Service Learning Interveiws

Every year, each grade participates in service learning to help the community. But why do we do service learning? Today, we’re going to hear from students and teachers about their service learning trips, and why they think the experience was valuable. 

“I think Lakeside does service learning because we're lucky enough to take our learning outside the classroom and to interact with people that we don’t interact with when we are at school and learn from people in ways we don’t when we are in school. I think it is great to get a lot of different perspectives and to help while having hands-on experiences,” states Mx. Thackray .

5th Grade! 

In this interview, we’re going to hear from fifth graders Leila A. and Finn M!

Which organization did you do service learning with?

Leila: “Sound Salmon Solutions on the first day and Mid Sound Fisheries on the second day.”

What did you do on your trip?

Leila: “On the first day we cleared out blackberry bushes because they are an invasive species.

Finn: “On the second day we learned a lot about salmon and about how polluted waters are bad for the salmon. We also learned about storm drains and how they don’t filter the water, they just pour it out into the ocean.”

What did you enjoy about service learning?

Leila: “I like that we like that we get to help people and do things we don’t usually do during the school day. It was also really fun!”

Finn: “It was really fun and I learned a lot about fish and how to make the world better for fish.”

6th Grade!

In this interview, Reva S. will be talking about her service trip to Licorice Ferns Natural Area.

What did you do on your trip?

Reva: “On the first day we had to pull pieces of wood from a pond. We also had to take wood and nails off of trees and we had to work together to clean up the area we were working in. On the second day, we pulled a broken old bridge out of the creek and did a similar thing that we did on the first day.” 

What did you learn during service learning?

Reva: “I learned that teamwork is a really beneficial skill that regardless if you do service learning or not, is a skill you need later in your life! We also learned that there is not one way to solve a problem and we need to look at the problem from different angles. The first way is not always the right way.”

What did you enjoy?

Reva: “It was a really fun activity and I got to know other classmates.”

7th Grade!

I will be interviewing Lilian A. on what she did during service learning. 

Which organization did you do service learning with?

Lilian: “I worked with Greener Seattle and Foss Home and Village”

What did you do?

Lilian: “On the first day I went to Magnuson Park, and I was helping out with Greener Seattle where we mostly were making room for native species and taking out invasive species.On the second day we went to Foss assisted living and helped out residents do sitting exercises and later played a balloon toss game.”

What did you learn during service learning?

Lilian: “I learned about how to help others. I also learned about teamwork. This whole world is shared by a lot of people and helping people out is directly helping myself out.”

What did you enjoy about service learning?

Lilian: “I really enjoyed the feeling that I had done something good for the world. I also enjoyed getting quality time with my other advisee mates, and it also gave me memories of service learning.” 

8th Grade!

In this interview we will hear about one of the many Global Service Learning trips with Emma S! GSL takes eighth-graders to different corners of Washington for week-long service trips. 

What organization did you do service learning with?

Emma: “Cloudview Farms”

What did you do?

Emma: “We did a lot of farm work and harvesting. We harvested a lot of pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, and corn. We also visited the Grand Coulee Dam and did a tour there. We also helped out at a preschool playgroup.  

What did you learn?

Emma: We also visited an apple orchard and learned about apple farms and apple trees. The owner of the farm is a fourth-generation apple farmer, and his family has been apple farming for a really long time. 

What did you enjoy about service learning?

Emma: “I enjoyed getting to go to a place that I had never been to and learning more about farming.” 

Now that you have read all about the amazing things people did during service learning, stop and think about how YOU did service for our community. For example, did you clean up a beach, decorate for Halloween or clear out invasive plants? Now that you have thought about this for a minute, pat yourself on the back! You did hard work and made a difference, even if it was small.