Learning to Give
Why Volunteer?
Inspire scholars to volunteer their time to make a positive change in their community. With help from research, a public speaker, and reflection, learners define and asses what it takes to be a volunteer in a business, non-profit,...
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Community Helpers
Community Helpers are the focus of this sociology lesson plan. Learners brainstorm the many different jobs done in their community, discuss why they are necessary, and think of ways they can be community helpers.
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Six Ways to Effectively Use Classroom Volunteers
Parents are often an untapped resource, offer them a variety of ways to help in your classroom.
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Homeless in our Community
Third graders explore homelessness in their local community. In this service project/social studies lessons, children research local areas where homeless people reside, discuss global acceptance and unity, and visit a local food bank.
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Volunteer Coupon Packets
Students brainstorm a list of things they can do to help people in their community or at school. Using construction paper, they design and create a coupon book to give to others for them to use when they need help. To end the lesson,...
Learning to Give
Create a Volunteer Spirit
Motivate young citizens to make a positive difference through volunteering. Scholars examine the local and school community to discover ways the class, as a whole, can volunteer their time to help one or the other, then reflect on their...
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What is a Community?
Third graders will learn about different aspects of a community in this 11-slide PowerPoint. Different facts and images are displayed on each slide to help give your students a better sense of community. Tip: After viewing this...
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People in My Community
In this community helpers worksheet, learners use the 16 words in the word bank to locate and identify them in the word search puzzle.
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Introduction to Philanthropy-Recognizing Good Citizenship and Philanthropy in Our Community
Students explore the term philanthropy and recognize it in everyday situations. They list three philanthropic activities occurring in their own home, in their classroom, or in their school. Students identify at least one act they might...
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Making Service Count
Young scholars investigate the importance of community service by creating their own project ideas. For this volunteering lesson, students research stories of Peace Corps Volunteers and how they were able to have a positive effect in...
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Ornaments for Nursing Home Tree
Students participate in an activity that will allow them to create a gift for a nursing home patient and give their gift to someone who needs a caring hand. In this community service instructional activity, students learn compassion, and...
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A Community of Givers
Young scholars explore charitable organizations. In this character development lesson plan, students read about children who have contributed to charitable organizations, research a variety of these organizations, plan a project, and...
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Community Helpers
In this community workers worksheet, students read a one page text that has information about 8 community helpers and their jobs. Students then answer 8 matching questions and draw a mini poster that tells why community helpers are...
DePaul University
A Garden in Lawndale
We are all capable of changing the world for the better; all it takes is a spark. Read about a group of seventh grade students in Chicago, IL who took it upon themselves to improve their community by turning a vacant lot into a garden....
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What Makes Our Community Special?
Explore websites, complete research, and use technological tools to create a final multimedia presentation on what makes a community special. Learners of all ages work with a partner to research an interesting aspect of their community,...
Facing History and Ourselves
Choosing to Participate Posters
"A poster exhibit to encourage dialogue, engagement, respect, and participation in our communities..." This is a set of attractive posters that reference influential historical figures, such as George Washington and Albert Einstein, and...
Teaching Tolerance
Participating in Digital Communities
It's possible to promote inclusion and empathy on the Internet—it just takes effort! Scholars read and discuss a short story about being a friend online. Then, pupils role-play appropriate ways to respond to hate within a digital...
Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation
Interview a Family or Community Member: Taking Oral Histories
Young scholars gain insight into how historians record events by engaging in an oral history project. In preparation, class members brainstorm open-ended interview questions and take part in and debrief a mock interview simulation....
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Keep America Beautiful: Thinking Green in the Classroom
Stress the importance of community involvement to preserve the beauty of our Earth with these great ideas.
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Proud to Be of Service
Observe the National Day of Service and Remembrance with a service learning lesson plan. After discussing the events of September 11, 2001, learners plan and implement their own service learning project in honor of American heroes.
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National Volunteer Week Celebrations
Encourage and recognize volunteering's power for positive change!
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We the Community
Learners explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning activity, students design and create informational books regarding nonprofit agencies and philanthropists in their community.
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Acting for the Common Goods
The first of a three-part series on bullying, this plan has class members present skits about bullying, write and sign an anti-bullying pledge, and complete a service project. For the skit, learners use information from previous lessons...
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Haring Inspired Wall Murals
Students complete a community service project for their school. In this community service lesson, students and volunteers help paint murals on the walls of the school. Students learn about Keith Haring and paint their murals using his...