Scholars continue their exploration of the concept of community by first completing an anticipation guide and then engaging in a Four Corners activity to share their responses. They analyze an essay in which the author defines community...

In the post-pandemic classroom, it's more important than ever to begin the school year by building a strong sense of trust and community. Using the Make Meaning and Big Paper teaching techniques, groups develop a definition of community...

Learners identify the roles and responsibilities of various school workers. They identify implications of what would happen in the school community if a school worker did not complete that role or responsibility.

Your class may be active in the community, but what about showing appreciation for what others do? Turn the tables with this fun idea as learners celebrate those who have worked to make their campus better. They discuss the ways in which...

Students define philanthropy. In this school community instructional activity, students watch a slideshow of pictures that represent different types of community. Students define community and list the communities they are part of....

Have you ever wondered where the money comes from to pay for your school, teachers, supplies, and building? The 1989 Supreme Court case Edgewood ISD v. Kirby lays a framework for open discussion on the funding of public schools. Using a...

Individuals have $50,000 to spend on a program at their schools—what will they do with the money? After looking at the Constitutional mandate, learners use a census simulation activity to consider the question. After conducting their own...

Learners discuss ways to get involved in activities at school. In groups, they brainstorm a list of qualities of a person who is engaged in civics and how they can become involved in activities at school related to government. They...

U.S. immigration is the focus of a unit on social justice. Over the course of a school year, young historians read a variety of texts to learn about four waves of immigration that have occurred over time in the U.S. An emphasis on...

Welcome your class back to school! They will participate in a character education lesson in order to build community at the school. First they identify needs of new learners by putting themselves in their shoes and create welcome packs...

Action is the heart of change. Encourage class members to not only identify critical social justice issues in their school or community but to take action as well. As individuals or as groups, they research a situation, develop a...

Have your older students assist young children with writing in this community service and literacy lesson plan. Middle schoolers become partners with a local elementary school. They assist the grade school children in writing a pattern...

Discuss as a class some problems that you would like to see changed in your school or community, and then take action! After your young citizens determine the appropriate steps they should take to accomplish their objectives, they will...

First graders design a Powerpoint presentation to reflect information about their community.  In this community lesson, 1st graders create slides to explain the weather, geography and other information about the city.

What better way is there to teach about human rights than by seeing them firsthand? Introduce your class or club to the spirit of service through a myriad of service project ideas. First in a series of human rights instructional...

Rumpelstiltskin understood the power of names. The second lesson in the First Days of School series focuses on building community by recognizing the importance of the relationships among names, identities, and cultures. Learners engage...

Many of us have multiple identities. There's who we are at home, school, friends, and strangers. And often these identities come with different names. The third activity in the First Days of School series examines how names reflect...

Names come with all sorts of nuances and can influence how we see ourselves and how others see us. To gain insight into the power of names, class members journal about their names and then read a short essay about a girl and her feelings...

Students develop a community service project. In this service project lesson, students identify a concern within their community, set a goal, from a plan, and carryout a service project using the project guidelines.

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.

Learners complete a community service project. In this community service lesson, students discuss the needs of animals in animal shelters. They contact an animal shelter and help with one of these needs. 

Young scholars research ways to help a homeless shelter and design a service project to meet the needs. In this service project instructional activity, students identify and develop a list of ways to meet a homeless shelter's needs....

Learners research ways to help a women's shelter in a service project. In this service project lesson, students develop ways to meet needs of a women's shelter. Learners select a need, plan, and conduct a service project to meet that need.

Students comprehend what makes up the physical community. Read and construct scale drawings and models. Explore the history of infrastructures and how the contributions of science, math and industry have led to the development of their...