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Designed by the Professional Learning team at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education.
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Essential Question
What question will guide the project and learning?
Community Partners
What organizations and individuals will collaborate and enhance the learning experience?
Reflection
What opportunities are there for us to reflect on our academic and socio-emotional development?
Assessment
In what ways can we demonstrate what we have learned and how we have grown?
Exhibition
How and who will we celebrate our learning with?
Project Launch
What shared experiences will engage us in the content, skills, and mindsets of the project?
Core Content
What will we need to learn and practice in order to engage in the project?
Critique and Revision
How will opportunities for feedback and refinement be embedded in the project?
Product
What will we make, build, or do that will have an impact on us or the world around us?
What question will guide the project and learning?

How can young leaders create meaningful change in their community through service?
→ Directly focuses on leadership, agency, impact → matches your vision and TED talk reflection. 

3rd, 4th, 5th Grades  Lesson 60 minutes

"Lead the Change: Kids in Action!"

ROCHELLE WILLIAMS
1-pager

Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to engage students as active leaders in their community through meaningful service projects over a seven-week period, with sessions four days a week. By collaborating with community partners, students will apply academic skills in real-world contexts, fostering a deeper understanding of civic responsibility and personal growth. This project-based approach encourages students to reflect on their leadership strengths and socio-emotional development, culminating in a public showcase where they articulate their impact and learning journey.

Learning goals

Students will engage in leadership roles within community service projects to deepen their understanding of civic responsibility and community impact over a 7-week period. They will apply English Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies skills to analyze community needs, effectively communicate, and present their findings. Through experiential service work and structured reflection, students will enhance empathy, collaboration, and self-awareness, culminating in a TED Talk that showcases their academic and leadership growth.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
  • Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.B.3: Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step "how many more" and "how many less" problems using information presented in scaled bar graphs.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.

Products

Throughout the project, students will create advocacy materials such as letters, infographics, and project artifacts like kits or cards. By the end, each student will deliver a TED-style talk, showcasing their learning and leadership growth. Additionally, teams will produce a data-driven infographic to visually present their project's impact during the Freedom Gives Back Showcase. These products will demonstrate students' applied skills in writing, data analysis, public speaking, and teamwork, developed over 7 weeks with 4 sessions per week, each lasting 60 minutes.

Launch

Begin with a Community Service Panel where local leaders from various organizations present real community needs to students. Facilitate interactive discussions, allowing students to ask questions and express initial thoughts on causes they feel connected to. Conclude with a team meeting where students choose their service focus and assign leadership roles, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility from the outset. This launch activity will set the stage for the seven-week journey, engaging students four days a week in meaningful, community-centered learning experiences.

Exhibition

Students will present their TED Talks and infographics during the "Freedom Gives Back" Showcase, inviting families, community partners, and school leaders to celebrate their achievements. The event will include a gallery walk of project artifacts and a panel discussion with community partners. Following the public showcase, students will lead school assemblies, sharing their leadership experiences with younger grades. A classroom reflection and awards ceremony will recognize individual leadership growth, and highlights will be shared on social media and district channels to extend the celebration. This exhibition will be integrated into the 7-week lesson plan, ensuring all students have the opportunity to prepare and participate meaningfully within the 60-minute class periods.
Plan
Week 1 Day 1
Activities
Community Service Panel Introduction - Introduce the project by explaining its goals and importance, set expectations for the week's activities, and outline the role of community partners in the project (10 min)
Interactive Panel Discussion - Host community leaders from various organizations to present their causes, engage students in a Q&A session, and encourage them to consider which cause resonates with them (30 min)
Reflection and Team Formation - Facilitate student reflection on the panel discussion, guide them in choosing a cause for their project, and organize them into teams based on their interests (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Reflection Journal Entry: Students write a post-panel reflection, detailing new information learned, questions they still have, and their personal connection to the chosen cause.
Preparation 1. Coordinate with community partners to confirm panel participants and schedule.
2. Prepare a list of potential community causes and partner organizations for students to consider.
3. Create a leadership role description sheet to guide students in assigning roles within their teams.
4. Set up a reflection template for journal entries to guide student reflections.
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