The youth read the book Seedfolks and discuss the diverse characters and their individual contributions to a community garden. While learning about the thirteen individuals in the story, they identify their character, heritage, motivations, and contributions to nourishing and maintaining the vacant lot garden. They discuss how their combined efforts changed not only their lives but also the lives of their community for the better. They relate this to their own diverse community.

Youth learn about the work of African American inventors who had a positive influence on society by contributing scientific innovation for the common good.

Clean water is a scarce natural resource because pollution and careless action can make it unusable for consumers. Learners research reliable facts about their local water and propose philanthropic acts to contribute to the common good.

Learners explore that government and non-profit organizations together help bring about breakthroughs in modern science and medicine. These contributions to the common good require the support of philanthropists, large and small.

Young people explore what it means to be an environmentalist. They work in small groups to research the facts and possible solultions related to an environmental issue. The ultimate goal of the unit is to empower young people to share their knowledge (talent) and make others aware of environmental issues for the common good.

Young people perform their puppet plays in order to teach others about environmental issues. They reflect on this project by writing an answer to some essential questions of the unit: What does it mean to be a philanthropist? What does it mean to be an environmentalist?

Young people make puppets out of recycled materials. They use their creativity to come up with a movable puppet that represents a character in their puppet play.

Through a story in which a child inspires her neighborhood to improve a vacant lot, young people recognize that they can have a positive impact on others. They brainstorm a philanthropic project to benefit the school or larger community.

Learners describe good nutritional practices and make a plan to eat healthy.

Through storytelling, children recognize that their actions and behaviors have an impact and become memories for future generations.