Volunteer Coupon Packets

Who could use a helping hand in your family, neighborhood, or school? Put together coupon books for doing good deeds for others—they’re the best gifts of all!

• 1.

  What can you do to help people in your neighborhood? How could you lend a hand at school or home? Your family, teachers, or neighbors will really appreciate these books of coupons for things you can do for them.

• 2.

  <STRONG>Who and what?</STRONG> With Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils, make a list of people you know who would appreciate a volunteer (that’s you!). What kind of assistance would they like? Perhaps a neighbor needs help to carry in groceries or would like a recipe for your favorite ethnic dish. Would someone who is sick or lonely enjoy a visit or a card game? What good deeds could you do at home or school?

• 3.

  <STRONG>Create coupons</STRONG>. With Crayola Scissors, cut construction paper into several Good Deeds coupons for each person on your list. Using Crayola Metallic Colored Pencils, draw coupons with stubs and decorate their borders. Write tasks on the coupons. Punch two holes on the stub line. Hold coupons in a book with chenille stems, ribbons, or brass paper fasteners.

• 4.

  <STRONG> Volunteer!</STRONG> Follow through with all of your coupons! Make more when these are finished. Show you care about others.

Benefits

• Students explore concepts of neighborhood and volunteerism.
• Students empathize with needs of people who would appreciate volunteer assistance.
• Students commit to aiding others by compiling and implementing a coupon book of good deeds.

Adaptations

• Organize a good neighbor movement at school. Kick off with an assembly. Visit other classrooms to help younger children make coupon books. Throw a wrap-up party inviting everyone who participated.
• Older students compare neighborly interactions of today with those of past through oral histories or nonfiction accounts.
• Assessment: Children record completion of their good deeds on a chart.