ClassroomswithaCause

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ClassroomswithaCause

UseYourSpark*
Whatisyourspark?Asparkisanactivityorinterestthattrulyengageskidstobetheirbest,suchascreativearts,athletics,
orlearningaspecificsubject.Yoursparkcouldbeanythingfrommathtosingingtoplayingsoccer,andasyouleadyour
serviceproject,youcanuseyoursparktocreatechangeinyourcommunity.

Thinkaboutareasonyoumightuseyoursparkduringyourserviceproject.Isthereanissueinyourcommunityyoufeel
passionateabout?Thatsyourfire!Forexample,youcouldfeelstronglyaboutprotectinganimalrightsorencouraging
yourcommunitytoeathealthyfoods.Onceyoustartyourserviceproject,yourfirebecomesyourcause.

Now,watchthisshortvideoofDaniel,astudentatElsaElementarySchoolinTexas.Danielandhisclassmatesraisedover
$7,000foralocalfoodbankandheldarallyonthestepsoftheStateCapitolBuilding.

Whatsnext?Howcanyoucombine yoursparktodo
somethingASAP?ASAPisasetof strategiesfortaking
action.

Awareness:educatingpeopleabout anissueandinspiring
themtochangetheirbehavior
Passion Issue Strategy(ASAP!) Project
(Spark) (Fire)
Animals Endangere Awareness Organizeanddevelopsocialmediamessagesabout
dSpecies anendangeredspecies.
Footbal Mentoring Service Helpcoachafootballteamforyoungerkids,and
l serveasapositiverolemodel.
Writing Affordable Advocacy OrganizeacampaigntowriteletterstoyourMember
Housing ofCongresstoadvocateforcheaperhousing.

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Music Curing Philanthropy Holdacharitykaraokecompetitionanddonatethe

Cancer proceedsfromticketsalestoacancerresearch
center.
Service:takingdirect,hands-onactiontoaddresstheissue
Advocacy:convincinglocalleaderstoaddresstheissueorchangeapolicy(aruleusedbyagovernment,abusiness,or
aschool)
Philanthropy:raisinganddonatingmoneyorsuppliesfortheissue

Spark+Fire+ASAP=YouthChangingtheWorld
Now,itsyourturntocreateanexample!Inadditiontospark,fire,andASAP,reflectontheideapeerandadultpartners,
orcommunitymemberswhohelpsupportyouandyourprojectandshareyourimpact.Forexample,apeerpartner
mighthelpyouedityourpersuasiveletter,andanadultpartnermighthelpyousetgoals.Doyouthinkpeerandadult
partnersareimportant?Whyorwhynot?Howcouldyoubuildpositiveandmeaningfulpartnershipswithadultsand
peersinyourcommunity?

The4Cs

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The4Cs

Whatarethey?Watchthisvideotofindout!

Theskill: Whatdoesitmean? Whenhaveyouusedthisskill

inschool?
CriticalThinking Youknowhowtopick
andProblem outtheinformation
Solving youneedfroma
challengingsituation
tofigureouthowto
solveproblems.

Creativityand Youregreatat
Innovation comingupwithnew
ideasanddifferent
waystodoprojects.

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Communication Youknowhowtotell
orshowpeopleyour
ideassothey
understandeasily.

Collaboration Youknowhowtobe
ateamplayerand
workwelltogether
withothers.

ThinkGlobally,ActLocally
Whatdoyouknowaboutyourcause?Writeadescriptionordrawapictureofwhatyourcauselookslikeglobally,inyour
country,inyourstate,andinyourcity.

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Whatismyimpact? HowdoIknow? Forexample YourMeasurable

Impact
Awareness Numberofeducational Wewilleducate500
Yourprojectcanraiseawareness eventsyouplanandhost peopleabouttheissue
aboutaparticularissue.Inother Numberofpeoplewho ofchildhoodhunger.
words,youteachpeopleaboutyour attendyoureducational
issueandencouragethemtochange events
theirabehavior.
Example:Weplantoeducatepeople
abouttheissueofchildhoodhunger.

Service Poundsoftrashcollected Wewillplantocollect

Yourprojectcanprovideservice.In andrecycled andrecycle20pounds
otherwords,youtakeaction, Numberofreusableitems oftrashatourschool.
volunteer,orsetupprogramstohelp collected
peopleinneed.
Numberofreusable
Example: Weplantocollectand
recycletrashonourcampus. items/artifactsmade

Advocacy Numberofpetitionsor Wewillwrite50lettersto

Yourprojectcanadvocatefora pledgessigned publicofficialsto
1
policy .Inorderwords,youargueforor Numberofmessagessentto persuadethemto
supportapolicychange. publicofficials supportthecommunity
Example: Weplantowritelettersto gardenpolicy.
publicofficialstopersuadethemto
supportthecommunitygardenpolicy.

