| The three Rs, "Reading, wRiting and aRithmatic," will | | | | Kids learn best by example, and the experience of |
| always be at the core of the education curriculum. But | | | | volunteering would have the greatest impact on them |
| many schools also teach character traits, such as | | | | if family members also participate. Talk with local |
| honesty, patriotism and citizenship. One way you can | | | | businesses to see if they would also like to get |
| mirror what your school may be teaching about | | | | involved by donating goods, services or the manpower |
| citizenship is to show your students how they can be | | | | that you need to complete your project. |
| of service to their community. | | | | Document the experience. |
| The idea of "citizenship" often refers to a person's | | | | Purchase a disposable camera to take pictures of kids |
| involvement in the political process, such as exercising | | | | participating in the community project. Afterward, ask |
| one's right to vote and developing critical thinking skills | | | | your class to "reflect" on what they liked about their |
| to solve community problems. But how can teachers | | | | experience, what they did not like about it, how helping |
| help a 10 year old understand and relate to issues in | | | | others made them feel, what interesting person they |
| the community when she is not even old enough to | | | | met in the process and whether, or not, they would like |
| vote? | | | | to continue volunteering in the community. |
| Identify a problem in your community that your class | | | | Teach while you serve. |
| can help solve. | | | | No matter what age your students are or what |
| It doesn't have to be as extensive as world hunger. Is | | | | subjects you teach, "citizenship" is a character trait that |
| there an empty lot nearby that needs to be cleaned | | | | can be easily woven into a lesson plan. If making |
| up? Is there a soup kitchen downtown whose clients | | | | sandwiches for the homeless, have students calculate |
| would appreciate the place mats your kids created | | | | how many sandwiches they need to make, how many |
| just for them? Do your students have unused toys at | | | | loaves of bread and packages of lunch meat they |
| home that they could donate to children who are living | | | | need to purchase, and how long it will take them to |
| with their mothers in a shelter for battered women? | | | | finish the task. By cleaning up a trashy vacant lot, |
| Maybe your class would like to create a Christmas | | | | students can focus on science as they identify what |
| play to entertain residents of a local nursing home | | | | plants, animals and insects call the lot "home." If your |
| during the holidays. Of course, make sure the project | | | | students want to sing for residents of a nursing home, |
| you choose is age-appropriate for those in your class. | | | | talk with them about US history and how many of |
| Research your community's history. | | | | these residents were participants of wars and battles, |
| If your students are teens, ask them to research what | | | | and depended upon fellow citizens to work and |
| problems their community has tackled in the past, and | | | | sacrifice for the war effort. |
| how they solved them. If the community hasn't yet | | | | The best way to teach citizenship and community |
| been able to solve a particular problem, discuss that | | | | service is to let your students experience it firsthand. |
| with students and ask for their ideas. Children usually | | | | This exercise will give kids of all ages an opportunity to |
| have no problem "thinking outside the box," and you | | | | see how positively their efforts can impact the lives of |
| might be surprised how creative and thoughtful their | | | | others. They will develop a character trait that, when |
| responses will be. | | | | regularly practiced, will bring them -- and their |
| Encourage others to get involved. | | | | community -- lifelong benefits. |