2009-2010 Service-Learning Mini-Grant Recipients
What is Service-Learning?
Service-Learning is a form of experiential education in which
youth apply knowledge, critical thinking and good judgment
to address genuine community needs. Young people learn
and are involved in the planning and direction of the project
as much as possible, reflect and evaluate the experience.
Service-learning projects work best when they fit the ages
and developmental abilities of the participants, include
interesting and engaging service activities, explore the
context of the underlying societal issues the service
addresses, and address needs that are important to the
community being served.
Mini-Grant Recipients
The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) reviewed all of the
mini-grant proposals that were submitted and are proud to
announce the 13 that were granted! Congratulations to the Service-Learning & Leadership mini-grant recipients
below! The YLC and the mini-grants are funded by Community Education Youth Development funds and Educational
Equity Alliance – Integration Collaborative. To learn more about Community Education youth programs & initiatives,
please visit: Youth Programs
Disability Awareness
40-50 Next Step students will be creating an informational video in their technology class to create awareness about
various disabilities. The video will be shown multiple times in order to get their message out into the community
increase inclusion for all.
Sharing Cultures
Seven students in Mahtomedi High School’s ELL class will learn about diversity, equality and respect. They will learn
how to organize and hold a book drive, deliver and read books to homeless children at shelters. St Paul Family
Services will receive books for the children in their care.
Children’s Hospital Activity Packages 25-40 students from
Harmony Learning Center will read and research about age
appropriate children and teen literature to include in the activity
packages for the Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN. The high school
students will learn about diverse audiences that represent different
cultures and backgrounds. The project will impact approximately
100-200 children at the hospital in the next two years.
Share a Book
20-30 6th grade students at John Glenn Middle School will mentor
kindergarten and first grade students at Weaver Elementary while
sharing books! The 6th graders will select the books and design a
mini lesson for guided reading.
Kids Teaching Kids
Thirty-two 4th grade students from Carver Elementary will be teaching math skills through math games in the
Landfall community. The students will be directly involved in creating the math games and the materials needed to
buy or make the games. The class will learn more about the Landfall community and brainstorm other ways to
continue to help others in this community.
Bridges of Time
Fourteen 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students at Webster Elementary’s Leadership Development group will work with the
elderly at Maplewood Care Center. The students will learn skills to help them make positive choices that have the
potential to change their lives.
Learning Through Teaching
100 8th grade students at John Glenn will mentor younger students at Weaver Elementary through teaching math
concepts in a hands-on way. The 8th graders will build the function machine box and design the content of the
lesson. The goal is to motivate older students in math by making them the teachers to younger students through fun
activities.
Papa Lemon
Twenty-eight 4th graders at Richardson Elementary will learn from an author who is African-American and has
written and published several books. The students will be given the opportunity to write their own stories about their
own lives which share their different cultures and values. The students will share their own book in various ways
throughout the spring.
REEL Role Models
Thirty-one 5th grade students at Weaver elementary will be learning about developing good habits to be successful
and what it means to be role model. The youth will create and produce all “REEL Role Model” videos to show to the
school. The group will implement a train the trainer model for incoming 4th graders in order to continue the 5th
grade role model theme at the school for years to come.
Living History
Twenty students at Harmony ALC will pair with elderly residents at Gladstone Senior Center in order to create
conversation and understanding. Students will get firsthand accounts of WWII experiences demonstration that
history is the story of real people from their own community. Both students and seniors will go to a visit to the
Minnesota History Center which they will view the Minnesota’s Greatest Generation exhibit.
NHS & Senior Sweetheart Dance
116 NHS students at Tartan Senior High will be giving back to the community by assisting in the annual Sweetheart
Dance held at the Gladstone Senior Center. This event will bridge the gap between the elderly and today’s youth by
engaging in meaningful conversation with dance guests that in normal circumstances may not accur. This act sets
the tone of respecting all members of the community.
ROPES
Fifty ESL students at North High School will welcome different guest speakers in order to find their voice within the
community. The youth will create, perform and publish their work in order to present it at the end of the year.
Building Relationships Across the Generation
Fifteen 7th and 8th grade students from Maplewood Middle School’s special education class and the elderly will be
learning from one another through various activities that will be held at Gladstone. Standards of Quality Practice in
Standards of Quality Practice in Service-Learning (www.nylc.org/standards)