Service Learning Project!

Family of Swans at Forest River Conservation Area

Service Learning Project: Local Clean-up and Recycling

            Students will participate in a local clean-up at Forest River Conservation Area which is part of Salem Woods in Salem, Ma. The park contains a vast population of wildlife. The students are bringing their own trash bag and their own work or gardening gloves (try to avoid using plastic gloves). The students will be walking the trails of Forest River Conservation Area and will be picking up any trash that has been littered. During this trash clean-up students will find recyclable objects. Throughout the walk there will be discussions of the wildlife that lives on the land and in the water. Basically we are voicing the needs of the wildlife while we are in their habitat.  After the students are done picking up trash we all come back to the school.

            At the school there will be specific recycling bins larger than the ones used in the classroom. The students will talk about what can be recycled and why it can be recycled. The students have already seen why there should not be trash in an animal’s habitat. Now the students can visualized the magnitude of trash that goes untouched and unnoticed. Students learn by doing, they are sorting the items by discussing what materials made these objects.

            As a final project the students will be in groups of three or four students. Each student’s prepares a presentation on why it is important to clean the earth and recycle the trash. The presentation also includes areas the students think should be cleaned-up or maintained. The students have already studied landfills as well as habitats, so there will be a clear connection. The students are given about 4 class periods to finish their projects. When all the presentations are finished they will present the projects to each other. After they have mastered their presentation the school will have an assembly possibly per grade if school is very large. The presentations will allow the whole school to see what a difference each person can make, especially when we all have a common goal.