Typically, a student’s CAS programme combines planned/unplanned singular and ongoing experiences. All are valuable and may lead to personal development. However, a meaningful CAS programme must be more than unplanned/singular experiences. A series of planned CAS experiences are recommended for a more engaging CAS programme.
CAS experiences may incorporate one or more of the CAS strands. For example:
Going for a mountain hike could be a singular experience within the “Activity” strand.
A student plans a number of visits to a nursing home resulting in a series of CAS experiences within the “Service” strand.
A group of students plan and stage a basketball tournament for the local community, resulting in a series of CAS experiences involving the strands of “Activity” and “Service”.
A CAS experience must:
fit within one or more of the CAS strands
be based on a personal interest, skill, talent or opportunity for growth
provide opportunities to develop the attributes of the IB learner profile
not be used or included in the student’s Diploma course requirements
To further assist students in deciding on a CAS experience, the following questions may be useful for students to consider:
Will the experience be enjoyable?
Does the experience allow for the development of personal interests, skills and/or talents?
What new possibilities or challenges could the experience provide?
What might be the possible consequences of your CAS experience for you, others and the environment?
Which CAS learning outcomes may be addressed?
1. Design and create a mural at school (C/S)
2. Plan and execute an art project for kids at a residential treatment center. (C/S)
3. Plan and execute an art project at a school where students don’t have art.
4. Learn a new musical instrument.
5. Learn an especially challenging piece of music/dance routine (C/A, if dance)
6. Choreograph and participate in dance routine for sports events (C/A)
7. Perform music and dance in a new or especially challenging context (public audience, large audience, competition context)
8. Do a world map mural project with younger students and teach about geography. (C/S)
9. Plan a musical program and perform for hospital patients (C/S)
10. Teach art/music/dance to another person/group of people. (C/S)
11. Design a website for a school/non-profit/charity organization. (C/S)
12. Design a series of after school tutoring sessions. (C/S)
13. Teach anything- this always involves design and creativity if it’s done correctly
14. Design an awareness campaign for an environmental issue. This could include creating posters, creative announcements, creative presentations (C/S).
15. Create a mini photography portfolio with a clearly defined theme, objective, and goal (i.e. NOT These are all the pics of my friends holding up peace signs!)
16. Take a ceramics class.
17. Write a poem or short story for the Yearbook.
18. Help out with yearbook creation and design
19. Participate and add your own artwork to the Graffiti Park in Austin - document how the park/walls change over time; you can add more over the course of the year
20. Start a debate team
21. Design programs for UN Day/World Spelling Day/World Maths Day/International Literacy Day/Any other Day (i.e. be in charge and make it creative.) (C/S)
22. Start a photo blog or join new photographers groups on Flickr where you can share your photography and improve your photography. 365 photos project, Photo Friday etc.
23. Find an ugly wall in your neighborhood and design a mural for it. Ask permission from whoever owns it and then enlist friends or neighborhood kids to help out with it. (C/S)
24. Create a walking tour (could be historical) of Austin with map and signs explaining the historical significance (C/S)
25. Create a nature walking tour of Austin with map and nature information (C/S)
26. Design and create attractive signs with environmental messages for your school or neighborhood. (C/S)
27. Organize a talent/fashion show - could develop into a charitable event to raise proceeds going to specific cause or charity. (C/S)
1. Learn to skateboard- BE CAREFUL!!!
2. Participate/join school and/or club athletic teams
3. Go hiking
4. Commit to riding your bike to school a certain number of times per week
5. Join a gym. Set yourself a workout plan and stick to it!
6. Learn to swim
7. Yoga or Pilates
8. Learn to SCUBA dive or get advanced certification
9. Join weight lifting classes
10. Join hip hop dance classes (or any other dance class!)
11. Train for an upcoming running race and set a goal for yourself.
12. Find a community garden and help out in it (A/S)
13. Teach sports to kids who don’t get the opportunity to learn (A/S)
14. Martial Arts
15. Plan an overnight camping activity for a group of interested elementary/middle school students and lead it (with teacher supervisor). (A/S)
16. Try bowling. Try golfing. Try curling!
17. Take up walking with your friends, family, sibling...etc. - set goals to walk certain distances and within certain times (could also track steps through app)
18. Try mountain biking. Organize a trip for a group from school.
19. Going somewhere for vacation over winter break? - Learn to ski or snowboard this winter
20. Go kayaking on one of the local lakes
21. GOAT Yoga!
22. Rope courses
1. Tutor at a local elementary/middle school
2. Work as a teacher’s aide in a local elementary school
3. Volunteer to help play with orphans at local orphanage
4. Teach singing/piano/guitar as a lunchtime or after school club
5. Teach people at nonprofit or charity about open-source software and how they can use applications to make their organization serve people better
6. Visit the hospital weekly and chat with the residents, or teach them a new craft/skill.
7. Volunteer to teach a workshop at a local café on writing a resume (S/C)
8. Organize a clean-up with your friends (local parks, neighborhood...etc.): find a local company who will dispose of the trash and recycling.
9. Campaign the local government on an issue you feel strongly about
10. Volunteer at local animal shelters - provide services to design and help promote adoptions (S/C)
11. Become certified in CPR/First Aid at local Red Cross.
12. Become a CPR/First Aid instructor and teach classes at local Red Cross.
13. Serve as a translator for school activities as and when needed.
14. Help a lower school club set up a website and provide services to help promote their organization- (S/C)
15. Design and perform a creative skit about healthy eating habits for lower school (S/C)
16. Design a poster campaign for healthy eating (S/C)
17. Start a Model UN team (S/C)
18. Serve at a Ronald McDonald House to show love and support for the family guests
19. Serve a meal at a local homeless shelter
20. Volunteer at a local animal shelter
21. Visit the elderly who are homebound or in a nursing home
22. Plan a beautification project or work in a community garden (S/C)
23. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to build homes