In schools worldwide, creative service learning projects are starting to play an increasingly important role in the learning process.
Education
10 Creative Service Learning Projects
In schools worldwide, creative service learning projects are starting to play an increasingly important role in the learning process.
School teachers understand the benefits of combining learning objectives with forward-thinking approaches that benefit the wider community.
The question is, how do we bring service learning into schools?
Education resources
Here are 10 creative and exciting projects you could try
The important thing to remember is that, though these ten ideas are a great place to start, there is, in fact, no end to the number of projects you can try!
1. Make gardening fun again
From a teaching standpoint, your children have so much to learn from being involved in gardening, and the practical skills of learning how to grow fruits and vegetables make it far easier to explain the science behind plants and how they use sunlight and water to grow.
You can then allow children to advance their leadership skills by allowing them to plan and prepare the plots and take ownership. It is best to use anything grown to feed other children in the school.
2. Get the kids thinking about street art
Street art is increasingly popular in cities around the world, and there has been a dramatic rise in professional street artists using their work to promote values and beliefs. If you have any famous artists from your area, you can take the children to see the pieces, learn about the meaning, and start their artwork.
3. Do a class project on the culture of a crisis-torn nation
Similarly, it is worthwhile studying crisis-torn nations from a cultural perspective. Children could design artwork or perform performances to mimic those cultures. Any proceeds can then be donated to charities helping the country in question.
4. Research an important local landmark
Local landmarks, like statues or parks, are great for helping children understand important places on their doorstep.
After learning, the class can brainstorm different ideas to better care for those areas. This includes a class cleanup, making it even more appealing for tourists.
5. Integrate measurement practices alongside community giving
For younger children, simple mathematical calculations can be carried out in basic charitable work. An example of this would be when mixing teas, coffees, soups, and other drinks or even vegetables and then handing them out to local officials at an event, such as a day that supports local firefighters or police officers.
6. Help the elderly
A great service learning program for older students could be to have them work with elderly community members. They can help them with simple tasks, like grocery shopping. Trust them with a small list of necessary items and funds, and they can start to understand the importance of budgeting better and carrying out basic economic transactions.
7. Give back the gift of reading
A fantastic way to improve reading abilities among younger children is to hold paired reading classes with visually impaired children. Each child in your class can have a weekly reading partner to whom they narrate a simple book. It allows them to give back to children far less fortunate while simultaneously practicing and improving their abilities.
8. Start making shoes
For arts and crafts lessons, why not make items that can be donated or used to raise money?
A popular project is to make shoes donated overseas to African nations where children need basic shoes to get to school and back.
9. Do more through recycling
As well as telling your students to recycle, it’s good to help them to understand its importance better. Afterward, they can create different posters, videos, and podcasts that can be shared online and distributed throughout the community. Thus helping the entire area’s recycling efforts by encouraging more people to get involved.
10. Start thinking about hospitals
Several service learning projects throughout the country see schools taking students to a local pediatric hospital. Here, children can meet less fortunate children and understand their conditions. This can be used as an impetus for raising funds and donating them to the hospital.
Summary of creative service learning projects
A good approach is to get your classroom thinking and talking about service learning and encourage them to develop their ideas. You will soon get a better idea of what appeals to them most and where their passions lie.
