Young people investigate the problems caused by plastic shopping bags, then propose solutions to address the problems. This lesson prompts teams to design a reusable shopping tote out of an old T-shirt using engineering, problem-solving, creativity, and communication. They take action...
This predictable and repetitive story, The Doorbell Rang, has a charming and surprising ending. The children must share a plate of cookies with a growing number of neighbors, but what do they do when there are more kids than cookies? They might surprise you!
Fables teach lessons or morals through animal actions. The exaggerated human-like characteristics of animals make the moral lesson appealing. The story of the "Lion and the Mouse" illustrates that a kind deed is never wasted.
The children tell stories about their family memories and the special “memory items” brought from home. (See Lesson One: Traveling Back in Time.) They meet their senior friend in person or through writing and share and compare memories.
Learners explore character traits and life lessons through folktales from various American cultures. The stories illustrate the impact of "paying a debt forward" rather than "paying it back."
Communities come in many different configurations and may be defined by place or purpose. A family, which also comes in many different configurations, is a community that comes together in the same space and/or with the shared interest of caring for one another. The young people describe the...
Learners reflect on a role-play scenario demonstrating fair and unfair decision-making techniques. They identify behaviors that promote or create barriers to making decisions. A Dr. Seuss book provides a discussion starter.
Youth explore the history of philanthropic behavior (sharing, community collaboration, service) in ancient cultures and today, as well as compare themes of love and service in different world religious practices.
This lesson illustrates the value of art and artists to a community and shows that art is maintained through philanthropy.
Artists contribute to the common good by sharing their talents. The nonprofit sector supports artists with funding, museums, and attention or education. We learn how artists' work is supported by philanthropy and nonproft organizations that assure we have access to art. Young...