The middle school years are full of changes and challenges. During this critical time, the benefits of our programs are two-fold: meaningful, proactive service can help prevent risk behaviors, as well as nurture and refine an individual's sense of identity. In fact, studies show that students engaged in service-learning are half as likely to participate in risk behaviors. Through a series of authentic experiences, students can build self-worth by further realizing their importance to the world. They can begin to contemplate their future career paths and the legacies they are creating day by day through their deeds. By interacting with their fellow students, their community and their world, they can make great strides toward becoming responsible, involved adults.
Through the "legacy" journal, formatted like a website, young people actively explore the concepts of service, self and community. The materials are designed to engage middle school students in actions that make the world a better place as they explore ideas related to character education, career development, gifts and fascinations, and
service-learning. Individual and group activities relate to proficiency and standardized test outcomes and allow students to gain practice in writing, thinking, communicating, problem-solving and planning. The user-friendly program, which emphasizes collaboration, action and reflection, encourages students to consider local and global issues and needs. Students and teachers plan and implement a service-learning project together.
(Quantity needed: one per student)
Everyday People Make A Difference
Teaching Guide -
Middle School Level
The teacher-friendly guide offers a wide range of suggestions for easily integrating the
Everyday People Make A Difference journal into a variety of curricular areas, as well as tips for pacing, organization and extension activities for the materials. The teaching guide also includes additional resources that provide background in
service-learning, character education and career development, as well as a bibliography of trade books to supplement and support teaching efforts.
(Quantity needed: one per teacher)
Celebrating Everyday Heroes
Activity Kit
The kit presents classroom and curricular ideas that spark discussions, help young people honor positive role models and become familiar with the concept of doing things for others -- making a positive difference in life. The kit contains class sets -- 30 each -- of nomination forms to help students recognize Everyday Heroes in their
lives, as well as certificates, posters and black line masters that offer flexibility in utilizing the program, and a teaching guide with curricular extensions.
Celebrating Everyday Heroes can also be used as part of a school-wide celebration.
(Quantity needed: one per class; additional supplies can be purchased separately as needed)
Everyday People Make A Difference
Video
The video is designed to show that young people can and are making a positive difference, both in their own communities and in the world at large. Using real-life school-based service learning projects, the video features student narrators sharing stories about their projects. Your students will see other young people in action, participating in activities that make a difference while enriching the lives of the participants themselves.
(Quantity needed: one per class or school)
Discovering Your Internal Job Description
Available in short stacks (50 cards with brief job descriptions on the back) or full decks (80 cards), this activity kit is designed to help students take a closer look at their "gifts and fascinations" - the critical keys to finding a sense of passion and purpose as part of their career development process. The kit includes a step-by-step teaching guide, 25 occupational card sort decks, black line masters and a verb list activity, which can help clarify students' "gifts and fascinations".
(Quantity needed: one per class or school; additional teaching guides and card sort decks can be purchased separately as needed.)
Paths and Possibilities Newsletter
This four-page guide is filled with fun, interesting and practical tips that help parents support their children in exploring fulfilling life choices. Through a variety of activities, this user-friendly publication can jumpstart the journey to personal and professional discovery. It helps both students and adults understand the importance of developing a sense of passion and purpose by identifying and demonstrating their gifts, fascinations, interests and strengths.
(Quantity needed: one per student/parent)
The Payoff
"The Everyday People materials have made it so much easier for me to plan and carry out high quality service-learning projects. The journal and accompanying activities really resonate with my students, and so many of them have gained confidence and shown more interest in school."
Middle School Teacher
"When we see a child suffering, you should feel deep down in your stomach that feeling that begins to build. And once that happens. . . once our eyes are open . . . that's when we're truly responsible to take action."
