Service Learning Project

Title of Project: Recycling Service Project

Grade level: K-5^th grade

Number of Students Participating:

Contributed by: Jennifer McCrann- EDG 693

School: Main Street C.E.C.

                   County: Campbell County

                   Date: 6/20/2011

Description of plan:

Students will be learning about the planet and recycling. Students will research, discuss and identify ways in which they can keep our Earth clean. Students will be called to action to help reduce the amount of recyclable products thrown away in the school trash and become more actively involved in getting recyclables ready to be taken to the recycling center. Recycled objects will be taken to the Can Dew Recycling Facility where it will be weighed and money will be given based on the price of the materials. The money gained from the project will be used on beautification projects around the community that the students will be involved in. 

Who will be involved in the plan?

1.     All teachers/ administration at the school: All teachers and administrators will be asked to work on this service learning project and to encourage its success for the school. Teachers will teach various lessons about recycling and discuss the importance of recycling with their class. Teachers will be responsible for individual class projects that involve technology.

(Jennifer McCrann will take other recyclables, such as paper, and plastic to be recycled in her neighborhood where it is free once a month/ when needed)

2.     Parents/ Guardians: A letter will be sent home about the recycling service learning project that we will be doing at our school, asking the parents/guardians to help be involved in this project at home as well, and to discuss its importance with their children. Parents will also be asked to be volunteers in order to help the students separate the recyclables, take recyclables to the recycling center, and to help with the plans the students have for beautifying/ carrying out the plans to support our community. Many people in the Alexandria/ outlying areas have no recycling pick up. We will let parents know that we are collecting aluminum cans so that we can earn money for the community. Parents may drop off their aluminum cans at the school.

3.     Can Dew Recycling : The center will be contacted in order to set up a schedule of when to drop of the aluminum cans as well as how much will be given for each item. This website will also be used in order to determine this: http://candewrecycling.com/

Can Dew contact info

1510 Russell St

Covington, KY 41011

Phone: (859) 261-8264

Fax: (859) 261-6500

Business Hours:

M-F 8-5 Sat 8-2

Email: phil@candewrecycling.com

4.     The City of Alexandria: The City of Alexandria will be contacted to discuss ways that the money collected from the project can be used to help beautify or support our community. The students will be involved in helping to carry out these plans.

Contact info:
8236 West Main Street
Alexandria, KY 41001
Phone: (859) 635-4125
Fax: (859) 635-4127

School Disciplines/ standards addressed: I have provided a collection of Academic Expectations, Program of Studies and Core Content standards that this Service Learning Project addresses. This is just a tip of the ice berg of what will be addressed. The possibilities are really limitless and more standards than suggested can be addressed.

Academic Expectations

1.11      Students write using appropriate forms, conventions, and styles to communicate ideas and information to different audiences for different purposes.

1.16      Students use computers and other kinds of technology to collect, organize, and communicate information and ideas.

2.1        Students understand scientific ways of thinking and working and use those methods to solve real-life problems

4.4        Students demonstrate the ability to accept the rights and responsibilities for self and others.

5.4         Students use a decision-making process to make informed decisions among options. 

Program of Studies and Core Content

Writing:

    EL-5-WC-S-3   Students will write for a variety of authentic purposes and audiences

WR-E-1.1.0 Purpose/Audience: Students will establish and maintain a focused purpose to communicate with an authentic audience

WR-05-1.1.3

In Transactive Writing,

·       Students will communicate a purpose through informing, persuading, or analyzing.

    WR-04-1.1.3 Students will communicate a purpose through informing or persuading.

    WR-04-1.2.3 Students will incorporate persuasive techniques when appropriate (e.g.,          bandwagon, emotional appeal, testimonial, expert opinion)

Arts and Humanities:

     AH-04-3.4.1 Students will identify how art fulfills a variety of purposes. (Narrative-     communicate ideas and information).

Practical Living:

PL-P-PW-S-PPH1

Students will demonstrate awareness of the concept of responsibility to oneself and others

PL- EP-3.1.4

Students will identify consumer actions (reusing, reducing, recycling) that impact the environment.

DOK 1

PL-04-3.1.4

Students will identify and describe consumer actions (reusing, reducing, recycling) that impact the environment.

DOK 2

PL-05-3.1.4

Students will describe consumer actions (reusing, reducing, recycling) and identify ways these actions impact the environment (e.g., conserving resources, reducing pollution, reducing solid waste)

DOK 2

Vocational Studies:

VS-5-CD-U-4

Students will understand that consumer actions (e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) influence the use of resources and impact the environment

VS-5-CD-S-4

Students will describe how consumer actions (e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) influence the use of resources and impact the environment by: describing some community activities that promote healthy environments

VS-P-CD-U-3

Students will understand that consumer actions (e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) influence the use of resources and impact the environment

VS-P-CD-S-4

Students will describe how consumer actions (e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) influence

the use of resources and impact the environment by: describing some community activities that promote healthy environments

VS-4-CD-U-4

Students will understand that consumer actions (e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) influence the use of resources and impact the environment.