Philanthropy Dollaramountraised Wewillraise$1000to

Yourprojectcangivemoneyor Numberofdonors buildane-libraryatour
materialsforphilanthropicpurposes. school.
Inotherwords,yougivemoneyor
suppliestohelppeopleinneed.
Example: Weplantoraisemoneyto
buildane-libraryatourschool.

1
A policy is a rule used by a government, a business, or a school.

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MeasuringImpact

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KeyWordsforMeasuringImpact:

SampleDataCollectionMethods:
Observations(whatdoyousee?)
Photos(before,during,andaftershots)
Interviewswithprojectbeneficiaries(thepeopleyouarehelping)and
communitypartners
Pre-andpost-surveys
Evaluations

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Statisticsandcounting

Dontforgetthatyoucanalsomeasureyourimpactby:
Hoursofservice
Itemsmade,collected,ordistributed
Peopleimpacteddirectlyorindirectly(estimate)
Dollarvalueoftheservicehoursattheminimumwage($7.25/hourasof2014)orIndependentSectorcalculation
($22.55/hourasof2014)
Satisfactionwiththeproject(studentandthoseserved,viaintervieworsurvey)

AcademicConnections

Thinkaboutthewaysyoucouldimproveyourcauseinyourcommunitythatyouidentifiedonpage3andtheimpactyou
willmake.Whathaveyoustudiedinclassthisyearthatwouldhelpyoucompleteyourproject?

In___________________welearned/orarelearningabout______________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

______________________________,whichwillhelpuswithourserviceproject.

Howwillyouusewhatyouhavelearnedthisyear/lastyeartohelpyouplanandcompleteyourproject?
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Wecanusewhatweknowabout____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

for_____________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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IsThisProjectDoable?
Ifyoufeelcomfortablemovingforwardwithyourideaasanindividual,asagroup,orasaclass,describeyourprojectin
3-5Sentences.Forexample:Weareapplyingwhatwelearnedinourlanguageartsclassthisyeartobringawarenessto
schoolbullying.Wewillachievethisbyteachingyoungerstudentsinourschoolhowtotreattheirpeerswithrespect.We
willmeasureoursuccessbythenumberofstudentsthatwementor.

Askyourselvesthesequestions:

Doesthisprojectapplywhatyoustudiedinclassthisyear?YesNo
Willyoubeabletoseethechangethatyoumadeinyourcommunity?YesNo
Ifyes,pleasedescribe:_

Willyoubeabletokeeptrackofyourprogressthroughouttheproject?YesNo
______________________________________________________
Howwillyoudothat?
__________________________________________________________________________
Whyisthisprojectimportanttoyou?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

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Canyougettheprojectcompletedintime?YesNo
Canthisprojectbecompletedwithoutalotoffundraising?YesNo
Ifyouneedmoney,howwillyougetit?
Doesthisprojectrequireresourcesotherthanmoney?YesNo
Ifso,whatarethoseresourcesandwherewillyougetthem?



ClassroomswithaCauseStudentContract

Pleaseprintandsignthefollowingformandreturnittoyourteacherormentor.

Iwillmakethisapositiveexperienceby

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Iwillworkwellwithothersby

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

StudentSignature_________________________________________Date_____________________

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TeacherorMentorSignature_______________________________Date___________________

ParentorGuardianSignature___________________________Date__________________

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ContactingIssueExperts

Issueexpertscanhelpyouidentifycommunityneeds;findeffectivestrategiesandresourcestoaddressthoseneeds,and
refineyourprojectideabyprovidingfeedback;andspreadthewordaboutyourproject.

