Culminating
Projects
& Civic
Engagement
What
is it?
Service Learning
- Service learning is a
project based teaching and learning strategy that connects
classroom learning with meeting a community need that is applicable
for emementary, middle, and high school students.
- High school students are
required to complete 60 hours of a service learning experience for
graduation from Seattle Public Schools.
- High School Graduation
Requirements - Service Learning:
In a survey of
definitions of Service Learning from around the world, three key
elements were common:
- Clear Learning
Objectives
- Meets Genuine
Need
- Incorporates
Systematic Reflection
Culminating Projects
Washington Statewide
goals for Culminating Projects:
- Encourage students to
think analytically, logically and creatively and to integrate
experience and knowledge to solve problems.
- Give students a chance
to explore a topic in which they have a great interest.
- Offer students an
opportunity to apply their learning in a “real world"
way.
As
part of the Culminating Project, each student will demonstrate
essential skills through reading, writing, speaking, production
and/or performance. To complete the project, students may be asked
to write a research paper, work with a mentor in school or in the
community, present to a community or peer panel, complete a service
or civic engagement component, pull together a portfolio of work
and/or develop a multi-media presentation. (Washingon State Board
of Education)
Civic Engagement
- Each student in grades 4
or 5, 7 or 8, and 11 or 12, will demonstrate civic skills,
knowledge, and actions by completing a minimum of one Civic -
Social Studies Classroom Based Assessments.
(Washington State Legislature, HB2579, 2006)
