On January 28, our Kids Action Team participants reconvened to learn about incorporating media analysis and creation into service-learning. They watched informative documentary and cartoon clips, then reviewed PSAs and tried their hands at making their own! Each participant is running an after-school service club for elementary school students, and the projects are addressing a number of issues; from addressing plastic in the ocean to hunger in NYC, and even elder loneliness, the Kids Action Teams are doing it all. We can’t wait to see how the projects develop.

Project Summary: Students in grade 3 learned about homelessness and the needs of children who don’t have a home. They are making dolls out of upcycled materials to donate to a family shelter or similar organization.

 

Investigation: Students first completed an action research activity and participated in self-reflection to decide on their focus for service-learning. From these activities, they decided to pursue a project that supported homeless youth.

Preparation: The classes read the book Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting and discussed the characters’ needs for survival and social-emotional health. Students decided that they wanted to make toys for homeless children that offer entertainment and comfort. After researching types of toys they could create, students chose cloth dolls made from upcycled materials.

In coordination with their school’s Maker Lab, students engaged in the engineering design process by developing prototypes for the dolls. They debated the best materials to use, prioritizing those that were durable, light, and easily available. They have been developing prototypes using fabrics that would have otherwise been trash and will create the final dolls in the coming weeks.

Action: Once they have completed the dolls, students will donate them to an organization that addresses homelessness in NYC.

Demonstration: The students are planning on presenting their work at their school’s Maker Fair this spring. Other classes have been inspired by their work and are creating items to raise awareness on how to protect endangered species. 



Reflection: At the end of every lesson, the students are asked to participate in ongoing reflection by journaling about how their ideas have changed. Additionally, there will be class discussions and a class video at the end of the project that documents their service journey and motivates others to participate in service.



Karma for Cara Foundation Mini-Grants

Upcoming Deadline: April 1, 2020

Karma for Cara Foundation    (K4C) focuses on creating opportunities for youth engagement and volunteerism and supporting the well-being of cancer patients and their families. In an effort to support youth volunteerism, K4C runs a Youth Microgrant program. Youth 18 years of age and under are encouraged to apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. These grants have engaged thousands of volunteers in more than 3,000 hours of community service. Learn more and apply for a microgrant today !    Additionally, K4C provides schools and libraries a free copy of Cara Cookie Volunteers . The children’s book tells the true story of Cara Becker’s first experience as a volunteer. In Cara, young children see themselves and recognize their capacity to repair the world. Email   info@karmaforcara.org  for more information.

Animal Care Centers of NYC

Ongoing Opportunities for All Ages

Love animals? Want to help end animal homelessness in NYC? Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) invites compassionate New Yorkers of all ages to get involved. ACC offers group tours of care centers as well as visits to classrooms, and welcomes student projects that support animals in need. Volunteers who work hands-on with dogs, cats, and rabbits have to be at least 18, but there are lots of ways children and teens can make a difference for animals at ACC and in the larger community. Visit the ACC Community Kids page to find ways to help, such as making toys and beds for shelter animals. To arrange a class visit to an ACC location or have an ACC representative speak at your school or organization, fill out this form .

New York Common Pantry

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities for Students 12 and Up

New York Common Pantry   works toward the reduction of hunger and food insecurity through an array of programs that function to establish long-term independence for the people that they serve. Their whole-person approach starts with food provision through the distribution of nutritious, fresh food pantry packages. They offer a variety of   programs , including  Live Healthy   to teach children and adults about the importance of a nutritionally sound diet and active living. The pantry welcomes students ages 12 and 13 to volunteer with a parent and students 14 and older may volunteer on their own. For more information about volunteering check out the calendar for open spots. For further questions, contact Stacy Gonzalez .

Multiplying Good

Ongoing Opportunity for High Schools

Students In Action , a Multiplying Good program, is an intensive youth service, leadership, and recognition program that unleashes potential in young people and multiplies the good they achieve. Through in-person leadership trainings, an online network, and end-of-year competition, students across New York City and the country are changing themselves and their communities with Students in Action. Joining is free. Contact Janai Smith to learn more.

GrowNYC

Sustainability Curriculum Guides

GrowNYC ’s Zero Waste Schools (formerly Recycling Champions Program) has helped NYC public schools create effective recycling programs since 2010. In that time, they have worked with over 500 schools and seen first-hand the real change that can happen when all members of their school community work together to make a difference.  Check out their  resources   to engage students, including   recycling best practices ,  Waste Deep   curriculum materials, and more to make recycling happen every day.

DoSomething

Service-Learning Campaigns and Articles

Using their digital platform,  DoSomething   members join volunteer, social change, and civic action campaigns to make real-world impact on causes they care about. There are a variety of DoSomething campaigns led by youth:   Teens for Jeans ,  Mental Note ,   and   voter registration drives are some of them. Check out   articles   with more ideas on how to engage youth in service-learning topics .

Does your school have a great service project to share? If so, the Service in Schools team wants to know!

Invite the Service in Schools team to visit your service project. We want to see your students and school community in action. Email the Service in Schools team at ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov with two weeks’ notice, and we’ll schedule a visit to your school to learn about your project and see the impact you’re making on the community. 

Follow @ServicenSchools on Twitter and @ServiceinSchools on Instagram to receive program updates, upcoming service opportunities, resources, and more. We encourage students who use social media and are interested in service opportunities to follow us.

Mission: Service in Schools strives to expand the number of NYC students engaged in transformative community service and service-learning experiences that enable them to use their voice, skills, and critical thinking to strengthen communities.