Whotocontact?
o Passionate,interestingpeoplepeoplewhowanttogetothersinvolved!
o SetupaGoogleAlertordoaTwittersearchaboutyourissuewhoinyourcommunityismakingnews?
o Attendacommunityworkshoporlecture.Checkoutthecommunityeventscalendarinyourlocal
newspaperforalistingoftheseevents.
o Expertsconnectedwiththeseorganizationsworkingonyourissue
o Governmentagenciesordepartments
o Universitiesorcolleges
o Organizationsworkingonalocallevelinthecommunityyouidentified

Howtocontact?
o Onceyouhaveidentifiedsomeonetocontact,domoreresearchtolearnabouttheirworkandtheir
accomplishments.CheckouttheirwebsiteorTwitterfeed,orreadarticlestheyhavewritten.
o Sendanintroductoryemailaskingforashort(5-10minute)phonecalloraskthemdirectquestionsintheemail.
Describebriefly:
o Yourinspirationandproject-whythisissueisimportanttoyouandwhatyouaredoingaboutit?
o Yourask-theadviceorsupportyouareseeking.
o Yourassets-howtheexpertwillbenefitfromadvisingorworkingwithyou.
o Youravailability-daysandtimeswhenyouarefreetotalk.

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Check-In

SomethingImproudof SomethingIneedtoimprove Mypersonalgoals

Reflect!

Thinkabouthowyourprojectconnectswithwhatyouhavelearnedinschool,andhowyouareproposingtohelpyour
community.Whatisyourimpact?Isitmeasurable?

Otherwaystothinkaboutyourproject:

Createavideoordigitalpresentation(PowerPoint,Prezi,Glogster);showittoyourparentsandinvitetheirfeedback!
Createastorybook,storyboard,ordigitalstoryaboutyourproject.
Designascrapbookorphotocollage.
Writeapoemorplaybasedonyourproject.

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Createabulletinboarddisplay.
Keepaprojectjournalonyourown,orasagroup.

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ProjectWorkPlan

Whattasksneedtobedonebeforeyoudoyourproject?Completethefollowingtabletohelpyouassignjobs.

Whatneeds Whowill Timeneeded DueDate

tobedone? doit? tocomplete

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Resources

Whatresourcesdoyouneedtodoyourproject?Youmightneedmoneytobuymaterialsorcollectdonations.

Whatwillyouneed Wherewillyou Whowillgetit? Whatwillitcost?
foryourproject? getit?

TotalCost


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SocialMedia:TipsandTricks

Socialmediaisapowerfultoolforpromotingyourgoodwork.Whetheryouhavebeenactiveonsocialmediabeforeor
not,learningthebasicsaresimple.Socialmediaallowsyoutoaccessbothalocalandaglobalaudiencemillionsof
volunteers,supporters,andyouthactivistslikeyouwaitingtobeapartofyourmovement.

Beforeyougetstarted,reflectonyourgoals:whatareyouhopingtogainusingsocialmedia?Whatdoesyourmessage
looklike?Whoisyourtargetaudience? Forexample,yourgoalcouldbetoreachotherstudentslikeyouwhoaredoing
similarprojects.

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SocialMedia:TipsandTricks(Continued)

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Dontforget:
Bepassionate,butremembertokeepthingspoliteandpositive!
Makesureyoufeelgoodabouteverypostandeveryfollowerorfriendyouadd.
Usepeereditingtocheckyourworkbeforeyoupublishitonline.

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NowYouAreReady!
Gothroughyourplans,checktomakesurethatyouhaveeverythingyouneed,andmake
yourprojecthappen!

AfterYourProject

Celebrateanddemonstrateyouraccomplishments!Beproudofwhatyou
havedoneandsharethatpridewithallthosewhojoinedin.Plana
presentationtoyourschoolcommunity,thefeederelementaryschool,
theschoolboard,ortheCityCouncil.Considerusingtri-foldboards;see
thephotototheright,andcheckoutpage18foratemplate.
Contactelectedofficials.Writepersuasiveletters,reachoutonsocial
media,orgathersignaturesfromcommunitymemberstoinviteofficialsto
yourevents,encouragethemtoparticipate,oraskforchangesinlawsor
governmentprograms.

Announceresults.Sendanewsreleasetolocalmedia;writeanarticle
fortheschoolorcommunitynewspaper;putannouncementsin
neighborhoodororganizationalbulletins,etc.

Evaluateyoursuccess!Assessworksites,andtakeafterphotos.Checktobesurethatthedesiredoutcomesforall
stakeholdersintheprojectweremet.

Sendthank-younotestoallsponsorsandvolunteers.Besuretoincludecityorcountyofficials,schoolpersonnel,PTA
volunteers,andotherschoolorcommunityresourceswhohelpedyou.Ifavailable,includecopiesofbeforeand
afterphotosornewsclippingsaboutyourproject.

ShareyourresultswithYSAandbepartofaglobalmovement(seepage16).

