Youth Community Service Developing After-School Service-Learning Curriculum   

Supported by a grant from the Lucile Packard Foundations for Children's Health, Youth Community Service is developing a service-learning after-school curriculum based on our East Palo Alto After-School Program for middle school students (grades 6-8). As a leader in after-school programming in EPA since 1990, YCS has integrated into the after-school experience both academic and service activities. EPA after-school students learn about important issues facing their community and then engage in service to their community. A goal of our EPA after-school program is to foster the development of youth civic leaders.

The structure of the curriculum was developed through the integration of (a) YCS best practices in EPA after-school programming, (b) the Guiding Principles for Quality After-School Program Serving Preteens developed by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, and (c) the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice developed by the National Youth Leadership Council and RMC Research Corporation.

The curriculum is designed for after-school clubs that meet one to three times per week throughout the academic year and is organized by 10 monthly thematic units (see below). Each unit contains:
• eight learning activities (many of which have academic components that are linked to the California Academic Content Standards)
• two community service projects
• one unit reflection activity

Many unit activities also have suggestions for parent participation either through family-focused activities or parent participation in the service projects.

Curriculum Monthly Themes:

September: Service to Others/Celebrating Community
October: Healthy Living
November: Acceptance of All People
December: Hunger & Homelessness
January: Non-Violence
February: The Arts
March: Civic Engagement
April: Respect for Life & Environment
May: Science & Technology
June: Celebrating Community

For a ‘sneak preview' of the content for one of the units - Acceptance of All People - click on the links below:

Activity 1: Map Your Journey
Activity 2: Step in Step Out: Discovering Similarities
Activity 3: Respecting Others
Activity 4: Dissolving Stereotypes
Activity 5: Stages of Prejudice
Activity 6: Identity Circles
Activity 7: Cultural Competency
Activity 8: Accepting and Respecting Elders
Service Project 1: Senior Biographies
Service Project 2: Host a Cultural Fair
Unit Reflection: Appreciate the Differences

For more information about the YCS After-School Curriculum Project, email either Julia Williams at julia@youthcommunityservice.org, or Judy Dauberman at judy@youthcommunityservice.org