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Grade Level: 9-12
Academic Areas: Science
Duration of service: Year-Long
Character Virtues: Respect, Responsibility, Giving, Caring
Service Areas: Environmental
Materials Needed: clearing equipment, trail markers, sign –
welcome/map, station, art supplies, markers (4x4 pieces of lumber),
stationary, GPS and computers
Total Cost of Project: $600 (depending on how elaborate the project
implementation is)
Time Needed for Project: one year
Time Needed for Teacher Preparation: 50 hours
Experience Needed in CE: none
Experience Needed in SL: none
Service Learning Project:
Students will locate an area of the school grounds that needs
improvement and decide what beneficial use the area can be put
to. Options will include: an outdoor classroom area, a nature
trail, a shady area with newly planted trees, or a flower garden.
Students will discuss how the area came to look as it did: neglect
(why), pollution (where from), disrespect for others or oneself
and/or property. Students will discuss how their selected solution
will help keep the area from becoming neglected again. They will
identify habitats, trees, plants, flowers, soil characteristics,
and weather patterns of their area, and research which plants
will grow best in that area. They will also research the history
of the area as it connects to the environment (old cement mines,
factories, etc). In addition, they will research the present status
of the area as it connects to the environment, such as the impact
the area has on nearby agricultural land. Students will also create
a plan for action and will make educational signs about the plants,
animals, history and/or habitats they place in the area. Students
will then start identifying other areas of the community that
need the same type of help.
Goals and Objectives
Academic
Learning Goal: Students will learn why a healthy environment
is important for a healthy human population and that individuals
are responsible for the cleanliness of their surroundings.
Standard: Health, Phys Es, Family & Consumer Science, # 1,
2, 3
Learning Goal: Students will be able to analyze organism interdependence
and the role humans play in their environment.
Standard: MST 1, 4, 5, 6, 7
Service
Community need: A need to build the community, a lack of pride
in the school, and neglect of school grounds
Possible Community Partners: local Agricultural Organization (Cornell
Cooperative Extension), National Wildlife Refuge, local environmental
organizations (DEC)
Objective: Students will hold a trash and brush cleanup of the
area selected for improvement.
Objective: Students will create an improved outdoor area at their
school.
Character
Virtue: Responsibility & caring
Objective: Students will realize that they are responsible for
the health of their environment and that caring for the environment
makes the community a better place to be.
Objective: Students will instill in community members a sense
of responsibility for the upkeep and improvement of their surroundings
by creating a Nature Trail Preservation Club.
Virtue: Giving & Respect
Objective: Students will realize that they must give to and respect
the environment (therefore their community) in order for it to
give back and respect them.
Key Activities
Key Planning Activities
1. Students will walk around the school to identify areas that
need improvement and discuss which ideas will best improve the
area.
2. After they have conducted soil and habitat assessments, students
will research and locate plants and animals indigenous to the
area under the consultation of professional environmentalists.
Key Service Activities
1. Students will conduct a garbage and brush cleanup.
2. Students will create their new habitat area.
3. Students will take individuals on a tour through the improved
area in order to showcase the progress
4. Students will work with younger students, teaching them what
they have learned from the project. For example, they might teach
elementary students how to identify species.
5. Community members, students, and teachers will be asked to
sign up for a stewardship club that will be responsible for maintaining
the area: picking up garbage, mowing the lawn, weeding etc.
Key Reflection Activities
1. (oral – responsibility) Students will discuss the impact
of humans on the survival of species and those species that have
become extinct/endangered. Character virtues will be discussed.
2. (written – caring and respect) Students will keep a journal
and make daily entries including what they did, what they learned,
how they felt about it, and a summary of the impact they made
that day. They will also answer the questions that have come up
in their discussions to document observed respectful behaviors.
3. (performance – giving and responsibility) Students will
hold tours of the improved area for classmates, teachers, and
community members at the celebration BBQ held in honor of their
accomplishments.
Celebration Activity
A BBQ in celebration of the completion of the project will be
held in the improved area. Students will give tours of the improved
area. Parents and community members will be invited to the celebratory
BBQ and tour of the improved area.
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