In this interdisciplinary unit, students learn how they can positively influence their environment through beauty.  Students gain understanding through literature, music, writing and art.  The unit guides students in many directions in order to help each individual determine what role or roles they can play in helping to create a beautiful community in which to live. The unit incorporates several classroom-friendly service learning opportunities allowing students to actively partcipate in the beautification of their school community. 

The learner will:

• recognize their connection to the classroom environment.
• respond to the story The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden.
• identify the beginning, middle and the ending of the story.
• define philanthropy as giving of time, talent, and treasure for the common good. 
• tally and graph a variety of trash or recyclable objects. 
• participate in a small action for the common good of the school.
• respond to the text/others.
• define philanthropy as giving of time, talent and treasure for the common good.
• recognize that philanthropic acts are voluntary. 
• write a journal entry relating the story to their own lives.
• sort and graph any trash objects brought in. 
• sing the song "See Me Beautiful" by Red Grammer (see Bibliographical References).
• learn sign language for specific words from song (see Bibliographical References).
• verbalize feelings about the song "See Me Beautiful."
• share learning by singing for another class.
• sort and graph any trash objects brought in (continuation of Lesson One). 
• respond to the story Miss Rumphius by describing the main character's actions and motivations.
• brainstorm ideas for volunteering for the common good to make the world more beautiful.
• create a class book to be donated/shared.
• define philanthropy as giving of time, talent, and treasure for the common good.
• sort and graph the trash objects as they are brought from home.
• sort and graph the found and recycled objects.
• brainstorm a list of possible ideas for using the found objects.
• create a 2-D/3-D art project from the found and recycled objects.
• reflect on final public art project.
• display art project in school community.    
• create a flip book representing what, how, and why.

The teacher assess for mastery of objectives through observation, class discussion, student work, and student reflection activity.

This unit incorporates several service learning opportunities. The services may benefit the school community or, on a broader basis, they may benefit their surrounding community. The song shared during day two of Lesson Three: Sharing Beauty through Song  could be shared at a retirement center or in another public venue. This is also true of the public art display, "From Trash To Treasure" from Lesson Five: Make Something Beautiful. Be sure to contact the recipient prior to presentation of the service in order to assess community need.