Examples of Service-Learning Projects

Below are examples of service-learning projects that have been implemented by schools working with KIDS Consortium. These examples are provided to help potential applicants better understand service-learning and provide inspiration about the problems and needs in your community that students can address.

Environmental Project Ideas

The Wonderful Waters of York - Fourth grade students at the Coastal Ridge Elementary School in York, Maine, were presented with leaf packets in the fall. After studying bugs that made the leaves their habitat, students followed the health of the insects to determine the status of the waters. Using scientific skills of investigation, observation, data collection and analysis, and research, students conducted water quality testing to look at the status of the Cape Neddick River. Following these investigations, students decided to educate the public about pollution, healthy waters, and the importance of preserving the waters. Working with the York River Association, York Land Trust, the Seacoast Science Center, and the Wells Estuary Preserve, students produced a creative public service announcement including artwork, poetry, and music that was aired through the local public TV station.

Protecting Vernal Pools - At Minot Consolidated School in Minot, Maine, middle level students developed a vernal pool environmental education area near their school. Working with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Audubon, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service, students identified plants and animals in the area, designed and implemented an erosion control and clean-up plan for the vernal pool, and created an interpretive guide to be used by other students and the community.

Bus Idling and Air Quality Impacts - High school biology students in Vermont (Union 32) monitored the air quality outside of their school and found startlingly high levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. After researching air pollution, the students identified idling vehicles, particularly buses, as a significant source of the toxins in the air outside of the school. Students developed a policy to ban vehicles left idling outside of their school. They presented their findings and policy to the school board and the state legislative transportation committee.

K-5 Project Ideas: Animal-Human Relationships

Old Rochester Turtle Power - Fourth grade students at Rochester Memorial School in Mattapoisset, Massachusetts, responded to the fact that turtles are often killed by cars. Students partnered with the local zoo, nature center, Audubon Society, Conservation Officer, and the town highway department throughout their project. The students made t-shirts, contacted local officials, and raised awareness and support for turtle crossing signs to be placed in areas where turtles are frequently hit.

Medway Students “Have a Heart” - Fifth grade students at the Medway Middle School in Maine, learned a lot about the needs of animals. After hearing from community experts from the local humane society, they decided that the spaying and neutering program needed more visibility in their community. Working with their teacher, they designed and distributed posters around the community to educate people about the program. They also sponsored a “Have a Heart Campaign” where community members bought paper hearts that were then displayed in the school. With help from the entire community, the students raised over $1,500 for the humane society!

Atlantic Salmon - Third grade students at the Fairview School in Auburn, Maine, combined language arts and science studies by creating a new children’s book on Atlantic Salmon. After working with a biologist from the Atlantic Salmon Federation and learning about the format for non-fiction books, students wrote, edited, illustrated and produced a book to share what they had learned with other children. The book was donated to the Auburn Public Library and students read their book and presented information about salmon to other classes in their school.

6-8 Project Ideas: Interpersonal Relationships

Welcoming New Students – In Orono Maine, the middle school’s grade 8 language arts students worked with the guidance counselor and principal to assist the fifth grade class feel welcome as they transitioned from elementary school to middle school. The teacher started out by reading aloud Hoot by Carl Hiassen, whose main character is a new middle school student at a new school. After discussions and written reflections, students began to understand and identify with this character. They interviewed students who were new to the school. Using their research, students developed and advocated for a “new school” welcome policy to help with this transition. Two other projects also emerged: an iMovie/DVD that could be shown to all new and transferring students, and welcome tote bags of school supplies and treats donated by local merchants.

Verbal Abuse/Bullying – After an eighth grade student at Holbrook School, Maine, wrote a personal essay about his experience with bullying, he decided to engage in a service-learning project addressing the issue of bullying in schools. Working with school administration, the school newspaper team, and his teacher, the student published his essay in the school newspaper to encourage discussion about the issue. He created a computer game to simulate the effects of bullying on all individuals involved.

Immigration and Citizenship in Portland - As students in grade 6 from Portland, Maine, learned about immigration, citizenship and cultures, they planned and hosted a naturalization ceremony in their city. They partnered with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization service to understand the significance of this event and the rules and regulations governing it. After learning about the stories of the immigrants, they worked with the city’s Multi-cultural Affairs office to provide support to new families arriving in their community. One student remarked that, “ When I first saw those 42 immigrants become naturalized, I could really understand how lucky we are…being an American citizen is something most of us take for granted…it was obvious that they had gone through many hardships to become true citizens of the United States of America.”

9-12 Project Ideas: Youth-Community Relationships

Portland, Maine, Students Tackle Homelessness and Violence – The homeless population in the city of Portland have been frequent victims of violence, perpetrated by young people. Portland High School students decided that this was a significant problem in their community and decided to address it in a service-learning project. Working with homeless advocates and the Preble Street Resource Center, they organized a protest against violence involving the homeless and prepared and presented an informational session to their peers.

Old Rochester Regional High School 15 Minutes – Seniors at ORRHS in Mattapoisset, Massachusetts, responded to a call from the student council for student involvement in their annual Every 15 Minutes program and a need in the community for alcohol education. Throughout the service-learning project, students partnered with their local Police, Emergency Medical Technicians, Fire Department, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), community members, and the student council to gather research and data. The students put together posters with graphs and tabular charts depicting information about blood alcohol content (BAC) and the varied affects it has on people depending on weight, relationship between accidents and BAC, and the increase and decrease of BAC as a function of time. The posters were on display during the two-day program held at the school.

Cultural Awareness and Community Connections - While focusing on social studies and library skills, local high school students worked with the Portland Public Library in Maine, to create a link between high school students and children in the community while heightening local cultural awareness. High school students worked with the Portland Public Library to write cultural books for the Children’s Reading Hour and design coloring books for the children to keep.