Leadership Development Through Community Action is a service-learning curriculum, designed to enhance leadership and citizenship skills in students 12 to 14. Lessons build from initial modules on developing self-confidence and teamwork, to learning about all aspects of community life, to creating and implementing an action plan that meets actual community needs.

Module 1: Understand the Self - helps students identify their values, goals and decision-making skills

Module 2: Understanding Our Group - encourages group interaction and teamwork

Module 3: Getting to Know Our Community - examines group dynamics and decision-making at the community level

Module 4: Learning about Issues in Our Community - introduces students to the public decision-making process

Module 5: Developing a Plan to Address a Community Issue - gives students tools for problem solving, strategic planning and locating resources. Lessons incorporate budgeting, expository writing, language arts, research and social studies.

Module 6: Implementing the Plan - requires students to take information and skills gathered in the first five modules and apply them to a real community issue. Students will engage in conflict resolution, risk management, coalition building and overcoming obstacles in order to implement their plan.

Module 7: Evaluating Our Effort - offers students an opportunity to reflect on their work, celebrate their successes and plan for future service projects.

Instructional Materials:

A notebook of over 60 handout and overhead transparency masters is available. A teacher's guide that introduces the concept of service learning and the experiential learning cycle; provides a grid that maps lesson objectives to the Illinois State Goals and Learning Standards; and includes over 30 lesson plans. Available ON A LOAN BASIS or $40 for the total curriculum set. Extension Educators are available to assist classrooms with this program. Fill out the educational program request form to reserve or order materials.