• The students will hold a used book sale in their school and donate the proceeds to the public library of their choice. Students may also donate used books directly to the public library for inclusion in its collection or for the library's used book sale.
• Students will offer their support, in a small way, to future Habitat for Humanity projects in the area.
• Students can build a bluebird house with a senior citizen or grandparent. After the houses are built, students can accompany their building partners to install the houses for this beautiful endangered bird.
• The Red Cross has a program providing lap blankets for those in a nursing home. The children will knit squares of a certain dimension (after being taught to knit by senior citizens). The Red Cross will have the squares sewn together for the residents to warm their laps.

This study takes the students back to early colonial times. There are many examples of philanthropy in our rich past. Perhaps it is sufficient to just acknowledge the fact that philanthropy transpired during different events. This unit suggests several historic events or philanthropic deeds within a timeline. There is an easy flow of studying the colonial period in American history and recognizing the numerous events that illustrate private action for the common good.

During this era, rugged individualism was necessary to survive. In the midst of this self-sufficiency, the barn graced the landscape as a testimony to philanthropy. The community of individuals came together to raise a structure made from hand-hewn beams and wooden pegs for the common good. This was no task for a lone individual. Because this task demanded more than the work of the immediate family, barn raising necessitated the coming together of many hands. The men would gather with their tools and expertise to help the farmer raise a barn for his animals and storage. The women would gather to feed these men and perhaps make a quilt together as well.

No one expected payment for their hard work. The reward was the satisfaction that a new barn was raised for another family in the community. It was taken for granted that one would give and share for the common good of the community. Individuals came together to meet the needs of one member of the community. Each member that was helped would in turn give and share with others in need.

After this look backward to the past, students can be made aware of a stunning duplication of this kind of philanthropy in the present. Habitat for Humanity gathers people together to build a home for a needy family. Looking at the present, students are led to see the wonderful parallels in these two building projects. This study can be a memorable experience in understanding what building community is all about. The short story "Too Big a Task" was written to juxtapose these two tasks.

After this progression from literature to history to present-day life, students will be asked to extend their knowledge to the future. This involves learning from elders who will share their talents with the students. The students will use what they have learned and share in helping the environment its living inhabitants. This extension features being good stewards of the environment.

An extension of filling a human need by building a barn or house can be carried out in building a bluebird house. There is a need for habitats for these little creatures because their natural habitat is scarce. Students can study the need; plan how to fill the need; work out the giving/sharing; and see the rewards of their philanthropy.

It is hoped that these lessons will flow naturally into the regular curriculum and contribute long-lasting meaning for the student. After the course of study, your students should be able to demonstrate philanthropy freely and allow it to be woven into the fabric of their lives.