VS-4-CD-S-4

Students will evaluate consumer actions (e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) and how they influence the use of resources and impact the environment by:

a)  describing how consumption, conservation, and waste management practices are related

b) identifying ways the physical environment is related to individual and community health

VS-5-CD-U-5

Students will understand that an individual has multiple life roles that impact responsibility to be a valuable family and community member.

Technology:

T-P-ICP-S-P2

Students will create a variety of tasks using technology devices and systems to support authentic learning

T-P-RIPSI-S-I2

Students will express creativity both individually and collaboratively using technology

T-P-RIPSI-S-I1

Students will use technology for original creations/innovation in classroom

T-I-RIPSI-S-I1

Students will use technology to organize and develop creative solutions, ideas or products

T-I-RIPSI-S-I2

Students will use technology to express creativity both individually and collaboratively

     How will I address diverse learners/ student needs?

 Students will be put into teams throughout the school with various abilities. Students will work in groups and have the support of their “team mates.” Students will have the opportunity to showcase what they are good at, whether it be art, such as making a poster, writing, such as our newspaper and reflection papers, math, such as our graphs and charts, or help with interviewing. The multiple intelligences will be addressed in order to reach all students. Students that have a harder focusing will be monitored closely. Visual representations will be given in order to help some students. Students will also be given models when needed of what we are learning about. Students that need reading assistance or writing assistance for various projects will be given it. Students that do better independently will also have ample opportunities during this unit. When needed, students that need extra time for writing/ art projects etc. will be given. Some assignments will be shortened depending on the student’s ability.

What technology will I use?

INTERNET and OTHER RESOURCES

Conservation

www.epa.gov

Recycling for Children

  http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/kids-teachers/

http://dpw.dc.gov/DC/DPW/Education+and+Outreach/Awareness/Recycling+Resources+for+Kids+and+Teachers

http://www.kidsrecycle.org/recycling.php

http://recycle.meridian.mi.us/children.htm

http://www.scire.com/recycle/bmes_recycles/

http://recycling.stanford.edu/facstaff/kids.html

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/recycle/

Recycling Survey

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/recycle/recyquiz.htm

Environmental Kids Club

http://www.epa.gov/kids/garbage.htm

Videos used in the classroom: Teacher Tube videos on recycling

What other benefits do I see for my students personally?

1. Students will be meeting a community need.

2.  Students will be able to reflect throughout the project about their service learning project and develop an interest in helping out their community.

3. Students will develop civic responsibility.

4. Students will learn life skills.

5. Students will be able to showcase their creativity.

6. Students will learn that when multiple people collaborate, great things can be done.

7. Students will have more awareness about the earth.

8. Students will be able to keep trash down in the classroom/in the school by recycling.

9. Students will have fun doing something that is beneficial for not only themselves, but the world.

10. Hopefully this sparks an interest in future service learning projects that the school can do.

Activities and time line: (Here are some suggested activities, time permitting, some of these activities might need to be cut.)

When:	Activity:	Time length:
Beginning of the year	Students will be able to learn about why recycling is important. Older grades can work with polymers and plastic to learn that plastic doesn’t break down easily. Students will learn what can and can’t be recycled.	1-2 days
Beginning of the year	Students will be placed into “green teams” throughout the school. Students will make posters to promote advocacy about recycling	1-2 days More if needed
Beginning of the year	Students can make posters of what can be recycled and make markings on the receptacles around the school.	2-4 days
Throughout the year	Students can view recycling videos, PowerPoint’s and websites	Throughout year
?	Guest speakers to talk about recycling centers	?
Beginning/ Middle/ and end of the year	Have various students’ interview teachers, staff, parents/guardians and community members about recycling. Have students analyze data and compare to earlier data.	3 times a year/ 2-3 days
Middle of the year	Have students create photo stories/ PowerPoint’s about recycling and what they have learned. Allow them to take pictures with a camera of the progress that is being made during the year.	2-3 weeks
Beginning of the year to end	Have students write in a reflection journal about the project.	Throughout year
Beginning of the year	Make school wide shirts to support recycling students can wear around the community.	1-2 days
Throughout the year	Collect plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper etc. and sort into containers	Throughout the year
3rd week of school	Make a school wide video	2-3 weeks for writing scripts, editing, etc.

How will we measure success for this project?

·        Student, parent, and teacher surveys will be sent out and collected.

·        Interviews will be given to various people to collect a consensus of how the service project is going.

·        We will take into consideration how much money was raised.

·        Students will be tested on recycling topics discussed to see if they are learning from the project.

·        Students writing and reflection journal about the project will be collected.

What celebration will the class enjoy?

Students will have an end of the year party to celebrate all the money they raised from the project and with the money that was raised over the year, suggestions will be taken on what we can do for the Alexandria community. The city of Alexandria will also be contacted about how we wish to help the city. Students will view their video made during the year, do crafts that have them reuse old objects and discuss the project. Students will have the opportunity to visit a recycling center.