Below are links to reports developed to provide models of action research reports for educators participating in the Teaching American History Grant module on Civil Rights/Service Learning. The documents use data collected from module participants to report on the success and needs of the module. Note the appreciation of confidentiality in the reports (names and other identifying information are removed from the report) and note that this report is based solely on assessments appearing in the form of action research reports. A true action research report would address many pedagogical elements in addition to assessment data (e.g., instructional design and delivery, student participation and attitudes toward instructional delivery).
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
WebQuests Designed for Guiding Students through Service Learning
Below are links to webquests designed by students in the Civil Rights/Service Learning module who were unable to engage in service learning with students. Their alternative assignment was to create a webquest that would guide intermediate level students through the process of conceptualizing and enacting a service project.
- Teaching American History: Civil Rights Movement/Service-Based Learning WebQuest by Verena K. Bryan
- Save the Desert Wildlife by Donelle Stevens
- Skills for Growing: Civil Rights WebQuest by Christine Thomas
- Learning Civil Rights through Service Learning by Lacey Peckham
Lecture: Michael S. Green, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights in Las Vegas"
Lecture: Michael S. Green, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights in Las Vegas"
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Video: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things (Farmer's Insurance)
In addition to the Freedom's Song video, Farmer's Insurance has produced other videos that are excellent. One of these, Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, is available for you to view online. You can also order a DVD to keep in your classroom. See: mms://207.38.23.122/Ordinary%20People%20Doing%20Extraordinary%20Things
The video is only 4 minutes long and shows images of great men and women in history. Using written text and music, it tells how these individuals thwarted their circumstances to create great change in the world. I think the video might be a great culmination of a service learning unit. Students will see that what might not seem like a lot at the beginning can truly be the beginning of something great. I think this video is particularly good for students who are from at-risk environments including those who have special needs. Enjoy!
The video is only 4 minutes long and shows images of great men and women in history. Using written text and music, it tells how these individuals thwarted their circumstances to create great change in the world. I think the video might be a great culmination of a service learning unit. Students will see that what might not seem like a lot at the beginning can truly be the beginning of something great. I think this video is particularly good for students who are from at-risk environments including those who have special needs. Enjoy!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Lecture: DeAnna Beachley, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1960s"
Lecture: DeAnna Beachley, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1960s"
Lecture: Michael S. Green, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1960s"
Lecture: Michael S. Green, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1960s"
Thursday, January 24, 2008
"Our Friend Martin" DVD
This recommendation comes from Margaret Loveall:
"I thought you might like information about a great MLK DVD that I found several years ago while student teaching. It is called Our Friend Martin
, and is perfect for grades 3-5. It is a cartoon story about MLK that includes real video footage. Every year my students love to watch this video and discuss the impact that MLK has had on their lives.
The DVD is available from Amazon for about $10.00. It is a great investment. I have attached the Amazon site so that you can read more about the video.
A cool thing about it is that all of the voices of the cartoon characters are famous celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, and James Earl Jones."
"I thought you might like information about a great MLK DVD that I found several years ago while student teaching. It is called Our Friend Martin
, and is perfect for grades 3-5. It is a cartoon story about MLK that includes real video footage. Every year my students love to watch this video and discuss the impact that MLK has had on their lives.The DVD is available from Amazon
for about $10.00. It is a great investment. I have attached the Amazon site so that you can read more about the video.A cool thing about it is that all of the voices of the cartoon characters are famous celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, and James Earl Jones."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
StoryPath: Freedom's Summer
I highly recommend the StoryPath unit plan by Margit McGuire titled "Freedom's Summer." During this unit, students become personally involved with civic education and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The unit is targeted at students in grades 5-8. The curriculum and teacher's guide (including all needed resources) is available for free online.
For teachers hoping to teach similar concepts (e.g., service learning, civic responsibility, making community change) in the younger grades, I recommend the StoryPath unit titled "The Park." It is also available for free online.
For teachers hoping to teach similar concepts (e.g., service learning, civic responsibility, making community change) in the younger grades, I recommend the StoryPath unit titled "The Park." It is also available for free online.
Monday, January 21, 2008
A Community Resource in Las Vegas: Goshen
WAYS THE GOSHEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COALITION CAN ASSIST CLASSROOMS WITH SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS:
- Provide information on Development Assets – one service-learning project = 19 developmental assets.
