K-5 Clubs Curriculum

A flexible 9-lesson club program for grades K–5, designed for afterschool and out-of-school settings. Young learners discover their 3Ts (time, talent, treasure), explore community needs, and design and execute a real service project together. Each 20–30 minute session builds empathy, teamwork, and the confidence to take action — one philanthropist at a time.

Educator Resources

Facilitator Guide

Comprehensive program guide with facilitation tips, multi-age strategies, book list, vocabulary games, guest speaker resources, project ideas, nonprofit lists, and planning appendices.

Prep Week Guide

Facilitator guide for introductory prep sessions, building excitement and curiosity about philanthropy before lessons begin. Includes activity cards, bookmarks, and a family letter.

K-5 Clubs Appendices

The full appendix library for K–5 Clubs: facilitation tips, games, guest speakers, project ideas, and printable planning tools.

Curriculum Lessons

Lesson 1:

Philanthropy and the 3Ts

Students discover their 3Ts and explore philanthropy through a read-aloud and a hands-on gift-making activity for a fellow group member.

Lesson 2:

See It to Be It!

Club members meet a real-life philanthropist, hear how they use their 3Ts, and reflect on their own capacity to give back to the community.

Lesson 3:

Community Before Self

Students build philanthropy vocabulary through the 'I Have...Who Has?' card game, then explore community needs and services through a Berenstain Bears read-aloud.

Lesson 4:

Discovering Needs

Students connect personal passions to community needs through a read-aloud of One of Us and brainstorm service project ideas as a group.

Lesson 5:

Design a Service Project

Students choose their Project Heart and apply the design thinking process — Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test — to plan their service project.

Lesson 6:

Set Goals and Make a Plan

Students set SMART goals, assign team roles, and begin using the Project Planner to map out their service project action steps.

Lesson 7:

Use Your 3Ts to Make a Difference

Action teams check in on progress and continue working on their service project, using the Project Planner and revisiting their SMART goals when stuck.

Lesson 8:

Help Your Team Finish the Project

Action teams return to project work focused on collaboration and follow-through, checking in on progress and preparing for successful completion.

Lesson 9:

Celebrate Growing to Give!

Club members celebrate their service project, reflect on growth and challenges, and practice philanthropy one final time by writing heartfelt thank-you notes.

Need Ideas? See What's Possible.

From aluminum foil cat toys to 3D-printed medical devices, students across the country are turning their passions into powerful community impact. The Project Ideas section showcases real student projects organized by cause—complete with book recommendations, downloadable activities, and partner connections. Whether your students care about animals, the environment, seniors, or social justice, you'll find concrete examples and practical resources to spark their next meaningful project.