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. 

Book Talks about Self-Expression

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Book Talks about Self-Expression

Julian Is a Mermaid is a picture book celebrating the value of self-expression and holding up respect for individuality. The literature guide below provides activities and discussion questions about this simple story and brings awareness to the power of love and the beauty of people expressing themselves as they are.

This book supports loving discussions related to LGBTQ identity.

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  • 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. 

  • Unit: 
    Cultural Competence
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8

    One of the ways we identify ourselves is through the culture of our gender identity. This may include our gender and how we express ourselves through our clothing, hair, and what we like to do and who we like to spend time with.

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

    Young people learn what it is like to be a refugee through pictures, video, and stories. They build empathy and do an activity that simulates choices refugees must make. 

  • Unit: 
    Wall of Philanthropists
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8

    After reading about historical figures who have taken philanthropic action related to justice, youth write a narrative about a more recent (young) philanthropist who took action for social justice. 

     

     

  • Unit: 
    Let's Make Lemonade
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2

    As a group, the young people and their families make all the preparations for the lemonade sale, including making posters and advertising in creative ways. The posters communicate about the purpose for the sale and the impact they hope to make.

  • Unit: 
    Let's Make Lemonade
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2

    The group discusses and agrees on a need to address through donating money. They watch a film about a boy who sets up a lemonade stand and read a book about a national Lemonade Stand effort. Then they identify a need, learn more, and communicate the need to others.

  • Unit: 
    Character Education: Fairness (Grade 8)
    Grades 
    6
    7
    8

    Learners compare the meaning of justice with fairness and distinguish the meanings of fair, just, equal, and equitable. They write a definition for each term and display it on the wall for the duration of the unit.

  • Unit: 
    Cultural Competence
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8

    This lesson explores the language of disability and the importance of asking people about themselves with curiosity rather than treating disabilities as taboo. We learn to use people-first language. 

  • Unit: 
    Cultural Competence
    Grades 
    K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8

    Young people explore demographics and definitions to better understand some of the disabilities of their peers. They discuss how we can support one another's unique expressions of self. 

EVERYONE has something to give!

EVERYONE has something to give!
guide youth philanthropy
empower civic engagement
nurture trust and belonging