- Provide information and community contacts on ways to reduce violence and bullying – how to become a bully free school.
- Mentoring.
- Tutoring.
- Research.
- Explaining the difference between volunteerism and service-learning.
- Creating field trips.
- Finding paint supplies and/or building relationships with cooperative extensions, city councils, and county commissioners.
- Provide resources on locations to find service-learning grants.
- Providing contacts for learning more about banking/savings accounts – US Bank, Washington Mutual.
- Connecting classrooms with doctors and nurses to learn more about biology and medicine.
These are just a few ways that the Goshen Community Development Coalition can be of service to the classrooms.
For more information, please feel free to contact Kathleen Dickinson or Lindsay Garcia at:
Goshen Community Development Coalition
2008 Hamilton Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 880-4357
www.goshenonline.org
2008 Hamilton Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 880-4357
www.goshenonline.org
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Teaching Tolerance
I also highly recommend the resources from Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center that provides educational resources to teachers. All their kits are free to teachers, paid by generous gifts from supporters of the Center. In addition, they publish a biannual magazine about teaching tolerance in the classroom. The magazine is also available free to educators.
A list of their kits is available online and you may order kits using this form.
A list of their kits is available online and you may order kits using this form.
Lecture: DeAnna Beachley, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1950s"
Lecture: DeAnna Beachley, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1950s"
Lecture: Michael S. Green, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1950s"
Lecture: Michael S. Green, Ph.D. — "Civil Rights: The 1950s"
Lecture: Christy G. Keeler, Ph.D. — "Introduction to Service Learning"
Lecture: Christy G. Keeler, Ph.D. — "Introduction to Service Learning"
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
"Project Citizen" Curriculum
I highly recommend the Project Citizen curriculum, a product of the Center for Civic Education. There are several curricula available for varying age groupings (beginning with a grade 4-8 text) that guide students through the decision to do a project, development of an action plan, implementation of that plan, and evaluation and presentation of the results. A benefit of the curriculum is that students who participate in the program (beginning in fifth grade) are eligible to compete by sharing their projects with other Project Citizen participating teams.To obtain a copy of the Project Citizen curriculum, teachers must receive training. Pam Bledsoe is the Regional Coordinator for Southern Nevada for Project Citizen and is eager to help teachers receive the training needed to participate in the process. Additionally, Marcia Ellis is the Law-Related Education Coordinator and State Coordinator for Project Citizen. She can also help with training and assistance throughout the program. Please contact either Pam or Marcia if you have an interest in expanding your service learning experience through the use of the Project Citizen materials and methods.
An invitation to participate in Nevada competition is available here. Information about the research supporting use of civic education programs including Project Citizen is available here.
"Giving Back" Curriculum
I highly recommend the Giving Back: Introducing Community Service Learning (Improving Mandated Community Service for Juvenile Offenders) Curriculum. It is freely available online.
The curriculum introduces the process of service learning for teachers/community service personnel interested in guiding students through the development and implementation of their own service projects. In addition, the curriculum includes a list of ten "Done-In-A-Day" service projects.
Though the curriculum is intended to teach civic responsibility to students who have committed criminal offenses, it is suitable for use by all children (though most of the projects are suited to secondary level students).
The curriculum introduces the process of service learning for teachers/community service personnel interested in guiding students through the development and implementation of their own service projects. In addition, the curriculum includes a list of ten "Done-In-A-Day" service projects.
Though the curriculum is intended to teach civic responsibility to students who have committed criminal offenses, it is suitable for use by all children (though most of the projects are suited to secondary level students).
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Farmer's "Freedom's Song" Curriculum
I highly recommend Freedom's Song by Farmer's Insurance. The packet includes a free curriculum, video, and timeline/resource text to use when teaching the plight of African-Americans during the 20th century as they moved toward equal rights. It chronicles 100 years of the triumphs and struggles of Black Americans in the United States with special focus on key individuals supporting civil rights and legal mandates affecting change in the nation. Order the kit online.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
What Happened to Social Studies? The Disappearing Curriculum
What Happened to Social Studies? The Disappearing Curriculum
This article is by Margit McGuire and appeared in the Kappan. It introduces methods for teaching students to be civically responsible and introduces the StoryPath approach.
