Service Learning

When older elementary students take the lead on community service projects, they gain public speaking skills, leadership experience, confidence—and younger students are more motivated to participate.

Civics takes on new life when students have real-world experiences like creating polls or ballots or touring a local government building.

High school students can participate in hands-on, relevant projects that provide effective solutions to problems in their community.

Here's a simple definition for service learning with details and resources for planning a unit.

As you consider the following project possibilities, ask yourself: Would this project help my students meet important learning goals? Would my students find it engaging?

Teach your students about making positive change in the world by connecting with them, discussing real-world problems and multiple perspectives, creating classroom community, and including authentic assessment.

Twice a year, students and teachers in Eminence, Kentucky, collaborate for three days on meaningful projects that serve their community.

When Maryland middle school students spend a day focusing on helping others, they see their own capacity to make a difference in their community.

Service learning provides a way for students to grow their social-emotional learning skills while helping their community.

Service learning and volunteering help high school students give back to their community and grow as individuals.

Opportunities for service learning and volunteering don’t just help the community around the school—students benefit as well.

Learn how schools can benefit from the support and expertise of local businesses, organizations, and individuals, and discover strategies for fostering successful business and community partnerships.

A project-based learning unit on homelessness can provide middle and high school students with valuable information and foster empathy for the unhoused.

Teaching your students about poverty and hunger can be a powerful experience for them. VideoAmy shares a series of videos that explore the issues encountered by four college students who lived on one dollar per day in Guatemala.

Teachers are uniquely positioned to teach empathy, which will help children not only discover personal success, but also contribute to the betterment of society.