Helping Out

Objectives

• Students will read a list of different ways to volunteer and choose one they find attractive.
• Students will write a list of reasons why they chose that particular activity.
• Students will draw "before" and "after" pictures relating to that volunteer activity.

Description

This Web site was created by PBS. It includes resources for volunteering, as well as stories about children whose volunteer activities have made a positive difference in their communities.

Suggested Activities

• Have students click on the link to a volunteer activity. Make sure that each activity is covered by at least one student and reassign activities as necessary. After connecting to the new link, students may read suggestions on how to help as well as inspiring stories about children who undertook the challenge of volunteering. Have students present their findings to the class.

Level Activities

• Have students connect to http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/emotions/volunteering/article3.html and read the first four paragraphs or first section of the page. When the students finish reading, discuss the reading as a class. Ask: Why do they compare volunteering to lighting a single candle? Then, have students:
brainstorm a list of good things that happen when people volunteer.
brainstorm a list of good things that happen when people volunteer and also a list of reasons why volunteering is good for the volunteer.
perform a skit in which one person volunteers to help another person who is disabled.