Middle School Curriculum
A project-based 10-lesson curriculum for grades 6–8. Students explore personal passions, create philanthropic mission statements, and design and execute real community impact projects using their time, talent, and treasure. Each 20–30 minute lesson builds critical thinking, collaboration, and a lifelong commitment to giving back.
Educator Resources
Educator Guide
Comprehensive program guide covering Project Heart's philosophy, Common Core and NCSS standards alignment, pre/post assessment tools, best practice teaching strategies, and a recommended 10-week implementation timeline.
Student Assessment
Pre/post 20-question assessment measuring philanthropy vocabulary, SMART goals, and action planning. Includes vocabulary matching, short-answer questions, and a bonus mission statement writing prompt.
Curriculum Lessons
What Does Philanthropy Mean in Your Life?
Students connect philanthropy to daily life, define key vocabulary, explore their 3Ts, and discover how charitable foundations create community impact.
How Can YOU Make a Difference With Your 3Ts?
Students explore how their 3Ts can support nonprofits by researching organizations across six cause categories. Students then identify personal ways to contribute.
Which Personal Passions Drive Your Mission?
Students identify personal passions, create visual mind maps of how those passions connect to helping others, and craft their own philanthropic mission statements.
Impacting Others Locally, Nationally, and Globally
Students explore local, national, and global philanthropy, research needs at each level, and identify how their 3Ts can create impact beyond their immediate community.
What Is Your Plan to Make a Difference NOW?
Students design project flyers in teams, vote on ideas in a gallery walk, and plan how to share their cause with the community.
What Is the End Goal for Positive Impact?
Students research nonprofits across six cause categories, create end goals for a class project, and vote on a shared mission for community impact.
SMART Goals Improve Impact and Help You Persevere
Students create SMART goals for their class project, brainstorm strategies for overcoming obstacles, and identify ways to keep collaborators motivated throughout the project.
What Support Do I Need and Who Will Help?
Students synthesize project goals into a written outreach plan, drafting letters and a grant proposal to secure people, resources, and funding for their project.
Executing Your Plan for Positive Impact
Students finalize preparations for their class project, provide progress updates, complete last-minute planning, and develop a strategy for documenting and sharing their impact story.
Celebrate and Continue Your Efforts!
Students present evidence of their project, reflect on how the experience impacted them personally, and calculate the potential ripple effect of continuing their philanthropic efforts.
