Service Reflection Activities
1-5 Minute Activities
Question discussion: Randomly, or in a circle, each person responds
to a posed question (such as "project highlight").
One to Three Words: Each person shares one to three words to describe
the service activity or how you feel about the service activity or anything
else regarding the project.
Journaling: Each person responds to a question in writing.
Poetry/Writing Slam: Take turns; each day somebody else will write
a short poem or sentence about the project, then share it with the group.
Sculptor: One participant chooses a topic and asks for a set amount
of participants to be the clay. The clay people let the sculptor mold
them into the sculptor's vision of their topic, i.e., invasive plant removal
or the plight of someone who is homeless or racist.
5-30 Minute Activities
What? So What? Now What?: To get to each step in the model, allow
5-30 minutes for group processing.
Written Reflection: Pose three or four questions using "what,
so what, now what" model, and allow time for writing (i.e., what
you did, why/how you did it, how you could do it better).
The Image: Prior to the project, each person writes or draws about
the people or objects they will be working with (such as a tree for a
tree-planting project or the community being served), the subject matter,
or their feelings about the project. Revisit (or re-write/draw) it after
the service project and discuss.
Senses: Before activity, project, event, or even before the first
day or service, ask participants to share what they expect to hear, smell,
see, touch, and taste. The follow-up after the day with what the participant
actually senses.
Pictionary: Have a pictionary game about the experience and how
you felt. Talk about it as a group.
Parables/Stores: Read a piece of pertinent literature and have
participant's response and draw correlations to service experience.
Letter to Self: Prior to a project, have participants write a
letter to themselves about their personal and career goals regarding the
project, or feelings about the project or community. Place it in a sealed
envelope, mail it to yourself, or hand out again to the team after six
months and reflect.
Masks: Make a two-sided mask from a paper plate. Draw an image
of how others might see you on one side and how you see yourself on the
other. Discuss the contrast. Or, could be work self/free time self, actual
work/dream work.
Gingerbread Models: Draw a large gingerbread person at the beginning
of the day with drawings/writings of what makes a good (mentor, urban
forester, team member, etc.). At the end of the day share what you did
well, how you thought you could improve.
Yarn Web: Stand in a circle with a ball of yarn. Each person throws
it to another and says one word that explains what they will bring to
the next project, something they appreciated in the person they are throwing
it to, what they learned, etc. The yard forms a web supported by the group.
Use a thicker string, lower it, and have someone climb on and try to support
a person! (Use caution with this one!).
Cartoon: Draw a cartoon that teaches something important regarding
the service project.
All on the Wall: Put a large piece of paper up on one wall or
all the way around the room. Participants write or draw feelings, thoughts/learning
on the paper. Facilitator leads discussion based on writings.
Recommendations: Compose a letter to your site supervisor offering
suggestions for working with future volunteers.
Lifeline Biography: Draw a line representing and plot significant
periods/events (with writing or drawings) influencing who you are. Share
with a partner or small group. This can be adapted many ways: do the same
except using a river as a metaphor (where were there rapids, meandering,
etc.) or do a Service Biography line (when first service experience, what
influenced you, positive and negative impacts on your life).
Object share: Each person brings in and passes around an object
and shares how the object is like them or the project they just did (pick
a specific one). Examples include: "what I contributed to the team,
how I felt about this project, what I learned, etc.". The object
can be something found in nature, a type of food, a book, etc. (pick one!)
How Did It Taste: Bring a mixture of fruits and nuts, have them
use these items as metaphors to describe their day, week project, group
interaction, etc., and answer the questions "How did it taste?"
Then, "What would you like it to taste like?"
Copyright 2002 Office of Volunteer Programs.
Send comments to
ovp@uiuc.edu
| 
