The Gift of Reading: Organizing a Book Donation in the Classroom

• Develop community awareness
• Enhance self-esteem
• Help others
• Practice writing skills

• Chart paper and markers
• Children Just Like Me by Bamabas Kindersley
• Drawing paper
• Pencils, markers, and crayons
• Decorated cardboard box for book collection

• Have a discussion about some of the ways children can help others. How are we part of a community? A classroom? A family? A hometown? The world? What can children do to help each community? List ideas on a sheet of chart paper. Explain to children that their ideas for helping the community are gifts from the heart. These gifts make a difference in the world without having to be purchased in a store.
• Read aloud Children Just Like Me by Bamabas Kindersley and discuss the similarities and differences in the illustrations. Explain to the class that they are going to collect books for less fortunate children who don’t have books available to them.
• Explain that students will write notes about why they like the books that will be included in the donation. Is a book a funny story? What do they like about the illustrations? Are the characters nice? Is there a lot of action?
• Before placing the books in the collection box, have students share their books and thoughts with the class. Pass out paper and have students draw pictures or write why they like their books. (Remember: Some children will need you to write their words for them. Since five and six year olds are the center of their own universes, it is especially important to have lots of conversations about how they can help others and that they can make a difference in the world.)
• Attach the notes to the donated books and place them in the box. Send the notes and books to an organization that will give them to disadvantaged children.

The teacher should look for an understanding of the service project and how it benefitted the recipients. The student should be able to answer the question, “Why did we do this project?”

Help the class make a mural showing all the good deeds children can do. Have the heading read: "KIDS CAN DO!" Use ideas from the brainstormed list of ways children can help others. Remind students that they can do these projects and acts of kindness on their own. Keep the mural up and apply the ideas at other times during the school year.

FURTHER READING
Three Cheers For Catherine The Great! by Cari Best
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney