Community service is a win-win! Scholars discover how to gain valuable career skills through helping others using a lesson about volunteer work. Second in a six-part career and college readiness series, the activities focus on...

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...

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.

High schoolers read primary source documents and identify several kinds of service projects conducted by Peace Corps Volunteers; young scholars identify criteria used by the Peace Corps for conducting service projects for the common good.

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...

Young scholars analyze the importance of being a socially healthy citizen. In this character education lesson, students brainstorm personal traits that they think make the world a better place. Young scholars compile their ideas as a...

Eighth graders write about the physical hardships endured by soldiers of the Civil War. They compare the losses between two communities during the Civil War. They analyze personal letters to understand what a battle was like. They...

Describe each stage in the life cycle of a butterfly. Second graders will identify the stages of the life cycle of the butterfly, using correct vocabulary. They will also share their new understandings about the stages of the life cycle...

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...

Young scholars explain and discover the role of volunteers. They identify places where volunteers might work as well. They consider what the impact of volunteers might be to end the lesson.

Students research a nonprofit organization of their choice. They interview a member of the organization and present to the class their findings. They list the job opportunities found there and volunteer for the organization.

Students participate in planning a multi-cultural community event. In this cultural music activity, parents, community members, and teachers provide time, music, advertisement, and refreshments to create a community multi-cultural music...

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...

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...

Engage your class in a discussion about humane treatment of animals by recognizing the basic rights of all races, religions, classes, etc. Have volunteers stand on a milk crate without shoes until they become uncomfortable as an example...

Draw your class in by working together to complete a chart of ocean users and uses. Connect the users to how they use the ocean where possible. Introduce the class to ways that areas of the ocean are protected, and take them to the NOAA...

A fabulous lesson on the life of Clara Barton awaits your class. They describe how Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, and the role it played in organizing help for those in need. Additionally, young historians explain how...

Students investigate one family's volunteer tourism experience and the international volunteer organizations to create a community guide to helping those in need around the world.