Annenberg Foundation
Service Learning in the Social Studies
Active Citizenship Today (ACT) is a "unique social studies service learning program" that requires students to learn about the public policy associated with community issues they identify in their local community. This web site provides...
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Happy Game: Citizenship
Play a game to quiz your kids on what they know about citizenship. There are 10 questions that cover topics ranging from responsibility to volunteerism. The game is cute, interactive, and perfect for second through fourth graders.
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Volunteering Requires Freedom of Choice
Students explore ways to volunteer. For this volunteerism and philanthropy lesson, students brainstorm how the early Americans benefited from philanthropy, then discuss how others benefit from our philanthropy and how we choose ways to...
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Holiday Giving From the Classroom
Students participate in a holiday giving activity to learn about community involvement. In this community outreach lesson, students discuss giving and receiving as well as the gift of time. Students prepare songs and holiday cards to...
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My Promise
Students define their own civic responsibility and create a PowerPoint presentation about their volunteer efforts. In this civic responsibility lesson, students define the word volunteer and read an article about a volunteer in their...
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Why Volunteer?
Young scholars explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students explore the spirit of volunteering as they locate news articles or advertisements regarding the topic. Young scholars discuss whom benefits...
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It's All in the Making: Our Local Organizations
Students study African American nonprofit organizations. In this nonprofit organizations lesson, students discuss African American organizations. Students research the NAACP and NUL website. Students design posters for both groups....
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We the Past
Students study philanthropy related terms and philanthropy in the United States and their local community. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students study pictures of present and past Americans and discuss their philanthropic acts....
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Philanthropy in Literature
Students define the term philanthropy and find examples of it in everyday life. In this philanthropy lesson, students try to define philanthropy and illustrate it. Students then work in groups to define the term and create a web for the...
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Create a Volunteer Spirit
Students evaluate how volunteering helps others. For this philanthropy lesson, students define what a volunteer is and brainstorm a group volunteer project to implement in the school. Students write an essay describing how volunteering...
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Yea For Volunteers!
Middle schoolers explore volunteerism. In this citizenship instructional activity, students define the term "volunteer" and identify volunteers in a classroom setting. Middle schoolers illustrate and write about the concepts of being a...
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Rallying to the Cause
Students study the role of volunteering during the Civil War, the Reconstruction, and today. In this volunteerism lesson, students work with a partner to read biographies of volunteers while looking for their Core Democratic Values. They...
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Ask a Volunteer!
Learners investigate the motivation of volunteers. In this philanthropy lesson, students interview school volunteers on why they volunteer and write thank-you letters to them
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Do Something Beautiful
Students recognize philanthropy in literature. In this philanthropy lesson, students read the book Something Beautiful by Sharon Wyeth and discuss how the character performed acts of philanthropy. Students write a reflection in a journal.
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Nature Tribute
Students explore parts of nature. In this environmental instructional activity, students discuss how their actions can affect the environment and design a plan to clean up a specified area. Students practice good hygiene during the...
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Is There a Stone in My Soup?
Students plan a service project. For this service learning lesson, students demonstrate their understanding of philanthropy as they plan a stone soup party.
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Community Heritage
Students discuss cultural issues in their community. In this cultural lesson, students meet a local Hispanic activist and discuss current issues in the community.
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Literacy: Each One Teach One
Students read the book, Amber on the Mountain and discuss its philanthropic implications. They determine the literacy needs of their own communities. They ask family members to complete reading recollection forms about when and how they...
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Volunteers in the Community
Students discuss volunteerism and identify volunteer positions in their community. They choose and carry out a volunteer project in the school or local community.
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North Platte Canteen and World War II
Students employ primary resources to investigate the rise and decline of a canteen in World War II. The significance of volunteerism and the use of the railroad for troop transportation are examined.
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Diverse Voices - African American Ventures
Students research African American history and the Underground Railroad. In this African American history lesson, students discuss the Drinking Gourd. Students read 'If You Traveled the Underground Railroad' and discuss. Students work in...
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Drumming from the Heart
Students complete a craft activity using recyclable containers and read a story to a younger child. In this service lesson plan, students read the story 'The Drum' and do a service project retelling the story and making a drum from...
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Dividing the Philanthropic Shares
Students define who volunteers are the and the types of jobs that they do. They identify various groups who volunteer in their community, and locate them on a city map.
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Helping Children Read
Middle schoolers read books with younger children, incorporating context clues and vocabulary aids as reading strategies to help the younger children learn to read. They discuss the concept of community capital and how this activity...