Practice public speaking in this oral presentation lesson. Middle schoolers list the characteristics of a powerful speaker. They watch a video of two speakers, compare them and discuss the qualities of a good speech. Afterwards, they...

Students explore the concept of community helpers.  In this community helper lesson, students brainstorm the community helpers in their neighborhood after reading a book about jobs in the community.  Students then host a...

Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson plan, students contribute to society by examining volunteer activities that benefit others. Students collaborate to create a skit to promote volunteerism.

Young scholars identify and consider what it means to sacrifice time and effort in helping others. Then they decide areas where their help may be needed, and pursue this area in the local community. Students also search the World Wide...

Students read and analyze a personal narrative written about a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching English in Guinea-Bissau, Africa. They discuss the concept of crossing cultures, analyze maps, complete worksheets, and develop a writing...

Learners explore the meaning of the term "philanthropy" and the qualities that philanthropists share, especially good character and personal virtue. They list and describe how three volunteer groups act for the common good and summarize...

A reading of Brenda Z. Guiberson’s, Cactus Hotel, launches a study of animal habitats. Working with parent volunteers or teacher aides, groups travel outside the classroom to select a habitat, take digital pictures, and incorporate the...

An authentic and engaging way to practice literacy skills, this lesson calls for young language arts pupils to conduct interviews with classmates and family members. First, pupils watch as the teacher models the interview process with a...

Start kids thinking about point of view and autobiographies by telling them a short story about your morning (first person), and then asking a volunteer to re-tell the story to you (second person). There are tips to help you tie this...

Class members develop interview questions and then one volunteer interviews a new principal (the instructor) while the entire class watches and takes notes. Participants then individually consider an interesting angle from which the...

Students gain a greater understanding of how political borders impact human and environmental development. Then, either individually or as a class, establish a correspondence with a Peace Corps volunteer working in Africa.

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...

Young scholars examine several writings from both locals and Peace Corps volunteers from several African countries. Students reflect on how the writer's interactions with water are presented through the material. Young scholars write...

Students examine the inspiration for the John Mc Crae's poem, In Flanders Field. They study sonnets and the use of tetrameter before discussing is considered to be a sonnet although it does not follow the pattern. They discuss the...

F is for fantastic literacy activity! Young learners identify words that begin with the letter F, cut and paste pictures of those words to a activity, and then write sentences for each word they identify.

If you need a lesson for your poetry unit, use two poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ("Rain in Summer" and "The Slave in the Dismal Swamp") and a resource on Elements of Poetry. The lesson plan guides you through activities...

Make sure everyone knows that your class is studying Dr. Seuss by using this handy door hanger. The hanger has two sides; one to tell people to stay, and another to send them away.

Celebrate superwomen during Women's History Month with a lesson that showcases a variety of female role models. Following a whole-class discussion on superheroes, role models, respect, and admiration, scholars listen to several...

A little adversity is good for writing. Scholars review narrative-based monologues and concrete poems and choose which genre to use to express their own theme of adversity. Pupils also consider how to structure their narratives by...

Fridays can be a challenge with learners already dreaming about their weekends. Here's a routine that will bring their minds back to the classroom. Read aloud the beginning of a story, sure to engage your listeners.

Students explore community service.  In this character development and community lesson plan, students sing a song based on the fable The Lion and the Mouse. Students participate in a discussion about kindness, and generate ideas...

Students work together as a team to solve the hypothetical common problem of litter. They give examples of organizations that focus on trying to help others in significant ways (volunteers). Each group maps out their strategy, a tree...

Students review the lessons from the whole unit before devising a plan of action for a volunteer effort. They work in teams using a worksheet to determine a social cause that they develop an effective idea to promote. They design an...

Students interview local Native Americans to explore their history, culture, and contributions to the region. They contact a local Native American organization, conduct an interview with a volunteer and write thank-you notes.