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,...
Curated OER
Community Helpers
Community Helpers are the focus of this sociology lesson. Learners brainstorm the many different jobs done in their community, discuss why they are necessary, and think of ways they can be community helpers.
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Introduction to Philanthropy-Recognizing Good Citizenship and Philanthropy in Our Community
Learners 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...
Curated OER
Making Service Count
Young scholars investigate the importance of community service by creating their own project ideas. In this volunteering instructional activity, students research stories of Peace Corps Volunteers and how they were able to have a...
Curated OER
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 lesson, students learn compassion, and also understand...
Curated OER
A Community of Givers
Students explore charitable organizations. In this character development lesson, students read about children who have contributed to charitable organizations, research a variety of these organizations, plan a project, and prepare a...
Curated OER
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,...
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....
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
We the Community
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. For this service learning lesson, students design and create informational books regarding nonprofit agencies and philanthropists in their community.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Haring Inspired Wall Murals
Learners complete a community service project for their school. For this community service lesson, students and volunteers help paint murals on the walls of the school. Learners learn about Keith Haring and paint their murals using his...
Curated OER
Volunteering Our Time
Young scholars participate in a service learning project. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students volunteer their time at a local soup kitchen and reflect upon the experience in a journal.
Curated OER
The LEAGUE: Learning to Give Lesson 3
Students reflect on giving to people in their community. In this philanthropy lesson, students think about an elderly person in their neighborhood or community who has done something to make that community more beautiful. Students...
Michael's Crafts
Classroom Community Bulletin Board Lesson Plan
Building a strong classroom community is a huge part of our job. This idea lets the kids help define the rules, ideas, and behaviors that they want in their classroom. They'll work together to design a bulletin board that exemplifies the...
Cooking Matters
Cooking Matters: For Chefs and Kids
Get your scholars cooking with a collection of activities that pairs the class to a community chef, promotes healthy snacking and drinking, and explores fruits and vegetables. Lower elementary learners create vegetable super heroes,...
Curated OER
A Volunteer, Please
Students analyze the need for volunteers and how volunteering can help them prepare for the world of work. They research a career oriented website that has specifications of volunteer work. They determine the personal characteristics...
Advocates for Human Rights
Voices of Iraqi Refugees
The stated goal of this resource is to provide learners with basic facts about and build empathy for Iraqi refugees. To do so elementary classes develop a plan for how to welcome refugees to their classroom. Middle schoolers read...
Curated OER
What Does This Have To Do With Me?
Students examine how to make a difference in their community. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students discuss if one person can make a difference, brainstorm a list of actions individuals can take to make a difference and...
Curated OER
Holiday Giving From the Classroom
Students participate in a holiday giving activity to learn about community involvement. In this community outreach instructional activity, students discuss giving and receiving as well as the gift of time. Students prepare songs and...