The youth read the book Seedfolks and discuss the diverse characters and their individual contributions to a community garden. While learning about the thirteen individuals in the story, they identify their character, heritage, motivations, and contributions to nourishing...
Benjamin Franklin's work was in service to making a better world, and he influenced the nonprofit sector. His book, Poor Richards Almanack, makes connections to the common good through personal virtue and actions. The participants choose quotes to create posters that communicate...
Our tradition of caring and sharing for one another has its roots in the creation of humanity b’tzelem elohim, (in the Divine image). That concept is explained in concrete terms by Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon) and helps form an ethical imperative that sanctifies our everyday...
This lesson will teach Maimonides’ (Rambam’s) Eight Levels of Charity as quoted in the Mishneh Torah, his book of Jewish laws and concepts. The learner will understand the Eight Levels of Charity, the reasons behind the hierarchy, and how these levels apply to today’s...
Students learn about the goals of Earth Day and identify areas in town that need clean-up or planting. They plan a day of service.
Teach this one-period lesson plan and follow it with a simple and powerful service project ...
Students learn about the goals of Earth Day and identify areas in town that need clean-up or planting. They plan a day of service.
Teach this one-period lesson plan and follow it with a simple and powerful service project ...
This lesson focuses on the meaning and benefits of gratitude. Teens research one aspect of gratitude in order to understand its relationship to health, happiness, or generosity. For their service project, they decide how they can 'deliver gratitude' to a deserving person or group. They will then...
Through persuasive writing, young people build awareness and invite action for change about an issue. Typical writing forms may include essays, editorials, feature articles, or speeches.
In this lesson, young people learn the difference between private and public resources and identify areas that are called commons. They discuss whose responsibility it is to take care of those areas and how they are managed.
Literature and primary documents help youth understand the role of the Constitution for the United States. They overview the three branches of government described in the first three articles and learn that government officials are serving with their time and talent for the common good...