Service as Action

Shinagawa International School - MYP

What is Service as Action?
Timeline
● Homeroom teachers and MYP coordinator will provide
an overview of the project.
Introduction and action plans ● Students will develop their Service as Action plans.
Inquiry Now - September
These plans will outline their individual and team
actions, along with the targeted learning outcomes.
Emphasize that the action period is scheduled from
October to March of the following year.

● Homeroom teachers will monitor individual actions to

ensure students are following their processes on Toddle.
● Service as Action supervisors will oversee team activities,
Implementation of projects
Action October - March
assigned to each of them, and ensure that the teams are
progressing through their processes on Toddle. Students
are expected to organize a minimum of two follow-up
meetings.

● Concluding the Service as Action project will involve a

special ceremony attended by teachers and supervisors. This
Closing ceremony ceremony will serve as a wrap-up for the project and an
Reflection opportunity for reflection.
April
Service ideas

Direct Service: ● Creating a safe space for engaging in civil discourse related to gender, race, well-being centered
around a chosen book during literacy week.
● Positive Play during lunch time: students can organise games or activities that may also promote
school spirit and community.
● Read Japanese picture books to the ELC and lower grades of PYP students, not only to show them
how interesting books are and how fun Japanese can be, but also to help them improve MYP students
Japanese language skills (reading and speaking).
● Visiting countries such as Cambodia or Myanmar, teaching English to young kids, or exchange their
experience with students of their own age
● Work with city hall japanese language education/language exchange groups to participate in their
language exchange programs and assist with the creation of more multilingual materials or support
where it can be provided.
● Visit schools in areas with more underprivileged children’s population such as northern Tokyo, and
introduce different cultures and languages in the world including English, through presentations,
activities and games.
Service ideas

Indirect service: ● Create a “hotline” of student-generated affirmations (after a strong SEL unit) that individuals can call and
follow prompts to receive to promote mental health. See inspiration here!
● Choosing a cause that is meaningful or relevant to the students or timely for current events and raising
funds via walkathons, backsales etc collecting items to donate to a reputable charity → such as for support
after disasters, warfare, cancer research, children's education, food banks etc
Service ideas

Advocacy ● Writing original picture books to teach a lesson about the importance of water conservation after completing an
interdisciplinary unit.
● Organize a “change your slang” campaign to encourage the middle school to consider the impact of their words.
Follow up: students read and fundraise to diversify our school library with diverse representation/protagonists to
create a lasting impact (LGBTQIA+ focus)
● Write school information maps, warning posters in multiple languages to make them easier to understand for
students from diverse backgrounds.
Service ideas

Research ● Teaming up with the student council to plan a field trip focused on exploring disaster prevention and
preparedness, then sharing the information in an assembly.
● Research the impact of the Ainu on modern day Japan. After investigating the wisdom and advocacy efforts of
various land acknowledgement and LandBack indigenous survival movements around the world, students create
intentional, age appropriate acknowledgement(s) for SIS (maybe lower and upper) to adopt to recognize the
active presence of Ainu and their continued contributions to our land and community to be used before school
assemblies, etc. Follow up activity might be cool to do a deeper dive on the Ainu (language) and see if we could
advocate for a sign or signs to intentionally revitalize the language within our school community.
Service ideas
Direct Service:
● Volunteering at a local animal shelter.
● Assisting at a community garden.
● Tutoring younger students in subjects like
math or language.
● Organizing a neighborhood cleanup day.
● Volunteering at a retirement home or
assisted living facility.
● Participating in a charity run or walkathon.
● Hosting workshops on mental health
awareness.
● Helping at a local food bank.
● Supporting children's literacy by reading at
libraries or schools.
● Volunteering at a local hospital
Indirect Service:
● Organizing a fundraising event for a nonprofit.
● Creating educational materials for
underprivileged children.
● Preparing care packages for soldiers stationed
abroad.
● Starting a school recycling program.
● Organizing a book drive for schools in need.
● Creating art to raise awareness about
environmental issues.
● Assembling hygiene kits for homeless
individuals.
● Creating online tutorials for skill development.
● Sewing blankets for local homeless shelters.
Service ideas
Advocacy:
● Raising awareness about mental health.
● Creating a blog or podcast on local
environmental concerns.
● Advocating for diversity and inclusion through
Research:
workshops.
● Hosting a seminar on the importance of voting
and civic engagement.
● Campaigning against bullying in schools.
● Raising funds to provide clean water access to
a disadvantaged community.
● Starting a petition to support local businesses.
● Advocating for more green spaces in your
community.
● Promoting gender equality through awareness
events.
● Studying the impact of technology on teenagers' mental
health.
● Researching sustainable farming methods for urban areas.
● Analyzing the benefits of volunteering on students'
personal growth.
● Studying the nutritional needs of homeless populations.
● Investigating the effects of climate change on local wildlife.
● Researching the accessibility of education in your area.
● Analyzing the economic impact of small businesses in your
community.
● Studying the causes of food insecurity in your city.
● Researching the history and cultural significance of local
landmarks.
Next step: Self-reflection

Take some time to think about your interests, skills and issues you
care about. Ask yourself questions like:

● What are my hobbies and passions?

● What skills do I have that I could use to help others?
● What social or environmental issues am I concerned about?