Service Learning Activity Guide: Side Projects for Youth Involvement on Build Day

What is service learning?

We believe service learning is a critical way to connect the work of volunteers in their communities with the work of students in their classrooms, community centers, parks, neighborhoods and homes. Children who service learn will engage with the issues affecting their communities and grow into active adult citizens.

Objectives of service learning

• Help children learn about larger social issues addressed by the service project.
• Develop life and classroom skills in conjunction with the project.
• Complete a worthwhile service project that helps the community.
• Reflect on any challenges and celebrate the accomplishments of the project.

Definition

Service learning is a teaching method that combines academic instruction, meaningful service, and critical reflective thinking to enhance student learning and civic responsibility. Service learning differs from community service or volunteerism in two major ways: 1) The service activity is integrated with academic curriculum and content, and 2) Students engage in structured reflection of their service experiences and apply their learning in real-life activities.

An effective service learning project helps students learn and develop through participation in organized service that meets the needs of their communities. Service learning projects should be coordinated with an educational or community service program. The project should provide structured time for students to reflect on the service experience. Ultimately, participation in service learning activities will help to foster civic responsibility among students.

Implementation for KaBOOM! builds

KaBOOM! strives to increase the integration and connection of children and youth into the planning and implementation of community-built playspace projects from Design Day through to Build Day and even through to the maintenance and upkeep of the playspace. The KaBOOM! community-build model instills confidence and creativity in the community, empowering and inspiring citizens to continue working to create positive change in their communities. These impacts can and should extend to children, as they are equally important members of a community.

The service learning plan deliberately integrates children into the community-build process. The activity guide includes lesson plans that parallel the activities that would be undertaken by a community-build playground planning committee. The lesson plans are meant as a guide and can certainly be modified to meet the needs and desires of your students and the community. They follow the PARC model: Preparation, Action, Reflection and Celebration. Each activity should integrate these four elements for maximum effectiveness with students.

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Service learning activities

Green activities are noted with a next to them! These get kids thinking about the environment, sustainability, and health! Learn about additional resources available for green service learning activities in this one-pager ( PDF document).

All activities are in PDF format. If you do not have the free Adobe PDF Reader, you can download it here.

	Appropriate age groups
Activity	2-5	5-8	9-12	13 & up
1x1 Murals		X	X	X
Anti-Bully		X	X
Appreciation & Reflection	X	X	X	X
Big Buddies		X	X	X
Bubbly Color Spectrum	X	X	X
Build Day from a Kid's Perspective		X	X	X
Building Bat Houses			X	X
Celebrating Civic Contributions			X	X
Children of the World		X	X	X
Classroom Recycling		X	X
Community Clean-Up			X	X
Community Gardens		X	X	X
Community Pen Pals		X	X
Community Walk	X	X	X	X
Conducting an Interview			X	X
Cooking Club		X	X	X
Create Your Own Game			X	X
Cultural Gardening			X	X
Design Your Dream Playground		X	X	X
Give to the Community	X	X	X
Green, Greener, Greenest				X
Helping Hands	X	X	X
How Composting Works		X	X
Indoor Planting	X
Inviting VIPs to Your Build		X	X	X
It Starts with a Playground		X	X	X
Kids Care Club			X	X
Landmark Directional Post			X	X
Let's Plant Some Garbage!			X
Monarch Madness	X	X	X	X
Mural Painting			X	X
Mural Workshop				X
Plan Your Own Project			X	X
Play Does a Body Good		X	X
Playing in the Past		X	X	X
Play It Forward		X	X	X
Playmakers			X	X
Rain Dance		X	X
Rain Gardens/Watershed			X	X
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle		X	X
Sensory Painting	X	X
Thank You Hands	X	X
The Caring Being		X	X	X
Tools, Materials, & Logistics			X	X
Tree Planting			X	X
U.S. & World Map		X	X	X
What Can You Do with…			X	X
World Famous Peace Makers		X	X	X
Worm Bin Composting	X	X
You Are What You Eat		X	X	X
Youth Gardens		X	X	X
Youth Green Team			X	X