Encourage your third-graders to care for their community by participating in community service activities, which will also instill a sense of initiative. Have a trash clean-up day where your third-graders walk through the school and the outside campus picking up any trash they see. Encourage your third-graders to help out in the lunchroom by showing younger children how to separate their trash and place recyclables in the proper receptacle. Assign classroom responsibilities so each student takes charge of an important job, such as turning off the lights or organizing classroom supplies. These activities teach students the value of helping others and working together.
Give your third-graders a mission to take pride in their school by always being on the lookout for things they can do to help build a sense of community. Third-graders can do simple things like tell you when they see another student doing something wrong, or they can take part in larger school-wide activities, such as planting flowers in front of the school building. Encourage your third-graders to notify you or another teacher if they see something that needs to be fixed, such as a burned-out light bulb or a broken toilet. Remind your students to show fellow students respect by using good manners, and praise them when they offer to help you do things like pass out papers or sharpen pencils.
Help build a sense of compassion in your third-graders by taking them to visit nursing homes or children's hospitals. Plan to sing songs, pass out handmade art projects or play games with the patients. Your third-graders will learn that older people and sick children are just as valuable as they are, and they will also gain empathy and understanding for others. Back in the classroom, discuss how the visit made your students feel and talk about other ways they can help people in need.
Partner with the teacher of a younger grade level so that you can pair your third-graders with younger students to do activities together. Your third-graders will gain leadership skills by helping younger students practice their reading skills, do an art project or play a game. Plan regular times to have your third-graders interact with their younger buddies so they have many opportunities to build their leadership skills. Consider taking the younger students on your visits to nursing homes and children's hospitals so they can see their third-grade buddies treating the patients with respect and can learn to mimic these positive behaviors.