Our service learning resources focus on education, literacy, health, animal rescue and care, and protecting the environment. They include inspirational stories from “the field” that can help support your service related initiatives.
A treasury of activities, ideas, and resources, The Complete Guide to Service Learning can help teachers and youth workers engage young hearts and minds in reaching out and giving back. Author, and internationally known service learning expert, Cathryn Berger Kaye presents service learning—its importance, steps, essential elements, and challenges—within a curricular context. Grades K–12
Inspire kids and teens to think about the places and ways they can reach out and give back in their communities and the world. Based on the book The Complete Guide to Service Learning, this colorful poster encourages service learning, social action, civic responsibility, and volunteering. Laminated. 18" x 24"
Get Out! 150 Easy Ways for Kids and Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature and Build a Greener Future by Judy Molland
Need a friendly guide on finding ways to appreciate nature and how to go green? Get Out! is chockful of eco-friendly ideas to help families, classrooms, and groups get outside, learn about nature, experience the world in new ways, and take a hands-on approach to green living. Chapters on being an eco-friendly consumer and eco-friendly eater, as well as on choosing an issue and taking a stand, make for a well-rounded yet easy-to-use handbook for making a difference indoors and out.
Open to any page to find something to do today. The payoff is huge: not only is nature just plain awesome to be in, research shows that spending time enjoying nature can actually improve our physical and emotional health. Bonus: Kids who learn to love nature will naturally do more to conserve it. Eureka! For Parents, Teachers, and Youth Leaders
Going Blue seeks to inform young people about the issues surrounding our waters and provide the strategies and examples they need to see themselves as change agents. The book is divided into the five stages of service learning: investigation, preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration. With the aid of lively photos and illustrations, along with practical suggestions and activities, kids plan and do a meaningful service project that benefits our planet’s water system. For ages 11 & up.
Going Blue Book Video
The How to Take Action! Series Service Learning Workbooks
This workbook teaches about current environmental issues—carbon footprints, alternative energies, deforestation, water conservation, and more—as related to climate change and global warming. Activities include global warming fact cards, climate change comic strips, carbon clean-ups, youth summits, and biofuel brainstorming, among many others. Grades 6 & up.
Kids learn about the welfare of domestic and wild animals around the world. They explore ways to address the needs of animals, such as cruelty prevention, emergency readiness, wildlife rehabilitation, habitat preservation, and shelter volunteering. Grades 6 & up.
In Collaboration with
“Wonderful guide to compassion and responsible treatment of creatures that can't speak for themselves. Highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review, The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Get involved with literacy—including math and computer literacy—and discover ways students can help others, such as cross-age tutoring, bookmaking, and assisting English language learners. Grades 6 & up.
Learn about the causes and effects of hunger and homelessness, and how young people can step up and help. Ideas include creating community gardens, holding hunger banquets, stocking food and clothing banks, and undertaking building projects. Grades 6 & up.
Here’s a book for every teen who wants to get involved in service and social change. Featuring profiles of real “Difference Makers” and practical tools readers can use to support causes they are passionate about, The Teen Guide to Global Action provides everything young people need to make a difference at the local, national, or global level. Ages 12 & up.
“This book belongs in the hands of every student who wants to change the world.” —Benjamin Quinto, founder and executive director, Global Youth Action Network( GYAN)
Are you looking for ways to connect kids with inspiring, high-quality community service projects? Do you want fresh ideas and suggestions for how to get kids involved in service learning? Then this new edition of Barbara Lewis’s classic youth service guide is for you. The Kid’s Guide to Service Projects (Updated 2nd Edition) contains hundreds of up-to-date service projects and ideas presented in an engaging, kid-friendly format. Ages 10 & up.
“Indispensible. The quality and breadth of service ideas is remarkable.” —The Children's Book Council
Inspire kids to choose the social causes they care about and take action themselves. Compelling, empowering, and packed with information, The Kid’s Guide to Social Action is the ultimate guide for kids who want to make a difference in the world. Ages 10 & up.
“Best of the Best for Children” —American Library Association/YALSA
Compelling, funny, and poignant, this book features kids who have used their heads, their hearts, their courage, and sometimes their stubbornness to help others and do amazing things. As young readers meet these boys and girls from around the world, they may wonder, “What kind of hero lives inside of me?” Ages 9–13.
“A one-of-a-kind book that uses real-life examples to teach young people everywhere that they can make a positive difference.” —Midwest Book Review
Go beyond “A is for Apple” with an alphabet book that builds character. As children learn and review their ABCs, they discover positive actions they can perform with their own small hands—like applauding, building, giving gifts made with love, helping, planting, recycling, and volunteering. These are simple things even toddlers can do for themselves and others. The message throughout is that everyone, no matter how young or how small, can make a difference in the lives of those around them. The book ends with big hands clapping. A warm, affirming book for the home, childcare, or preschool. Ages 2 & up.
Plant seeds of caring and service, and help young children think about the many positive things they can do with their own small hands. Adapted from the alphabet book 26 Big Things Small Hands Do, this colorful poster can spark simple ideas for helping families, pets, friends, neighbors, and the wider community. Use the poster in the classroom, at home, at the library, in childcare, and in faith programs. Laminated. 17" x 22", ages 4–8.
Even very young children can help to make the world a better place. This book begins with the concept of gratitude, because feeling grateful is a powerful motivator. Words and pictures show children contributing to their community in simple yet meaningful ways. Includes discussion questions, a philanthropy role play, generosity games, and ideas for service projects. Ages 4–8.
What can happen when school staff participate and encourage students to take an active role in service? A whole lot!
Teachers Lisa Burns and Maria Mair from North Junior High in Brockton, Massachusetts, share their experience working with students on after-school service learning projects. Self-dubbed “Kids Take Action,” the group of 7th and 8th graders have already planned and completed a dozen projects. The group set a goal of one project every month during the school year, and they are actually doing it!
Lisa notes that the staff and administration are very proud of these young people.
Choose to Make a Difference Poster
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The Teen Guide to Global Action
