Service Learning
What Is Service Learning?
Service learning is a teaching method that combines academic instruction, meaningful service, and critical reflective thinking to enhance learning and civic responsibility. It differs from community service or volunteerism in that the service activity is integrated with academic curriculum and content. Read about Volunteers' personal experiences with service.
Project Ideas
Students can choose among three different kinds of projects:
- direct (students interact with those they serve)
- indirect (students perform service without firsthand contact with those served)
- action (students educate the public about a cause).
Planning a Service Learning Project
Students receive helpful information about how to select, plan, prepare, carry out, reflect on, and celebrate a service-learning project.
Service Learning Lesson Plans
Cumulative service learning lesson plans provide a foundation for students to research, plan, perform, and reflect on their own service-learning project.
Service Learning Stories
Service-related stories from Peace Corps Volunteers include lessons designed to convey useful information about how to select, plan, prepare, carry out, reflect on, and celebrate a service learning project.
Tips
Here are some advice from Peace Corps Volunteers on community service and service-learning project planning and implementation.
Service Learning Framework and Standards
World Wise Schools service learning resources are standards-based. They are derived from "Essential Elements of Effective Service Learning Practice"; and the "Standards of Quality for School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning."; Read about our framework and standards for service learning.
Teen Site
Visit the Peace Corps' Teen Site to learn how teens are getting involved in service-learning projects.