Missouri Department of Elementary
Are You Balanced?
Balance scales create a strong visual of how an individual prioritizes one's self alongside their commitments to the community, school, and home. Scholars complete a graphic organizer then discuss their findings with their peers. A...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Positive Self Talk
Mirror, mirror. Hook sophomores into the benefits of positive self-talk with a lesson that asks them to reflect on the roles they play at home, at school, and in their communities. Class members fill out a “Looking At Me In My...
Curated OER
Celebrate Family Story Month
Creative lesson and activity ideas that record family stories and memories.
Missouri Department of Elementary
Fly Your Kite
Encourage scholars to become a productive community member with a kite-themed lesson plan. Following a review and discussion, learners complete a Venn diagram that displays the connection between character traits needed to make a home...
Teaching Tolerance
Identity Self-Portraits
What symbols represent you best? Individuals consider how they would draw peers using symbols about their identities with an interview and art activity. After conducting interviews and portraits, the art makes a great centerpiece for...
Learning to Give
Why Volunteer?
Inspire scholars to volunteer their time to make a positive change in their community. With help from research, a public speaker, and reflection, learners define and asses what it takes to be a volunteer in a business, non-profit,...
Advocates for Youth
What Are My Personal, Family and Community Values
What are your values? Where did you learn them? How are they reflected in your everyday life? Middle and high schoolers reflect on their personal and community values with a variety of group activities.
Curated OER
Abigail in Mourning
People deal with grief in different ways. The series of Abigail Adams' letters in this lesson reveals how she dealt with losing her mother, father, and community members. The included worksheet helps young scholars identify the tone and...
Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Success in Professional Careers
Keep climbing the ladder to success. Scholars explore the topic of success in professional careers by viewing a PowerPoint, completing a KWHL chart, and participating in a role-playing activity. Next, they create a public service...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Why Don’t More People in the U.S. Vote?
To vote or not to vote, that is the question. Secondary scholars explore voter turnout in the United States. The resource uses informational text, group discussion, and a worksheet to help academics understand hindrances to voting...
K20 LEARN
Conflict And Choice In Tangerine: Character Development
Introduce middle schoolers to Edward Bloor's novel Tangerine with a lesson that asks scholars to make predictions about events in the novel based on an article written by the Smoop Editorial team. Predictions are posted in the classroom...
Curated OER
Our Diverse Heritage Family Tree
Learners discuss family trees and create their own family trees. They research their cultural backgrounds and make oral presentations to the rest of the class during a multicultural lunch.
Curated OER
My Family Tree
Students create a family tree. In this ancestry instructional activity, students research a country that one of their ancestors is from. Students interview a grandparent and map out a family tree.
Curated OER
Crayon Box-Family Diversity
Learners explore diversity in families. In this social studies lesson, students read the book The Crayon Box That Talked and brainstorm traditions they have with their family. Learners create crayon templates with a sentence about a...
New York City Department of Education
Grade K Literacy in Social Studies: Thinking About Families
Family is a wonderful subject for little learners to get excited about. Family is also the theme for a social studies unit that uses literacy standards throughout. The guide outlines approximately three weeks of instruction and breaks...
Curated OER
Discovering My Family History
Students research their family trees. They research Internet sites, conduct interviews and, when possible, access primary sources to compile information about their family's history. Students present their findings in a family tree.
Curated OER
Community Helpers
Learners identify the different jobs of people in the community. In this careers lesson, students read Helpers in My Community and have parents come into the classroom to do a short presentation on their jobs.
Curated OER
What Makes My Community Special
Students create a symbol to represent their classroom community. In this community lesson plan, students discuss what their classroom community is like and create symbols in groups to present to the rest of the class.
Curated OER
Color Your Community
Eighth graders identify the self as an individual and as a member of a diverse local and global community. They recognize roles and responsibilities of being a family, school, or community member and the interrelationship of roles and...
Academy of American Poets
Incredible Bridges: “Cotton Candy” by Edward Hirsch
Read it, hear it, see it, do it! Young poets experience Edward Hirsch's memory poem, "Cotton Candy," by first closely reading the poem silently, then aloud, watching a video of the poet reading it, and crafting their memory poem of an...
Berenstain Bears
Family and Community
Here is a beautiful set of lessons on family and community. These charming, engaging, and meaningful lessons would be of benefit for any Pre-K through 2nd grade learners. The lessons are jam-packed with terrific in-class, and at-home...
Curated OER
Learning Opportunities around the World
Students discover how education effects them and their community in a positive way. In this community lesson, students engage in a class discussion about the benefits of public education and play "community I-Spy."
Curated OER
Hmmm-What is Philanthropy?
High schoolers develop an understanding of philanthropy through definition and actions. Students to get to know themselves and their classmates by engaging in activities imbedded in this lesson. They investigate the types of...
Curated OER
Can You Lend Me a Hand?
Students explore the concepts of community. In this communities lesson, students listen and respond to the story of The Little Red Hen and discuss ways to contribute to their own community. Students recognize the importance of...