Kids Action Team: Preparation for Action

These materials and activities help students to sort through their learning from the investigation phase and hone in on ideas for action. 

• Topic Presentation Template [Google Slides] 
  Presentation template for students to share what they have learned about the community need so far and propose actions
• Brainstorming Activities for Kids [Website]
  Activities to get students of all ages brainstorming and sharing their ideas 
• Action Plan Checklist [PDF]
  Questions for students and you to consider as they come up with ideas for action
• Mentimeter [Website]
  Design (or have students design!) polls, word clouds, and more to collect and narrow down ideas for action
• Interactive Graphic Organizers [PDFs]
  Collection of fillable PDF graphic organizers to organize research and brainstorm processes for taking action 
• Action Plan [Google Doc]
  Proposal, action plan chart, and reflection for preparation stage 

Connect to Civics for All lessons available on WeTeachNYC and discuss how compromise and negotiation are essential for democracy. Suggested lessons include:

• Grades 3-5, Part 1 Lesson 1: Negotiating, Compromising and Respecting Views page 37 (PDF page 43) 
• Grades 6-8, Part 2 Lesson 6: Student Agency page 69 (PDF page 75)

The preparation stage encompasses continuing research and planning for action. Help students test out their ideas for action by speaking to experts and learning about existing actions and/or solutions they can support or build upon.  

Conduct expert interviews or participate in virtual or in-person field trips: 

• Tip: Plan out time for students to prep and submit questions for interviews with experts or field trip facilitators.
• Use The Art of Asking Questions teacher guide from Cathy Berger Kaye to help students generate interview questions and practice interviewing skills.

Guide students through text sets using the scaffold, immersion, and extension method to help students gather the additional information they need before taking action. Find resources for text sets on this page, in the session 2 materials from Mary Ann Cappiello, from Newsela (free to access for all NYC DOE teachers), Service in Schools' media resource Padlet, and the Service in Schools e-book collection.

The action stage of service-learning in which students take action and develop advocacy to spread the word is ideal for incorporating student voice and differentiation into the service-learning process, as students use their creativity to come up with ideas for action and take on varied roles in the creation of an advocacy campaign. 

At the same time, in order to come up with action + advocacy that incorporates student voice and considers all they have learned about the issue, it is useful to look at existing service initiatives and opportunities that students may be able to build upon, promote, or replicate in their local community.

Check out these resources that feature youth-led and youth friendly service initiatives: 

• Youth Service America's Everyday Young Heroes features that celebrate student-created service initiatives 
• Doing Good Together's monthly newsletter with youth service opportunities in NYC 
• Good Deeds Day's ideas for action connected to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 
• Service in Schools' past newsletters each feature a DOE school or student group that took action for their community