residents.
  4. Students will have "A Mailing Party", sharing treats as they stuff envelopes with the flyer they have completed.

 

 Key Reflection Activities

  1. (oral) Students will discuss what it means to be a giving and responsible volunteer.
  2. (written) Pre-Activity: Have you ever helped someone in your community? How did it make you feel? What responsibilities do you have at home and in your school community? Post-Activity: How have your thoughts changed about volunteerism? What volunteer activities do you plan to do in the future? How else would you encourage citizens to volunteer?
  3. (performance) Students will draw a picture of themselves performing a volunteer activity as an adult (responsibility).

 

Celebration Activity

The celebration will occur as part of the mailing party. Representatives from the volunteer agencies and parents will be invited to participate in the "Mailing Party.