Giving gifts has been a part of the human experience since modern man walked the earth. Upper graders explore the culture of gift giving in Mayan times through an artistic analysis. They analyze gift giving and palace life as seen on an...

After identifying the parts of a persuasive piece of writing, young writers explore different prewriting activities for the persuasive essay. They have the option to write a news article, personal narrative, or persuasive essay to...

Students explore the concept of tree maps.  In this tree map lesson, students use this diagram to create a presentation about cleaning up a schoolyard.  Students share their presentations at the end of the project. 

Students become community philanthropists. In this social studies lesson, students learn the definition of philanthropy and apply it to Martin Luther King, Jr. The next day, students complete 3 T-charts for 3 historical figures. Finally,...

Students read or listen to a story, and discuss how it relates to them. In this personal event writing activity, students write about recycling. Students read "The Giving Tree" a Shel Silverstein poem and discuss the poem's meaning....

Students participate in an activity that will allow them to create a gift for a nursing home patient and give their gift to someone who needs a caring hand. For this community service lesson, students learn compassion, and also...

Young scholars identify the theme in the movie, "Spider-Man" and relate it to philanthropy. They examine the reasons why Spider-Man chooses to give back to his community. They read the reasons they wrote to the class.

Ever stop to think about why charities exist and when they started? Take a second to look through history and discover that giving has been apart of human society since ancient Rome. Jump to the US to uncover facts about our first...

Students measure, record and graph the plants they grow in a controlled setting. They feed and water the plants as needed and use the scientific method to evaluate the growth.

Give your middle school writers the opportunity to form an opinion and provide strong supporting details. Writers will respond to the statement "It is better to give than to receive." This is a particularly good assignment to use if your...

Students discover the benefits to community sharing. In this community sharing lesson, students read The Rainbow Fish and discuss how to be a good citizen. Students create their own rainbow fish with shiny scales and write a sentence...

Inspired by the humanitarian work of President Jimmy Carter after he left office, high schoolers explore the history of civic action in the United States and generate ideas about problems at the local, national, and international levels....

Students develop ideas about giving. In this character building lesson, students read the story of the Children of Agape and listen to their song titled "We Are Together".  They discuss how they connect with others and work together to...

Students complete a service project. In this giving instructional activity, students donate books they've collected. Students reflect on their experience and how they were affected by the service project.

Students examine the concept of giving. In this gifts and talents lesson plan, students read a story about giving one's talents in Native American culture. Students analyze their own special gifts or talents and paint a picture of an...

Students give the gift of candy to community members. In this citizenship and giving lesson, students read Franklin's Halloween and discuss why the main characters give away part of their Halloween candy. Students brainstorm who in their...

Students view The Gift of All, a Community of Givers. In this philanthropic lesson, students discuss the gifts of philanthropists they've seen. Students research and write a two page paper with four bullet points. Students include a...

Students read "The Rainbow Fish" and discuss how the fish benefited by giving others. In this sharing lesson, students prepare plants and letters for senior citizens. Students present their letters and plants at a visit to a senior...

Students make a poster. In this philanthropy lesson, students define philanthropy and brainstorm a list of things they have that they can share with others. Students create a poster about the meaning of philanthropy.

Students discover the definition of "philanthropy," and the positive effect it can have on a community. In this civics lesson, students observe a video defining what philanthropy is. Later, students pair up to create posters based on the...

Students interview senior citizens in their community, and explain how these senior citizens are heroes. For this heroes lesson, students interview these seniors, and then reflect on how they too can be heroes in their own community.

Third graders read the story Sam and the Lucky Money. In this reading lesson, 3rd graders discuss the story. Students write in a reader's response journal as they read the story.

Students understand gifts can be for a community and not just for an individual.  In this giving back lesson, students design and make a stepping-stone to put in the school garden based on the theme "Our school is a special community...

Young scholars play a game. In this sharing lesson, students brainstorm their favorite games and discuss how most games are designed to have one winner. Young scholars play another game, the Giving Game, where everyone is a winner.