Access to fresh, healthy food is something that many people take for granted. You can help your elementary students understand the value of fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need by starting a school garden. Assign tasks to each student so that everyone contributes to preparing the soil, choosing and planting foods, maintaining the crops as they grow and harvesting them when they are ready. Once you have gathered some fresh food, you can donate it to a local shelter with a card from your students.
There are thousands of children in the United States whose families may not be able to afford new toys. Since many students have spare toys lying around their homes, conducting a toy drive is a simple and effective method for teaching children about the needs of others while helping families clear out a bit of no-longer needed items. Ask your students to look for toys, games and stuffed animals they no longer play with. Students should clean these toys up and make sure they are still in working condition, then bring them into school. Your class can donate the toys to a children’s charity.
Litter is an ugly element in both parks and school playgrounds. Students should learn that they are partly responsible for their environment, and the effects that litter can have on wildlife and the local ecosystem. Organize your class and plan a field trip to a nearby park to conduct some simple clean-up activities. Students can split into groups and compete to gather the most litter with the winner taking home a small prize or award. This activity is best left to older elementary students, as litter pick-up can sometimes be dangerous.
Keeping a school safe is the job of not only teachers and administrators, but also students. Talk to your class about ways they can help to keep the school safe. Example ideas include acting as crosswalk guards, monitoring playgrounds for safe play, enforcing safety rules in the hallway and escorting students to and from cars during pick-up or drop-off times. Assign roles to each student and allow him or her to participate in making the school a safer place for everyone.