The
Virtues
Caring
Definition:
To be concerned or interested in others,
and the world around us
Related Words:
• Compassion
• Concern
• Regard
• Consideration
• Kindness
• Empathy
• Attentiveness
• Interested in
• Attachment
• Forgiving
Indicated by
• Offering support and encouragement
• Being concerned about others feelings/needs
• Showing interest in others
• Being helpful
• Listening for understanding
• Giving
• Valuing opinions of others
• Being able to forgive
• Generous with one’s time
Service Learning Projects
• Students partner/work closely
with community members and people in need
• Providing support others are unable to attain on their
own (food, shelter, friendship, advocacy)
• Projects that assist others
• Projects in which students define needs for the community
Reflection
• Students reflect on how a terminally
ill or special needs individual still has value among friends,
family, loved ones.
• Students contemplate why they should make a personal
investment in others (take stock in themselves, care for others)
• Students contemplate the worth of life
• Students reflect on own relationships (ex. family, friends)
• Students reflect on how the relationships they have
formed have changed everyone involved
Evaluation
Rubrics to measure degree to which students
are doing projects not out of pity, but out of genuine concern
for human needs:
1 – Student shows no interest in working in community
and does not understand the value of investing in others
2 – Student works under the guidance of others (teachers,
etc.) with community members
3 – Student cares about the community, and treats individual
members as equals
4 – Student forms attachments to the community and the
individuals within it, giving themselves above and beyond what
is expected
(Coping with fear, being open, valuing
life, concerned about someone else’s feelings)
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Civic Virtue and Citizenship
Definition
Put values into action in order to create
a better world for the general good.
Related Words
• Proactive
• Optimism
• Initiative
• Belonging
• Cultivate
• Benevolence
• Morality
• Conscientious
• Ingenuity
• Altruism
Indicated by
• Abiding by rules and laws
• Knowing importance of personal and collective actions
on society
• Being a good group member
• Seeking out opportunities to improve self and society
• Working collectively toward social cohesiveness
Service Learning Projects
• Projects in which students constructively
challenge the structures around them
• Projects which encourage students to take ownership
in the world around them
Reflection
• Students begin questioning and
making sense of the institutional structures that influence
their lives
• Students begin contemplating their role as an “active”
citizen
Evaluation
Rubric to measure understanding of civic
participation:
1 – Student shows little or no interest in civic affairs
2 – Student understands concepts of democracy and social
participation
3 – Student sees how institutions, such as government,
influence how he/she lives his/her life
4 – Student constructively works to change structures
affecting his/her lifestyle
(Ability to negotiate the system, finding
solutions, civic duties, self development as a life-long learner
with a vision of the future)
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Giving
Definition
To extend oneself to others, and/or meaningful
causes
Related Words
• Bestow
• Contribute
• Donate
• Provide
• Sacrifice
• To care
• Sharing
• Benevolence
Indicated by
• Using extra time to help others
• Sharing personal belongings with others
• Donating time to others and causes
• Donating materials to others in need
Service Learning Projects
• Projects where sacrifices are
evident in making things work – i.e. time commitments,
monetarily
• Projects that result in donations of needed supplies
to local organizations
• Projects that provide an ongoing structure the community
can sustain after the students have finished
Reflection
• Students weigh whether the sacrifice
was worth it
• Students consider what their effort has done to the
lives/situations they have encountered
• Students consider where their time/money has gone (i.e.
chart – one column “Community Kitchen”, another
column “On Own”)
• Tabulate statistics on time students/class/world have
spent volunteering in lifetime, this particular project, etc.
Evaluation
• Students weigh whether the sacrifice
was worth it
• Students consider what their effort has done to the
lives/situations they have encountered
• Students consider where their time/money has gone (i.e.
chart – one column “Community Kitchen”, another
column “On Own”)
• Tabulate statistics on time students/class/world have
spent volunteering in lifetime, this particular project, etc.
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Justice and Fairness
Definition
Treating all persons with equity, upholding
what is right, and being able to accept the results of your
decisions
Related Words
• Vigilant
• Morality
• Honesty
• Rightful
• Equity
• Scrupulous
• Objectivity
• Open-minded
• Unprejudiced
• Impartial
• Even-handed
• Constant
• Unbiased
• Honorable
• Virtuous
Indicated by
• Standing up for yourself and
others
• Dealing with problems objectively
• Identifying and being able to express what is right
and what is wrong
• Accepting accountability for one’s actions
• Understanding rules and consequences
Service Learning Projects
• Projects that teach and encourage
students to mediate problems/issues
• Projects that encourage students to act and abide by
moral reasoning rather than obeying rules
• Projects that allow students to examine and question
people’s places in society
• Projects that require students to make and carry out
group plans/decisions
Reflection
• Students begin understanding
what is right isn’t always popular
• Students understand personal opinion oftentimes needs
to become secondary to reach a solution for all
• Students begin contemplating the worth of everyone’s
opinions, and how to include as many as possible in society
• Students become aware of structures affecting how people
live their lives
Evaluation
Rubrics which measure how students take
problems upon themselves to solve
1 – Student makes group decisions to fit own desires
2 – Student includes class friends in decision
3 – Student reaches out to a select group outside the
circle of friends
4 – Student reaches out to all involved, and strives to
consider as many people’s input as possible
Evaluate how often students come to teachers
to solve problems
(Delayed gratification, managing challenges,
taking responsibility)
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Respect
Definition
Regard for yourself, others, and the
world around you. Understanding that all people have value as
human beings.
