Service Learning- Meeting the Needs of your Community

Title: Meeting the Needs of your Community
Area of service: civic responsibility
Grade level: high school
Subject area: Civics/government
Unit Description: This unit is designed to get students involved in researching and understanding public needs, specifically in their own community, and to instill in them civic responsibility by having them create their own organization that meets a particular need they identified.
The students will have already been given a lesson in digital literacy, and how to effectively research on the internet.
The students will pick their own group members to work with on this assignment. They will create a portfolio of all of the information they gather throughout the project. Their first task to do research on the following items: the public needs of their community- this means using the internet, as well as going out into the community (churches, stores, events, etc.) and asking various types of people what they believe are issues of concern in their community, what they think can be done, etc. They can do this by oral interview (with notes on every person they talk to), survey, or whatever else they deem necessary. Each student will be required to talk to at least 30 people outside of school, and will be encouraged to gather information from people of varying age, ethnicity, etc. They will also have a time frame in which this must be done.
They will reconvene in class to discuss the issues they uncovered, and will decide one issue they will focus the rest of their project on- this can be homelessness, employment, education, housing, etc.
They will then do more research on their particular issue-general information, and information on it specific to their community- news articles, websites and organizations, etc. dedicated to the issue.
Once they are well rehearsed on their issue, they will do further research on creating a non-profit organization and will create one of their own that does something to alleviate the problem- ex., starting up an organization that brings prom dresses to disadvantages young girls for free or at a discounted price; also, something like creating pamphlets to make the public aware of the issue that could realistically bring about change.
They will identify structures and responsibilities needed to successfully carry out the goals of their organization.
At the same time they will need to establish networks (and hopefully collaborations) with already existing organizations in the community that coincide (at least somewhat) with the objectives of their organization- essentially, they should strive to team up with another organization(s) in efforts to serve the public more efficiently. This will also entail that they provide at least one person and their contact information that they have spoken with- example, president/coordinator of an organization. I have no doubt that these people will be completely willing to help out; after all, that is what they do! (I might also get in contact with many of different organizations prior to assigning this project to assess their willingness to contribute and collaborate). One or 2 students in the group can be responsible for taking on this task, and part of their assignment in networking with these people is to gather information on how that particular group/org is organized and how it's goals are carried out. This will create a mentor type relationship that can help the students better establish their own organization. They will have to take notes/write a summary of their interaction with this contact that will be included in their portfolio.
They must also provide ways in which they expect to raise money for their organization.
Next, or simultaneously, they will be required to make a website for their organization. It must include a mission statement, services offered, staff, volunteer opportunities, events, donation opportunities, contact information, and personal anecdotes/accounts related to the organization and/or their goals; example of the latter would be personal quotes from the people they surveyed/interviewed, or their own personal reasons as to why they picked this particular issue. They must also, with permission, provide a link to their collaborating organization's website if possible.
Because of the general logistics and issues of money, time, etc. they will not be required to actually implement their organization, but will be required to do at least 5 community service hours at their collaborating organization. Any group that is capable of doing so, however, may earn extra credit.
Lastly, they will present their organization to the rest of the class, who will come up with and turn in a constructive critique of each group's presentation- ex. strengths and possible suggestions for improvements. This will also be part of a class discussion about the project that will take place at the closing of the unit.
This unit plan will probably take several weeks, and there will be assigned days in which students will be able to work on it in class, but will also be required, for obvious reasons, to spend time outside of class. The students will be given the directions and requirements of the assignment in its entirety at the very beginning, and may break up the work load in anyway they see fit. The teacher will give guidance and support whenever needed.
This project is designed to accomplish several objectives: to hone internet research skills; bring awareness to the students about public issues, needs, and civic responsibility; to instill in students their ability to make a difference; to further develop critical thinking, decision making and interpersonal/group collaboration/cooperation skills as well as organizational and leadership skills.
The students will be evaluated on their group portfolio that contains all the resources they used in gathering information, the surveys they conducted and/or the notes they took from interviewing people, the contacts they established, and their critiques of the other groups' presentations. Their resources will be evaluated on their reliability, and each student must include an account of the 30 people they talked to. The latter as well as the critiques will be assessed based on completion. The portfolio will also include a document containing the details of their organization, which will be evaluated in its organizational structure, accuracy of information and a realistic application of the information they researched and compiled. They will also fill out a group evaluation form of the members in their individual groups.
This project requires extensive proper use of the internet and well developed literacy in technology in order to be a meaningful and useful assignment. Also, it creates the ability for students to use technology as a way to network within their community and beyond.
I think, if done well, it could be an extremely awesome service learning project.


Standards: Civics and Government 9-12
SS.912.C.2.2: Evaluate the importance of political participation and civic participation.
SS.912.C.2.3: Experience the responsibilities of citizens at the local, state, or federal levels.
SS.912.C.2.5: Conduct a service project to further the public good.
SS.912.C.2.8: Analyze the impact of citizen participation as a means of achieving political and social change.

Standards: NETS
1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Communication and Collaboration
3. Research and Information Fluency
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
5. Digital Citizenship

Some resources used/considered in coming up with this lesson plan:
http://www.stfrancishousegnv.org/
http://managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm
http://www.texastoolbox.info/needs.htm