Learning to Give, a project spearheaded by the Council on Michigan Foundations, is a monumental effort to bring philanthropy and service learning into the classroom. Started as a Michigan-focused project in 1997, Learning to Give is currently expanding to the national and even international levels.

The project involves several national endorsers and national partners that help to increase its visibility nationwide. It is a resource that every teacher, parent, youth worker, religious instructor, and civic organization should be aware of.

The Learning to Give website consists of a vast database of lesson plans with the purpose of instilling the spirit of giving in young people. There are almost 1,000 lesson plans in social studies alone. Other categories include arts, language arts, math, philanthropy, and science. Don't be overwhelmed by the number, though. The database is sortable by grade level and topic area. It is searchable by keyword, plain text, philanthropy theme, purpose (e.g. "working together"), and academic standard. All lesson plans are even codified for each state standard. There is also a feedback section for teachers who have taught a lesson plan.

Learning to Give's expansive yet easy-to-use lesson plan database attracts over 225,000 visitors per month. It also features a quotations collection with 1,200 entries that are also searchable by subject and other characteristics; a "giving games" section; a "what's new" section; a news room; and more.

While a central theme of Learning to Give is getting involved in one's community, many lesson plans are more directly related to planning issues. Look for keywords like urbanization, community, communities, local government, and more.

Learning to Give