James Hurst's short story "The Scarlet Ibis" provides readers with an opportunity to consider how they can support others who are experiencing distress. Participants learn self-care tips and connect to the short story's characters. They...

Many of us read our history books and take each word as truth. Show learners that history can easily be altered depending on who writes it. Your class will watch a series of videos, read a first person testimony, and discuss the...

Probability, especially conditional probability, can be a slippery concept for young statisticians.  Statements that seem self-evident on the surface often require a daunting amount of calculations to explicate, or turn out to be...

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...

Learners use an interactive simulation to explore the connection between force and air pressure. They adjust the mass of a vehicle and air pressure in its tires and predict the result. As the vehicle's mass increases, the tire pressure...

Students research a foundation in their community and how it helps its citizens. They form a youth advisory committee and make recommendations to the mock boards of directors. They practice using parliamentary procedure to complete their...

Students discuss the story Goodness! Gorillas in Our Community! and create character maps from it. They practice qualities of community membership and write about and illustrate these qualities.

Students chart volunteers they are familiar with in school, church or in the community. In this nonprofit jobs, lesson students understand that all members of a community need to take responsibility in that community. Students vote on...

Twelfth graders examine the steps that one can take to turn awareness of a human rights abuse into action it.  In this Current events lesson, 12th graders analyze the compelling factors which can influence personal action in any...

Students design a service-learning project with pen pals. For this philanthropy lesson, students research various charitable organizations with a pen pal and collect cans in order to get money for a donation. Students write to their pen...

Students perform a song for their school community. In this music lesson plan, students sing the philanthropic song See Me Beautiful by Red Grammar and reflect upon the lyrics. Students perform the song for their school community.

Students complete a service project. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students gather with their families to discuss how they can give to others. Students and their families prepare jars of dried soup mix that will be...

Students inspect visual arts by exploring images on-line. In this art analysis lesson, students discuss the history of art and the its ability to communicate with people through images. Students utilize pencils and charcoal to create...

Do your students have a connection to their natural environment? Create neighborhood maps together with your little learners. The lesson starts as the class talks about where they live and what their homes look like. They review their...

Is consistency foolish? Or is “foolish consistency . . . the hobgoblin of little minds”? Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self Reliance” provides readers with an opportunity to reflect on their own musing about being self-reliant and about...

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...

Students bake bread with a dual purpose: to explore, through the metaphor of baking bread, the potential dynamics and purposes of a classroom, and to begin investigating the idea that everyday things are connected to the local/global...

Students brainstorm jobs that are a part of their community and decide whether or not the jobs are "for profit" or "not-for-profit." They draw a person doing his/her job and include the correct uniform, tools, etc. that the person would...

Students discuss volunteerism and identify volunteer positions in their community. They choose and carry out a volunteer project in the school or local community.

First graders listen to speakers in various professions. In this careers lesson, the teacher invites community members to speak to the class about their jobs and the education required, then students draw the conclusion that men and...

Students write a short essay in response to a writing prompt related to a theme or issue raised within the Minnesota-China Connection Web site.

Students create a graffiti wall using their own name or personal symbol. They examine their own understanding of the film as a source of inspiration and listen to the music from the soundtrack as an effective motivation. They make...

Students and community members plan and take part in a community art project designed to celebrate salmon and steelhead fish and their connection to the local community.

Young scholars communicate with an audience about a public health issue in multiple manners. They share their outreach materials with their peers and their chosen audience within the community.