Name__________________________________ Date____________ Period____ ID#____

Environmental Service-Learning Project

Introduction

The best way to learn how to work toward a better environment is to actually become involved in a project
designed to help the environment.
When we learn about environmental problems, you may feel the desire to become involved in finding solutions.
But how can you, a high school student, have a positive impact? It is easy to feel that what we do as individuals
doesnt count. With that being said, please consider the following:

o Individuals and consumers determine what governments and industries do.
If people stop buying a harmful product and tell the company why we are not buying it, they will
stop making the product. Look at the campaign by Greenpeace to get fashion companies to not
use toxic chemicals. Supporting environmentally considerate industries, they will grow. As a
voter, we can influence our governments.
Influential peoples actions can affect the population as a whole. If you write a letter to a
legislator, you will have more influence than one thousand people who do not write a letter.
Remember the phrase: Think Globally, Act Locally
Our environmental problems have been compounding and worsening for over a century. There is
no way we will solve them in a week or even a year. However, the longer we wait, the more
difficult the solutions and choices will become.

In this project, you might choose to work by yourself, work with classmates, or even work with others from the
community as you develop a project to help the environment.

Outcomes

You will become involved in actively working toward a better environment
You will increase your ability to plan and complete a project outside the school setting

Timeline/Grading
This project will be counted as a midterm grade which consists of 10% of your overall grade.
Due on September 26: Select a project and submit your Project Description Form
Due on January 9: Project to be COMPLETED
Submit Reflections & Project Summary Report
Due on January 12: Oral, Presentation Due

**Check out some of these real projects students have done
http://www.epa.gov/education/peya/winners.html
Instructions

Find a project that is interesting to you and that you want to do.
Plan your project carefully and realistically
Be willing to make commitments and keep them
Turn problems into learning experiences, solve them, and continue
Keep your mind on your real goal.




Planning Guide

____Think of ideas.. we already came up with many ideas through our Environmental Vision for
Bristol/Warren Activity. However, be sure to select a project that interests you!
Name a few skills you have:
What issues or causes matter to you?
What issues or causes would you like to learn more about?
How would you address these concerns?
Envision what could be done and what your project will accomplish. What problems will be encountered?
How will they be addressed?
What do you think you could learn about yourself, your community, and others by volunteering or being
involved in a service learning project?
What skills do you wish to gain through this project?

____Fill out and submit the Project Description Form by September 26
____Begin working on the project
Find and contact local people who can help or whom you can help
Consult libraries, internet, or experts
Gather materials
If necessary, e-mail, write, or phone for information
Start working!
____October Peer Review Progress Check (October 9
th
period 4, October 10
th
period 3)
____November Progress Check (November 12
th
period 4, November 13
th
period 3)
____December Progress Check (December 15
th
period 4, December 16
th
period 3)
____Create presentation (Written report or Oral presentation)
____Submit Report & Reflections/Summary Form Due on January 9
Presentations Week of January 12

Report Rubric
You will present your project using a 10 minute PowerPoint presentation. The presentation needs to include
visuals and address the following points:

Planning points 20 points
Clear and effective purpose 20 points
Feasibility 20 points
Potential impact on the community 20 points
Outside contact through email or phone call 20 points
=100 points total











1. Requirements for Project Description Form[ Due on September 26]
I. Project Title
II. Goal (What do you hope to accomplish? How will the environment be helped?)
III. In addition to the good done for the environment, what do you expect to learn?
IV. Steps to reach the goals (Be specific as possible and include target dates)
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________
4. _______________
5. _______________
6. _______________
V. What problems do you anticipate?
VI. What help will you need?
VII. Where might you get that help? (People, agencies, org.)
VIII. Are there any safety issues about which to be concerned?
IX. When do you plan to start? Finish?
X. How will you evaluate your project? How will you know whether you achieved your
goal?



2. Requirements for Reflections & Project Summary Form [Due on January 9]
a. Describe your project
b. What was your main goal? Did you accomplish your main goal?
c. Do you feel that doing this project actually helped to improve the environment?
d. What did you learn about how to do such a project effectively?
e. What did you learn about environmental problems and their solutions?
f. What problems did you encounter? How did you solve them? What did you learn from them?
g. In what ways, if any, has this project had an effect on your daily life or your plans for the future?
h. Discuss the following statements:
I. Im only a high-school student. What I do doesnt matter
II. Its not my job. Let somebody else do it.
III. Think globally, act locally.
IV. Be not simply good. Be good for something
V. Nobody can do everything. Everybody can do something.

















SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT IDEAS
Work with local water agency or utility company to distribute info on water and energy conservation.
Volunteer at a local Humane society or animal shelter
Work with the city or county to organize a tree planting campaign.
Arrange for local gas stations or auto repair shops to give discounts on tune-ups during Earth Week. Publicize
this program.
Set up a recycling program at a local retirement community or apartment complex
Work with your districts business manager and your local utility company to arrange for an energy audit of
one or more schools in your district. The audit should include examining both hardware and behaviors, and
should provide cost-saving estimates to various changes that might be made. Try to arrange for some of the
money saved to be returned to the school directly.
Meet with the purchasing agent for your school district or a local company to discuss the purchase of recycled
products and recycling waste from the district or company.
Create a board game that teaches about environmental issues and values. Arrange to play it with groups of
elementary school children.
Volunteer to help a wildlife rescue organization; raise money for a organization
Learn to do a simple automotive tune-up. Tune several cars so that they run more efficiently
Find out where to recycle oil. Set up a used oil collection and recycling program.
Volunteer to work with recreation, YMCA, or other groups to lead nature hikes for kids
Organize an Earth Day program for your school
Get local service organizations to subscribe to environmental magazines for school libraries
Work with your local water department to promote water conservation
Arrange for political candidates to discuss environmental issues with social studies classes
Find out about threats to local opens spaces and work to protect them
Arrange for environmental action bulletin boards at local bookstores, libraries, and so on.
Start a neighborhood composting project
Set up a school recycling program for cans, glass, white paper, computer paper, batteries, printer cartridges, and
so forth
Post signs at local markets promoting the use of boxes or cloth bags rather than paper or plastic
Talk to local store owners and managers. Arrange for clerks not to automatically use plastic bags.
Write letters to governmental officials about environmental issues
Organize a No TV Week among students at your school
Set up a display about environmentally friendly careers. Arrange for speakers
Make a certificate, to be signed by graduating students, pledging to consider the environmental and social
consequences of any job or career they might consider.
Start an environmental column in your school newspaper
Write letters to the editor of you local newspaper
Attend city council meetings. Learn about local environmental issues. Speak out.
Contact environmental groups and bookstores. Establish an environmental library at school
Organize a litter pick-up program for local roads or parks.
Prepare and distribute a handbook of locally available, environmentally friendly products
Plan several vegetarian meals. Prepare them and serve them to friends
If your town does not have curbside recycling pick-up, work to start a program
Plan and do a recycling campaign in your town or neighborhood
Work with the local waste management company to do a household toxic waste cleanup
Do a creek cleanup. Recycle any recyclable materials you find
Arrange to do some public-service announcements on local radio or television
Organize an environmental essay or poster contest for younger students. Have prizes
Make some attractive posters promoting conservation. Be specific. Get them put up in stores
Study environmental issues, then prepare and teach lessons to groups of younger students.
Work with the appropriate agencies to plant trees in parks, schools, or other public areas.
Learn how to fix dripping faucets. Check several homes and fix any leaks found
Contact a local environmental organization and participate in one of its projects.