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PresentationRubric

3MeetsStandards 2PartiallyMeets 1-DoesnotMeet
Standards Standards
Content Thepresenter ThepresenterhasONLY Thepresenterdidnot
Knowledge includedasufficient ONEofthefollowing includeasufficient
amountofuseful qualities:includeda amountofuseful
informationAND sufficientamountof informationor
demonstrateddeep usefulinformation; demonstrateddeep
understandingofthe demonstrateddeep understandingofthe
topicofthe understandingofthe topicofthepresentation.
presentation. topicofthe
presentation.
Support Theevidence Theevidenceincludes Thereisnoevidenceor
includesALLthe somebutnotallofthe theevidenceincludes
followingqualities: followingqualities: noneofthefollowing
relevanttotheclaim; relevanttotheclaim; qualities:relevanttothe
presentedlogically; presentedlogically; claim;presented
pulledfromcredible pulledfromcredible logically;pulledfrom
sources. sources. crediblesources.
Audience Usedaspeakingstyle Usedaspeakingstyle Usedaspeakingstyle
thatisappropriateto thatissomewhat thatisnotappropriateto
thetask,purpose, appropriatetothetask, thetask,purpose,and
andaudience. purpose,and audience.
audience.
Delivery& Thepresenter Thepresenter Thepresenterdidnot
Speaking presentedinaclear presentedinaclear presentinaclearwayor
wayANDsuccessfully waybutdidnot successfullyengagethe
engagedthe successfullyengage audience.
audience. theaudience;OR

Thepresenter
successfullyengaged

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theaudiencebutdid
notpresentinaclear
way.
Interaction Thepresenter Thepresenter Thepresenterdidnot
demonstratedactive occasionally demonstrateactive
listeningskillswhen demonstratedactive listeningskillswhenothers
otherswerespeaking listeningskillswhen werespeaking.
andeffectively otherswerespeaking
respondedtoothers andeffectively
questionsand respondedtoothers
comments. questionsand
comments.

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4CsRubrics

CriticalThinkingandProblemSolving
Thinkaboutwhy Seepage: Haveyou: Rateyourconfidencein Pleasehaveyour
theissueis usingthisskill(5=high, teacher/mentorfillout
importantto 1=low). thissection:
address,whywe


shouldcare Page8 Thoughtaboutasimilarsituationinthe
aboutit,and (Academic pastwhencomingacrossaproblem? 12345 12345
whatwecando Connections)

aboutit.

Pages6-7 Askedquestionsaboutwhatother
(Measuring peoplemightwantinordertosolvethe 12345 12345
Impact) problemforallpeopleinvolved?Made
conclusionsbasedoninformationthat
wasgiven?

Page9(IsThis Thoughtbeforemakingdecisionsand
ProjectDoable?) understoodthatonedecisioncan 12345 12345
affectmanydifferentparts?

CreativityandInnovation
Encourage Seepage: Haveyou: Rateyourconfidencein Pleasehaveyour
creativity, usingthisskill(5=high, teacher/mentorfillout
originality,new 1=low). thissection:
ideasandways
ofdoingthings. Page4(Think


Useddifferentwaystocomeupwith
Globally,Act creativenewideas? 12345 12345
Locally)

Communication
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Writeandspeak Seepage: Haveyou: Rateyourconfidencein Pleasehaveyour

aboutthe usingthisskill(5=high, teacher/mentorfillout
studentsproject 1=low). thissection:
toother
Page11


students,the Listenedtoothersandfoundchancesto
(ContactingIssue learnwhilehavingapositiveattitude? 12345 12345
community, Experts)
socialand
traditional Page15-16

Communicatedformanydifferentways

media,and (SocialMedia:Tips includingaskingquestions,sharing 12345 12345
publicofficials. andTricks?) ideas,givinginstructions,givingpraise,
andmotivatingothers?

Page18 Communicatedthoughtsandideasina
(Presentation waythateveryonecanunderstand
Template) throughdifferentwaysof 12345 12345
communicatingsuchasspeakingand
writing?

Collaboration
Promote Seepage: Haveyou: Rateyourconfidencein Pleasehaveyour
effective usingthisskill(5=high, teacher/mentorfillout
teamwork, 1=low). thissection:
shared
responsibility, Page13(Project


Understoodtheimportanceofeveryone
flexibility,and WorkPlan) havingsharedresponsibilityand 12345 12345
valuingthework workingtogether?
ofothers.

Page14


Workedwellwithothersandbeen
(Gathering respectfultogroupmembersthathad 12345 12345
Resources) differentideas?



Page17(NowYou Taken responsibility and let others take
AreReady!) theirownresponsibilitiesaswell? 12345 12345

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