Project Heart, Head, Hands Final Report

Project Heart, Head, Hands (H3) aims to shape capable, caring, socially responsible youth through character education and service-learning.

At the center of H3 is a comprehensive curriculum aligned with California state-adopted language arts texts.

Based on the reading selections in the district’s language arts curriculum, H3 integrates a range of classroom learning activities (discussions, role-plays, writing, small-group tasks, etc.) that provide students with opportunities to learn about positive character and prosocial behavior.

Featured elements of the curriculum include social-emotional skill-building lessons to support positive interactions among students and a service-learning component that offers students the opportunity to engage in standards-based community service projects.

Teachers who are currently implementing the program report positive effects in their classrooms. Students treat each other with kindness and respect, work cooperatively, and strive diligently in their studies. Additionally, they are committed to helping others.

As one first-grader recently said, helping others “gives you a warm feeling inside your heart.”

• Play Project Heart, Head, Hands song by Steve Seskin
  Windows Media
• Play Steve Seskin Sample Student Assembly
  Windows Media
• State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O' Connell on Character Education and Service-Learning