Teaching Generosity: A Classroom Activity on Time, Talent, and Treasure
Helping students understand generosity in concrete, age-appropriate ways is one of the most effective ways to spark lifelong habits of service. A simple framework—Time, Talent, and Treasure—gives youth language for the many ways they can give, beyond just writing a check. This activity is designed for grades 4–8 and helps students recognize what they already have to offer, while fostering critical thinking and empathy.
The Activity: Sorting Examples of Time, Talent, and Treasure
The goal is for students to sort real-life examples into categories of Time, Talent, and Treasure. Many of the examples can fit into multiple categories, which sparks discussion and reflection about the many ways generosity shows up in our lives.
Sample examples include:
Helping design a nonprofit’s website (Talent)
Serving a meal at a soup kitchen (Time)
Shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor (Time)
Sharing a nonprofit’s post on social media (Talent or Time)
Dropping spare change in a donation bucket (Treasure)
Find more examples here!
Option 1: Kahoot Game
Load the examples into a Kahoot quiz with “Time,” “Talent,” and “Treasure” as answer choices. Students play in small teams and discuss why they sorted each example the way they did, learning that generosity takes many forms.
Option 2: Room Race
Create three labeled buckets—one each for Time, Talent, and Treasure—and two sets of cards with the examples. Divide the class into teams and have students race to sort the examples into the most appropriate buckets. Afterward, review their placements together and reflect on the diversity of giving. Download printable example cards here: Time, Talent, Treasure Examples
This activity not only cements the concepts of Time, Talent, and Treasure but also empowers students to see how they can already make a difference. By recognizing their own capacity to give, youth shift from passive observers to active contributors in their communities.
If you’d like more tools and activities like this, consider bringing Magnified Giving’s Youth Philanthropy Program to your school or program. You’ll equip your students to discover their ability to lead, give, and make an impact. Learn more at www.magnifiedgiving.org/youth-philanthropy-program.