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Youth Make a Difference!

Youth Make a Difference!

Learning to Give equips young people of all ages with philanthropy tools and knowledge as they discover what they care about and take action with their time, talent, and treasure. 

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Dreamers

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Dreamers

Through beautiful images and text, we walk alongside a mother with her infant son coming to the U.S. from Mexico. We gain a sense of the hope, uncertainty, and confusion of an immigrant coming to the U.S. with its unfamiliar words and places. This is Yuyi Morales’s true story of coming to California as a new bride and mother. She finds home and her sense of purpose and place in the libraries of her community. Anyone who loves books will recognize the joy and connection found in picture books and libraries.

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Currently Featured

  • What Is My Responsibility?

    Unit: 
    Healthy Youth, Healthy Community (K-2)
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2

    Children explore what it means to be responsible in school and in the community as a responsible citizen. They take action as responsible citizens to make the community healthier. 

  • It's a Free Country, Isn't It?

    Unit: 
    My Country, My Community
    Grades 
    9
    10
    11
    12

    While reviewing the expectations for immigrants to become citizens, young people learn about their own rights and civic responsibility. They learn that freedom isn't free.

  • "Anything We Love Can Be Saved"

    Unit: 
    Writers as Activists
    Grades 
    9
    10
    11
    12

    Students will recognize the linguistic strategies that Alice Walker uses in her introduction to Anything You Love Can Be Saved that persuade readers to believe in her causes, and thus begin to think about techniques that they can use in their own activist writing.

  • The Grantmaking Process

    Unit: 
    Hands On Philanthropy: A High School Course at Kentucky Country Day School
    Grades 
    11
    12

    This lesson briefly explains the process a group goes through as they deliberate and decide upon which applicant organizations will receive grant awards.

  • Art as Advocacy

    Unit: 
    Art as Advocacy
    Grades 
    9
    10
    11
    12

    The learners view works of art that advocate for social change and find that art can influence social change. The learners select an issue of human rights and create a work of art that represents the issue. They write a paragraph of explanation about their work.

  • What Is Poetry and Where Can You Find It?

    Unit: 
    Poetry of Giving
    Grades 
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    Develop an understanding that you can find poetry everywhere: from lyrics to songs, commercials and rap. Investigate the philanthropic themes are often found in poetry.

  • Who Is Responsible for Clean Water?

    Unit: 
    Environment: Sustaining Our World
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8

    The youth learn how water safety is fragile. Even with good intentions, people and processes can cause major problems. They raise awareness of water issues and the importance of being vigilant about this shared need.

  • Environmental Justice

    Unit: 
    Grow Involved 6-8
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8

    Young people learn about environmental stewardship and its importance to all people. They carry out a service project that demonstrates environmental stewardship.

  • Coming to Terms

    Unit: 
    It's Goin' Down; The Rain Forest
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8

    Researching from the perspective of one type of scientist, youth become experts on the attributes of a tropical rainforest as well as the threats to its health and impact on the globe. Youth work in teams of four to make a collage poster and presentation.

  • Building Identity

    Unit: 
    Be the Change: Core Values
    Grades 
    9
    10
    11
    12

    Learners explore personal identity traits and discuss how a community is strengthened by similarities and differences among them. They each write a biographical poem using the provided template and their discussion notes. 

  • Understanding Advocacy

    Unit: 
    Advocacy-Getting the Job Done
    Grades 
    9
    10
    11
    12

    In this lesson young people learn about the tools of advocacy for the common good. They investigate the characteristics of advocates and develop their own personal advocacy style.

  • Building Blocks of a Community

    Unit: 
    Building Blocks of a Community
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8

    Groups analyze and define the concept of community. They identify the benefits and sacrifices involved in actions for the common good in their role as citizens.

  • Black History IS American History

    Unit: 
    Black History IS American History
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    We are made by history. In this activity, youth read the stories of philanthropic African Americans and influential related events that made America what it is today. Then they create a virtual Pop-Up Museum as an advocacy service project in which they tell stories of Black history and philanthropy.

  • Power in Numbers

    Unit: 
    Challenging Social Boundaries
    Grades 
    9
    10
    11
    12

    From history we know that working in community (not on our own) is the best way to make change. Young people explore the work of nonprofits related to equity and social justice. 

  • Goodness in Everyday Acts

    Unit: 
    Roots of Philanthropy (Teen)
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    Youth Activity: Participants will gain a greater understanding of the meaning of philanthropy, and identify at least one action that they can take to better their own community.

  • The Language of Human Rights

    Unit: 
    Forced to Flee and Find a New Home
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    This lesson focuses on the language of human rights. Learners examine the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and analyze the rights from a personal perspective. They discuss how well they perceive that the rights are enforced.

  • Powerful Words Unite Us in Service

    Grade Levels: 
    K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    These lessons were designed by a high school classroom that was motivated by a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They tried to envision a project centered on driving out hate in their community by showing love. 

  • Stand and Deliver for Justice and Diversity

    Unit: 
    Stand and Deliver for Justice and Diversity
    Grades 
    9
    10
    11
    12
    Learners explore and share their attitudes about diversity and issues of justice and kindness. The learners brainstorm ways that they can promote the common good by working to eliminate stereotyping, intolerance, discrimination, and prejudice.

  • Deliver Gratitude Day

    Unit: 
    Deliver Gratitude Day
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8

    This lesson focuses on the meaning and benefits of gratitude. Participants give examples of what people give up (opportunity cost) when they give philanthropically.

  • Doodle Stones

    Unit: 
    Doodle Stones
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    Learners use words to communicate positively and build community. A service project involves writing positive messages on stones and placing them strategically to uplift and beautify.

  • The Gifts of Nature

    Unit: 
    Humans and Nature Flourishing Together
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    Through analyzing a Ted Talk by Robin Wall Kimmerer, participants develop their understanding of what it means to respond with gratitude to the gifts from the Earth. Participants expand their awareness of the interdependent relationship between humans and nature.

  • My Civic Timeline

    Unit: 
    Community Philanthropy
    Grades 
    3
    4
    5

    Create a past, present, and future timeline of personal philanthropy. 

EVERYONE has something to give to make a better world!

EVERYONE has something to give to make a better world!
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Hope will never be silent.
Harvey Milk

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The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.
Maya Angelou