National Philanthropy Day: Needs Leaves

There are needs all around us — in our schools, our neighborhoods, our communities. People need things to feel safe, protected, and healthy, and young philanthropists are capable of noticing those needs and doing something about them. This activity gives students a structured, creative way to practice exactly that: identifying a real need they observe and then thinking through one concrete way they could help address it.

Students fill in four leaves — each with a need they see and a response they could offer — building the observation and empathy muscles that are at the core of every meaningful act of giving. Cut them out and display them in your classroom, and watch what happens: a room full of students who are paying attention, who care, and who are already thinking like the changemakers they're becoming.