Through exploration, we see how six simple machines do their jobs together to get work done. Just as each machine is unique and valuable to the whole, so is each person unique and valuable to our group, to nature, and to the world. We see the value of deliberately respecting others and...

Young people research the ecosystems around their own homes, school, and community, so they can be better informed stewards about conservation. 

 

Introduce the folksinger, Woody Guthrie, and his legendary song This Land Is Your Land. Talk about ways we are generous for the good of others. This can be by lifting someone's spirits or taking care of the land we all share. 

Learners research the environmental effect of crayons and their own power to make an impact. They collect gently used crayons from restaurants and other places in the community. They sort them by color, repackage them sustainably for re-use, and add a kind note. They learn about the...

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 talk about the uses of water and understand its importance to our world.

In this lesson, participants join a playful group called Poseidon's Protectors who are sworn to protect the watershed and oceans. They write a letter to Poseidon telling about their 3-part plan to protect. 

By comparing lightbulbs, young people learn about technology, energy conservation, and personal responsibility. Their personal choices can impact family energy costs and reduce the amount of energy consumed for the common good.