The students will take part in an activity that will benefit others.

Anticipatory Set:

Gather the students around the poster. Point out to the students that the people are doing all different kinds of activities, and that every person has certain skills, interests and abilities.

• Ask the students to name an interest, skill or talent they possess (for example: playing an instrument, drawing, playing sports).Write their responses on the board. Tell the students that everyone has time, talent and treasure that they can give. Giving those things to make the world a better place is called philanthropy.

• Write the following pasuk on the board: "One should only use one’s face, hands, and feet to honor one’s creator." (Tosefta Berakhot 4:1)

• Have the students discuss what they think this pasuk means. The final main point to bring up is that G-d gave each of us certain talents. We should use these talents for good—to help others. Since G-d wants us to help others, doing so will bring honor to G-d. Everyone can be a philanthropist.
  
  
• Go through the list on the board of the students’ interests/talents. Help the students come up with ways each interest/talent can be used to help others.

For example: 1. "Play the violin" - Play the violin for people in the hospital to cheer them up. 2. "Baking" – Bake cookies and bring them to someone who is homebound, or organize a bake sale to raise money for tzedakah. 3. Sports – Play sports with a child with disabilities, or with someone you know who might be lonely. Teach someone to play a sport.

• Read sections (or summarize content of sections) from Mitzvah Magic: What Kids Can Do to Change the World, by Danny Siegel (Kar-Ben Publishing). Mitzvah Magic tells the stories of young people who have organized projects to help others. Each chapter ends with suggestions of projects kids can do.
  
  
• Bring up the point that sometimes ideas for projects come from existing problems. People see specific problems in the world and want to help solve that problem. Mitzvah Magic contains examples of projects that began in this way.
  
  
• Explain to the students how the people in the book are just ordinary people like them, who decided they wanted to help better the world. Introduce the phrase tikkun olam, which literally means, "repairing the world."
  
  
• Discuss what this means. How can one "repair" the world? Is the world broken?
  
  
• Lead the class in brainstorming ways they, as a group, can help improve the world. Help them come up with a feasible plan, such as doing an art project with seniors, or delivering balloons to a children’s hospital ward. Alternatively, the teacher can decide on an activity that would be best suited for the class.

Student should look for opportunities to helpful at home. Families will write a note to the teacher explaining how the child was helpful.