Curated OER
Xeriscaping In Your Community
Fourth graders participate in a service-learning project. They design landscaping that maximizes water use and utilizes indigenous plant species. Afterward, they advertise and present their xeriscape garden at a school function such as...
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Harvesting Friends-Feeding Needs: The Drive
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students discuss the needs of their community as they consider those who go hungry. Students plan and implement a food drive.
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Following in Their Footsteps
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students reflect upon the lesson of tikkun olam as they read "First They Came for the Jews." Students plan and execute a tikkun olam project of their choosing...
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Plan a Park
Learners think about designing and, perhaps, creating their own public park or space. It helps students think about community needs, park design, and civic activism.
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Lights, Camera, Action!
Students develop a communication project about city wildlife. In this wildlife service project lesson, students research city wildlife, create a presentation of their groups choice, and present their findings. Students evaluate how their...
Berkshire Museum
Meet a Naturalist: Researching, Writing, Interviewing
Young scholars reach out into the community and learn about different environmental science careers in this inquiry-based instructional activity. Beginning with a short research assignment, children gain background knowledge about...
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Making a Connection
Students research why government community workers are important to us. They work in teams to identify and illustrate the jobs and services provided by these community workers. Assessment comes from their Student Concept Maps.
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Lesson 2: Mapping Our Home
Young scholars recognize the importance of community participation in the census. In this U. S. Census lesson plan, students use map-reading skills to find answers and learn the difference between senators and members of Congress.
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Diverse Voices -African American Ventures
Students explore acts of kindness through the eyes of the black community. In this philanthropy lesson, students understand that even under inhumane circumstances, people can perform for the common good. Students relate to their good...
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Maskerade, My Self, And No Other
Students examine themselves, discover their strong, positive attributes, and recognize areas in need of improvement (since each individual possesses strengths but all people have some weaknesses). They develop self-acceptance, trust in...
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Diwali-Hindu New Year
Students demonstrate their understanding of the themes and symbols that are associated with Diwali. They participate in a service project centered on spreading good luck and fortune in their community.
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Elizabeth Fry
Students examine the life of Elizabeth Fry and her contributions to prison reform. They participate in a visualization exercise, listen to a guest speaker, create a quilt as a community service project, write journal entries, and...
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Philanthropy News
Students collect examples of local philanthropy and write a news article for a local newspaper. In this philanthropy lesson, students read Helping Out by George Ancona to gain understanding of what philanthropic acts are. Students...
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Influencing Others in Our World
Young scholars discover that the actions of people can have a positive influence on a community. They use a variety of resources to research biographies of African Americans. Students research and discuss the life of Martin Luther King,...
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Native Americans and Giving
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: The Words of Chief Seattle activity, students examine the plight of Native Americans and explore Native Americans' quest for the "common good."
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Notable Nebraskan: J. Sterling Morton
What are the characteristics of an outstanding citizen? Nebraskan J. Sterling Morton contributed to the formation of societal and family values in his state. Learners gather information on Morton's life accomplishments from primary...
Curated OER
Statehouse Time Capsule
Fourth graders create a time capsule that is representative of their community. They explain why the chosen objects are representative of themselves or their community.
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Towards Separation of Church and State in Gloucester
Explore New England government in the 1700's with your class. They will identify historical documents as primary or secondary sources, then read and discuss the significance of these documents as they relate to the "freedom of religion"...
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Land Plan Challenge
Links to two different versions of this mapping activity are available. In "The Small Version," youngsters design a town, keeping the water supply in mind. In "The Large Version," they also design a town, but they consider services and...
National First Ladies' Library
Rosie the Riveter
Students identify and interpret the power of symbols. Then they research and identify what type of information that they can locate at the Library of Congress website and list what they learned from it in the time allotted. Students also...
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Closer to the Ground
Young scholars understand the idea of a nonprofit organization, the service donated by others, and how it helps a community. In this philanthropic activity, students explore the types of nonprofits that would be beneficial to a school...
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Read 'n' Give-Planning Our Book Drive
Learners participate in a book drive. In this communities lesson, students brainstorm ways of collecting books for donation and design a book drive for children in the community.
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Do It Write
Young scholars investigate types of communities. In this communities lesson, students read the book The Country Mouse and City Mouse and identify the characteristics of the city and country. Young scholars participate in a pen-pal...
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Gathering, Traditions, and Nutrition of Our Food
Students gain a better understanding of what it means to eat seasonally through learning about traditional hunting, gathering, and food preparation methods of Athabascan tribes. By interacting with Native American Elders and...