Twenty five diverse classrooms in the Cedar Valley were impacted by service learning this school year and more than 5,000 students participated in and heard the message regarding service. The demographics of the classrooms ranged from preschool age to university graduates and the type of classes varied from special needs to talented and gifted programs.
Because the service learning model requires that the students determine the strengths and needs of a community, learning is inherent in every stage of the process. Additional learning happens when the students determine the community need they wish to address.
A fifth grade class at Poyner Elementary School learned about hunger and homelessness when representatives from the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and the Salvation Army spoke to their class. They crafted a project, collected money for the Food Bank, and served lunch at the Salvation Army. This is a wonderful example of authentic learning.
A talented and gifted class at Orchard Hill Elementary designed a Bullying Awareness Day at the school. They researched facts, found videos on YouTube, crafted an original game about bullying, and presented each student at the school with an anti-bullying wristband. A West High School class also selected bullying as their community concern. They wrote, acted and recorded a short video about cyber-bullying. They addressed the Waterloo School Board and showed the video to the board members and the public. The video will be used next year at West High School.
Members of a class at Cedar Falls Alternative High choose synthetic drug abuse as their topic. They researched and planned a power point presentation which they showed to local legislators.
A number of classes chose animal abuse as a focus and planned a variety of projects varying from making pet blankets to producing brochures on proper pet care. A Don Bosco class presented an educational program on pet care to elementary students.
Other projects included addressing the needs of the environment, literacy, and improving the safety and beauty of a neighborhood. Students in the Cedar Valley demonstrated sensitivity to the needs in the community and a dedication to make the world a better place.
The VCCV is already looking forward to impacting the students of the Cedar Valley this fall!
Call 272-2087 for more information.
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