Related Words
• Regard
• Value
• Courtesy
• Admiration
• Revere
• Concern
• Appreciate
• Approval
• Honor
• Esteem
• Integrity
Indicated by
• Listening to others
• Showing courtesy
• Paying attention
• Expressing appreciation
• Accepting differences
• Accepting the concept of authority figures
• Thinks well about self and others
• Values life, the environment, etc.
• Treating others as you would want to be treated
Service Learning Projects
• Projects which encourage students
to constructively build upon individual and school wide differences
• Projects that deal with tolerance
• Projects which encourage constructive debate
• Projects which encourage constructive problem solving
Reflections
• Students actively explore biases
they have and factors inhibiting school as a culture of learning
• Students debate issues and listen for understanding
Evaluation
Rubrics to measure the level of respect
students show towards others:
1 – Student is apathetic to other’s opinions
2 – Student acknowledges other’s opinions, but ignores
or dismisses
3 – Students interact with each other in classes and constructively
challenge each other
4 – Students seek out opportunities for debate and challenges
outside the classroom setting
Evaluate number of behavioral incidences
that involve more than one student
(Understanding and evaluating opinions
of others, dealing with criticism)
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Responsibility
Definition
To take ownership for one’s life
and role in the world
Related Words
• Duty/Obligation
• Ownership
• Answerable
• Self Reliant
• Independent
• Accountable
• Liable
• Amenable
• Trustworthy
Indicated by
• Completing tasks in a timely
manner
• Being a good group member
• Showing up on time
• Following classroom rules
• Able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
• Holding a specific office, duty, or trust
Service Learning Projects
• Projects whereby students make
up and assign responsibilities
• Projects which require a sustained commitment from students
• Projects which encourage students to take leadership
roles
• Projects where students are held to project through
successes AND setbacks
Reflection
• Students examine what their duty
is to the community in which they live
• Students consider how their time, punctuality, etc.
affects the project
• Students examine the results of consistent efforts vs.
one time volunteering
• Students contemplate the responsibilities they have
outside the project (home, to school, family, friends, etc.)
Evaluation
Rubrics to measure level of involvement/
commitment to the project:
1 – Student needs constant monitoring to complete project
tasks
2 – Student needs frequent check-ups to ensure completion
of project tasks
3 – Student needs no guidance after initial introduction/explanation
4 – Student creates duties/plan of action for self
Evaluate the consistency of student responsibility
(timeliness, attendance, etc.)
(Follow through on commitments, self-development,
quality of work, self-management)
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Trustworthiness
Definition
Deserving of someone’s trust and
confidence. Being dependable.
Related Words
• Reliable
• Credible
• Honorable
• Dependable
• Faithfulness
• Integrity
• Honesty
Indicated by
• Having a solid reputation
• Following through
• Knowing the consequences of losing someone’s trust
• Having a strong work ethic
Service Learning Projects
• Projects where students take
responsibility and are held accountable for their actions
• Projects which eventually guide students to work without
supervision
• Projects that encourage students to establish relationships
with the community and/or its members
• Projects that require consistent student effort for
success (i.e. A project that relies on sustained participation,
not a one time effort)
Reflection
• Students begin seeing how their
decisions influence those around them
• Students make and enforce rules and/or guiding principles
for their class
• Students consider how it feels to be given their own
responsibilities vs. being told/guided to do everything
• Students consider how the person they work with/for
felt before and after the project
Evaluation
Rubrics to measure how students deal
with trust:
1 – Students complete guided activities with community
members under teacher instruction
2 – Students work one on one with community members, conducting
teacher-developed activities
3 – Students develop and conduct activities that are overseen
by teacher
4 – Students work with community members without teacher
observation
Evaluate behaviors associated with trustworthiness
– i.e. taking leadership roles upon themselves, going
to activities alone, making and keeping commitments
(Finding solutions, being conscientious,
understanding consequences of dishonesty, workplace values and
ethics)
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