Children participate in a trash clean-up and analyze the issue of pollution caused by trash, especially plastics. They discuss who should be responsible for preventing or cleaning up pollution - government, business, charitable organizations, and/or individuals.

Learners explore the variety of job opportunities available in the nonprofit sector, many of which may use their skills and interests. In the nonprofit sector, the work is meaningful because it focuses on a mission to make change for the better. 

Learners look at nonprofit mission statements and then create a personal mission statement related to the impact they want to make as responsible, engaged citizens. 

Focus Question: How does an individual use personal interests and strengths to impact the common good?

Working with current statistics, youth articulate the repercussions of rainforest destruction and how this destruction may personally affect them if deforestation continues at its present pace.

Youth explore the history of philanthropic behavior (sharing, community collaboration, service) in ancient cultures and today, as well as compare themes of love and service in different world religious practices. 

Students read about the Orphan Train and compare and contrast how that philanthropic effort has evolved today.

To help students understand how nonprofit organizations effectively address issues of poverty, food insecurity, immigration, and disenfranchisement locally and globally. To help students experience and understand how farming works.

Enable students to methodically assess their choice of philanthropic giving and decide where to make a $500 donation.

Students view primary documents to explore public policy on service. They make meaning of the government role and citizen responsibility in civic action. They make a personal plan of service based on their available time, talent, and treasure.

Students describe elements of personal health and fitness and relate this to the health of the community, recognizing that the elements of a healthy community are good for all members. The students identify the availability of healthy foods and practices in the school, neighborhood, and home...