What would you do with the remains of an 1850s farmstead? At Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine, the teachers created a service-learning project linked to curriculum standards in math, history, geography, civics, science, and technology.

Service-learning is "an approach to education that integrates active community engagement with academic study." Kids as Planners is a manual that guides teachers through the process of creating and implementing a service-learning project in the classroom.

Educators will find that service-learning projects promote academic integrity and citizenship as students learn to take ownership of their community and their education. The process of collaborative learning teaches students important skills in building consensus and shared vision, resolving group disputes, and teamwork.

The text includes steps for brainstorming, project planning and implementation, partnering with the community, integrating curriculum standards, assessment, promoting the project, and maintaining the project beyond the end of the classroom unit. A case study exemplifies each step.

While written for teachers, Kids as Planners can be also used as a guide by urban planners, community organizations, or others interested in partnering with students for a service-learning project.