Service-learning can take many forms and be implemented in a variety of contexts. It can be integrated into all grade levels—from kindergarten to college students. The format, length, and focus of the program should be age-appropriate and meaningful to the students. Effective service-learning programs should have clearly stated learning objectives. In addition, it is recommended that those programs be organized in relation to an academic course or curriculum and assist students in drawing lessons from the service through regularly scheduled reflection activities (Chapman & Skinner, 1999; Learn and Serve America, 2010). Learn more about how schools incorporate service-learning into their curriculum and policies.

Examples of service-learning:

• Science:  Elementary school students learned about birds’ migration, challenges in urban environments, and the types of birds that wintered in their area. Consulting with local experts in a variety of fields, the students cleared a plot of school land and installed or planted appropriate feeders, trees, and plants. Because the students could see the sanctuary every day out their classroom windows, they became familiar with the animals' routines, and their interest in wildlife grew. They also learned how to calculate the cost of regular food refills, and how to coordinate regular maintenance.

• Social Studies:  Middle school students cleaned and decorated bus shelters in their town to spread messages of cultural appreciation. They began by researching and giving reports on life in different countries, and by participating in activities from various cultures. Then they applied their knowledge by creating posters which were installed as bus shelter panels. Cleaning and decorating bus shelters also sparked conversations about being more respectful of public property.

• English and Language Arts:  High school students planned a sequence of instructional activities and created materials (e.g., lesson plans, worksheets, audio-recordings of texts) to promote reading comprehension skills of elementary school students. Using those materials, high school students tutored struggling readers from a neighboring school.

View ReferencesReferences

Resources

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
CNCS was created as an independent agency of the United States government by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The mission of CNCS is to "support the American culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility." Currently, CNCS delivers several programs that are designed to help communities address poverty, the environment, education, and other unmet human needs. One of those programs is Learn and Serve America, formerly known as Serve America. This program, through its grantees, engages students in community-based organizations and schools in service-learning programs.

National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse maintains a website with timely information and relevant resources to support service-learning programs, practitioners, and researchers. The clearinghouse also offers many listservs and newsletters.

Learn and Serve America
Learn and Serve America provides direct and indirect support to schools, community groups, and higher education institutions to facilitate service-learning projects by providing grant support for school-community partnerships and higher education institutions; providing training and technical assistance resources to teachers, administrators, parents, schools and community groups; and collecting and disseminating research, effective practices, curricula, and program models.

Growing to Greatness (G2G)
G2G’s primary activity is the annual publication of a book by the same name that seeks to document the scope, scale, and impacts of service-learning. It is published by the National Youth Leadership Council, sponsored by the State Farm Companies Foundation, and is released every year at the National Service-Learning Conference.

Coverdell World Wise Schools
Coverdell World Wise Schools resources help to integrate global issues and cultural awareness into core content areas. The service-learning page provides lesson plans categorized by grade levels (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) that guide students through planning, undertaking, and evaluating service-learning projects. In addition, students are encouraged to reflect on the importance of community service by reading stories about Peace Corps volunteer experiences, articulating needs within their own communities, and generating ideas about how to address those needs through service.

Service-learning: Education Beyond the Classroom (PDF, 32 pages)
This booklet contains several service-learning projects that focus on various aspects of safe solid waste management, such as reducing household hazardous waste and buying recycled-content products. Each profile includes contacts who can provide information on how students can start a similar program. Additional resources, including grants to help start such a project, are located in the back of the booklet.

Global Youth Service Day
Global Youth Service Day is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning. This website offers resources, information about funding opportunities, news, and opportunities to connect with service-learning projects.

Youth Serve America (YSA)
YSA aims to improve communities by increasing the number and the diversity of young people, ages 5-25, serving in substantive roles. Resources and training provided by YSA include the Global Youth Service Day Planning Tool Kit, the Service-Learning Curriculum Guide, the National Service Briefing, and Youth Service Institute information, webinars, and individual support. This project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of State, and other organizations.