Into the Classroom | Year 3 Exit Point - Service Learning
Rashmi Dixon
Year 3 Teacher / EdTech Lead
Service Learning is an educational approach in which children apply the knowledge learnt in the classroom by engaging with the local community to deepen their understanding of those concepts. Some other terms that service learning might be closely related to are civic engagement, community development, advocacy, philanthropy, social change, volunteerism, community service and experiential learning.
Through service learning, pupils:
Learn more about their relationship with the communities they engage with
Learn more about their capacity for serving others
Refine their decision-making abilities and acquire other lifelong skills
Better understand the meaning of responsible citizenship
Grow in their awareness of cultural differences
Recently, our Year 3 pupils studied a unit of inquiry about Entrepreneurship. They studied what attributes made for successful entrepreneurs and decided to create their own businesses. They worked collaboratively to brainstorm a list of possible business ideas that were sustainable. The pupils decided to sell products chosen by their groups which consisted of pre-loved toys, stationery, handmade items, books, and other items. Exciting business names, logos and taglines were created to understand the importance of advertising and marketing.
During the initial stages of the inquiry cycle, the pupils were encouraged to discuss ways they might benefit the local community through their entrepreneurship skills. Together, they explored opportunities to drive positive change in the community by working closely with our Charity Coordinator.
They chose Auntie R, a local animal shelter to ask some questions and investigate further. Auntie R cares for five hundred and fifty stray animals who live in the Jinghai area of the city. A rescue worker from the shelter was invited to speak to them, explain the importance of the work they do, and share some successful adoption stories. This visit left a great impression on the children and motivated them to persevere forward.
On March 17th, the Year 3 pupils opened their Marketplace to parents, pupils, and teachers for just over an hour. Together, they raised a whopping 6476 RMB which has been donated to the shelter. This learning experience combined their knowledge of setting up a business, with the skills needed to work collaboratively and become good global citizens. We are proud of our pupils for parting with their much-loved belongings to help our furry friends. We hope to build strong community partnerships to continue engaging in service learning.
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