SERVICE LEARNING
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OVERVIEW Community Service within the First Program has been broadened and redefined to encompass the more comprehensive term, “Service Learning,” a reciprocal teaching/ learning framework that enhances community building within the curriculum and provides students with authentic goals and purposes for helping others on a local, national, and global level. From the beginning, students are immersed in rich, ethics-related conversations and projects generated from literature, classroom interactions, and student experiences. Meaningful, actionable projects are integrated with the First Program House Curriculum, and children enter into caring, reciprocal relationships with others over long periods of time. Children in grades K–3 also take part in school-wide servicelearning initiatives that help to encourage positive self-esteem, develop global understanding, and build school spirit. Interested second and third grade students are able to join the First Program Human Rights Club. Initially created by students, children learn firsthand about fundamental rights and responsibilities and develop and initiate fundraising projects on the local and global levels.
KINDERGARTEN Beginning in Kindergarten, each House and Grade Level Team develops at least one service-based project or initiative each year. Such activities include studies in Kindergarten that relate to food, clothing, and shelter, becoming rich learning opportunities to extend the children’s understanding of individuals within their immediate environment who may lack these essentials. The children problem-solve possible solutions, and this, in turn, leads to the development of ongoing exchanges between Kindergarten classes at Dalton and city-based organizations that provide services to those in need, such as Homes for the Homeless and the Yorkville Common Pantry.
FIRST GRADE The mission of the first-grade service-learning curriculum is to provide first graders with opportunities for responsible citizenship, where a passion for a just and equitable world is cultivated. Students engage in a variety of activities where they enjoy a spirit of cooperation and a sense of local and global citizenship. They participate in a walk-a-thon that raises funds to promote literacy in underserved communities and on Earth Day, donate reusable bags to a local grocery store.
Dalton School First Program Curriculum Guide
