"Food for Thought” is a service-learning unit for the entire seventh grade that engages students in thinking about how food is grown and harvested, the challenges of meeting the basic need of food, the issue of “food insecurity” in the world, and the power of advocacy.
Learners play a game that helps them identify qualities in others and themselves that make them trustworthy and determine whether you can be friends with someone you don't trust. Students brainstorm ways to build capital in a trust bank account.
Students identify nonprofit organizations in their community and learn about the services they provide. They make a plan to support the work of a nonprofit through volunteering, fundraising, or advocacy.
Through fact-finding and a community survey, students identify health and safety needs in their school and/or neighborhood communities. Based on their conclusions they collaboratively problem solve, design, and carry out a plan to address those problems.
This unit focuses on different traditions of giving through world cultures (and religious traditions), looking for similarities that connect us. In addition, learners recognize that diversity makes our community stronger.
The most effective way to help people recover from a natural disaster may be to donate funds. This lesson introduces vocabulary terms spend, save, and donate and explores different styles of philanthropy.
Learners gain an understanding of the importance of environmental stewardship and how they can participate. Learners gain awareness that they are part of a whole and that they have a responsibility to participate in caring for the Earth.
Using the Action Without Borders/Idealist.org website, students become more aware of nonprofit organizations, including job opportunities.
This lesson describes the military's role in our country and highlights service to country as one of the most sacrificial forms of "voluntary action intended for the common good."
Learners define bullying behavior and describe what bullying looks and feels like. In contrast, they experience the feelings of being helpful and kind to peers when they need it.