This article is by Margit McGuire and appeared in the Kappan. It introduces methods for teaching students to be civically responsible and introduces the StoryPath approach.
World Citizenship: An Alternative to 'Drill and Kill'
World Citizenship: An Alternative to 'Drill and Kill'
This article is by Bruce Mitchell and appeared in the Kappan.
This article is by Bruce Mitchell and appeared in the Kappan.
You've Got the Power - Let's Go Make a Difference
Start Something: Unit 4
This is a copy of Unit 4 from the Tiger Woods Foundation Start Something curriculum. This unit assists teachers and students to develop action plans that will improve their communities and the world.
This is a copy of Unit 4 from the Tiger Woods Foundation Start Something curriculum. This unit assists teachers and students to develop action plans that will improve their communities and the world.
Step-by-Step Planning Sheet for Service Projects
Step-by-Step Planning Sheet
This planning sheet appears in the Teaching Tolerance kit titled "One Survivor Remembers."
This planning sheet appears in the Teaching Tolerance kit titled "One Survivor Remembers."
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Viewer's Guide - Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks
Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks (Curriculum)
This curriculum accompanies the previous video. The curriculum focuses on teaching about the 1960s civil rights era as a nonviolent means of making change within a democratic republic and tying this historical experience to making change today.
This curriculum accompanies the previous video. The curriculum focuses on teaching about the 1960s civil rights era as a nonviolent means of making change within a democratic republic and tying this historical experience to making change today.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Video - Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks
Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks (Video)
This video is a production of Teaching Tolerance. It will appear in the Teaching Tolerance Kit titled "Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks" that you will receive at the first face-to-face meeting. Because the video is required viewing for the first week of class, I am making it available for you here in electronic format. The video will be removed on January 16, 2008, the first day of class meetings. Review it before that time as you will be required to complete the Teaching Tolerance Feedback Form in class on that day and we will discuss it during that class meeting.
This video is a production of Teaching Tolerance. It will appear in the Teaching Tolerance Kit titled "Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks" that you will receive at the first face-to-face meeting. Because the video is required viewing for the first week of class, I am making it available for you here in electronic format. The video will be removed on January 16, 2008, the first day of class meetings. Review it before that time as you will be required to complete the Teaching Tolerance Feedback Form in class on that day and we will discuss it during that class meeting.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Example Service Projects
Below are links to service projects completed by students in elementary schools. Please review each of these examples.
- The Harlem Project
- Project Citizen 405
- Kids Paying It Forward (blog/website)
- Project Serve
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Action Research Project Assignment Sheet
Action Research Project Assignment Sheet
The purpose of this assignment is to have teachers intentionally reflect on their practice. Consider the following quote:
"I've spent lots of time in schools and seen many exceptional educators—people who love their subjects and their students. And I've always wondered, as they teach the twentieth or thirtieth year of their careers, how do they keep their teaching fresh?
Visiting seasoned Chicago-area educators, I learned that none of them does quite the same thing in the classroom twice, and none teaches like the other. They do have one key trait in common: they're self-propelled. Their best source of professional development isn't a mandated chalk-and0talk or some perky pep rally, but their own curiosity. They're always looking for new ways to approach subjects and present material. They analyze students and their parents. They tear apart each lesson and look for the weak spots. They've each found a unique formula for making their teaching not just as good as it ever was, but better than its ever been before."
The purpose of this assignment is to have teachers intentionally reflect on their practice. Consider the following quote:
"I've spent lots of time in schools and seen many exceptional educators—people who love their subjects and their students. And I've always wondered, as they teach the twentieth or thirtieth year of their careers, how do they keep their teaching fresh?
Visiting seasoned Chicago-area educators, I learned that none of them does quite the same thing in the classroom twice, and none teaches like the other. They do have one key trait in common: they're self-propelled. Their best source of professional development isn't a mandated chalk-and0talk or some perky pep rally, but their own curiosity. They're always looking for new ways to approach subjects and present material. They analyze students and their parents. They tear apart each lesson and look for the weak spots. They've each found a unique formula for making their teaching not just as good as it ever was, but better than its ever been before."
--Steven Drummond, "Forever Young," Teacher, January 2007
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