Books for Children on Social Action
The Kid’s Guide to Social Action: How to Solve the Social Problems You Choose-And Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action
by Barbara A. Lewis. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (1998).
For children and youth ages 10 and up and budding social activist, Lewis provides illustrative stories of young people who care and do, guides to the skills involved, sample forms (petitions, letters, news releases) and a resource guide with addresses and phone numbers. One user wrote: “I can't imagine a better way to help young people put their ‘if only's’ into action. Kids can choose from small or larger time involvements, but this book will help them not WASTE time as they begin helping others in their communities. Many specific ideas and even templates to help the first-time volunteer feel comfortable reaching out, giving, and maybe even changing the world a little.”
The Kid’s Guide to Service Projects: Over 500 Service Ideas for Young People Who Want To Make A Difference
by Barbara A. Lewis. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (1995).
“Helping Kids Help Themselves” is a perfect way to describe this resource for anyone in need of group projects for it tells how one person can make a difference. One user wrote: “This is an excellent resource for anyone working with youth and young adults…. The book provides ideas, helpful hints and, most importantly, empowers youth to help their community…. Many of the activities can be altered, simplified, or enhanced depending on your goals.”
Kids With Courage: True Stories About Young People Making a Difference 3
by Barbara A. Lewis. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (1992).
The author relates stories of 18 young people who responded resourcefully to what they perceived as crisis situations. The young people are of varied ethnic and economic backgrounds and live in many parts of the country. The book is sure to provoke thought and discussion.
It's Your World--If You Don't Like It, Change It: Activism for Teenagers
by Mikki Halpin. New York: Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, (2004).
The topics include: Free Speech. Racism. The Environment. Gay Rights. Bullying and School Safety. Animal Welfare. War. Information about Safe Sex and Birth Control. Free Speech. HIV and AIDS. Women's Rights. This resource will show the reader how to act on one’s beliefs and make a difference.
The Complete Guide to Service Learning
by Cathryn Berger Kaye. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (2004).
A treasury of activities , ideas, and resources, this eloquent guide can help teachers and parents engage young hearts and minds in reaching out and giving back. Chapters cover a variety of common service-learning themes including animals, the environment, hunger and homelessness, community safety, literacy, and social justice. Each includes inspiring quotations, background information and resources, preparation activities, real-life examples, and ideas that have worked for others.
The Complete Guide to Learning Through Community Service – Grades K-9
by Lillian S. Stephens. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon (1995).
This resource includes over 400 activities organized by subject areas or interdisciplinary themes and are drawn from actual teaching experience. There also are valuable chapters on service with seniors and on poverty, hunger and homelessness.
Community Lessons: Promising Curriculum Practices
by Julie Bartsch and contributing teachers. Malden, MA: Massachusetts Department of Education, Learning Support Services. (2001).
This resource is a guide for integrating community issues with meaning to students' lives at all grade levels. It provides 14 units that include lesson plans. The units include: emergency room, bus safety, ordinary heroes, literacy leaders, veterans, community garden, zoo project, nature trail, responsibilities of citizenship, and senior-senior prom.
Many other resources on social action and community service are available through the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Their address is – National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, ETR Associates, 4 Carbonero Way, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. They also can be reached at – 1/866-245-7378 or via email at info@servicelearning.org
For additional information, visit www.servicelearning.org
Lesson Plans for Community Service-Learning
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich learning experiences, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. The best source of curriculum resources and lesson plans is the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Their bibliographies provide useful resources on social issues and include links to online full-text items and downloadable PDFs when those are available as well as numerous print resources.For additional information about community service-learning for young children to college age students, examine the resources of the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse at www.servicelearning.org.
Volunteering as a Family: Teaching Social Action, Compassion through Community Service.
This is a brief summary of the program suggested by Theresa Willingham who writes that “Volunteering is an enriching experience, and there are now more opportunities – and more reasons – than ever for families to volunteer together.” Since the copyright of this resource is owned by Ms. Willingham, permission to republish it in its entirety must be granted by the author in writing. This citation is intended to call your attention to this resource: youthdevelopment.suite101.com/articles.cfm/contributing_writers. Scroll down to the entry by Ms. Willingham. The relevant links include the Points of Light Foundation and their Family Cares project and the Volunteer Center National Network.
