Students will plant flowers for the benefit of others. The location was determined in Lesson Two: Friendly Flowers, based on a consensus using the following criteria: permission from recipients, space for plants to grow, visibility and access to getting their needs met. Locations may include the school grounds, a community park, a retirement home, a house built by Habitat for Humanity, a homeless shelter or mission house.

Anticipatory Set:
Play flower-related music, such as “Waltz of the Flowers” by Tchaikovsky. Talk about the importance of art and beauty in our lives. Review the basic “needs” of people and the “wants” that make our lives better.

• Review the reasons why the class is going to plant flowers for others at the agreed-upon location. Review the definition of philanthropy. Review the idea that it is our responsibility to act philanthropically.
  
  
• Students go on a field trip to the planting location. Bring the appropriate supplies.
  
  
• Each student uses a trowel to dig a hole in the soil, gently place flower roots down in the soil and water the plants. Talk about how they will be cared for and by whom. Review the needs of plants.
  
  
• If possible, students briefly visit with recipients of flowers.
  
  
• Upon return from planting the flowers, play calming music that elicits thoughts of flowers and other plants, and encourage students to spend a few moments reflecting on the experience of planting flowers for others.
  
  
• Students draw a picture, with their choice of materials, based on their feelings about planting flowers for others.
  
  
• Students display their drawings on their tables for all to see, and take a walk around to see others’ artwork. They return to their seats to discuss their drawings in small groups.
  
  
• Ask the following discussion questions about the value of philanthropy: What did you learn? How did you feel when you planted flowers for other people? How would you feel if someone planted flowers for you? Would you do something like this again? Describe how we helped others. How did this help you?
  
  
• Use the Graphic Organizer (see Attachment One) to write about the experience of planting flowers for others. In the main part of the flower, the students write the main idea, such as “planting flowers.” In the leaves, they write the benefits of the experience to both the giver and receiver. For younger students, you may supply the main idea and have students draw pictures or dictate their details. Older students use their completed graphic organizer as a tool to write an organized paragraph about their experience planting flowers for others.
  
  
• As an alternative, students use the Graphic Organizer (see Attachment One) to compare philanthropy to a sunbeam as a direct analogy. The main idea is “philanthropy is like a sunbeam.” The details support the main idea.
  
  
• Have each student share his or her drawings and/or writing with the rest of the class. This may take additional class periods.

• If off school grounds, students continue to keep in touch with the recipients of flower planting via letter, e-mail or future visits.
  
  
• If the students are caring for the plants on the school grounds, make a schedule of responsibilities.