Can a few cents revitalize a community?
Around the world, millions of talents go to waste because people lack the resources to get started. In 2006, Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his innovative idea of microlending to help impoverished communities. In this project, students will learn how microlending can be an incredibly powerful force for good. Your class will raise and lend money to entrepreneurs in developing nations who are trying to make a positive impact on the world!
Imagine if thousands of kids just like yours, all around the country, made small investments today that would have an immense impact on communities around the world. What an incredible way to make the world a better place!
What’s included in your project?
Project Plan and Resources
Learning Targets
Lesson 1: Students begin to understand the concept of microlending.
Lesson 2: Students research microlending stories.
Lesson 3: Students perform puppet plays depicting their own creative microlending success stories.
Lesson 4: Students discuss and debate to select a loan request to fund.
Lesson 5: Students consider audience when pitching their fundraising ideas.
Lesson 6: Students discuss and debate to plan a fundraiser.
Lesson 7: Students look for ways to refine their fundraiser.
Lesson 8: Students conduct a successful fundraiser and fund the microloan request.
For lesson descriptions, download the project overview.
For K–8 content connections, download the content correlations.
Online Resources
Interactive Games and Activities
- Fish Out of Water Game*
- The Ax that Jack Bought Puppet Skit Script
- The F.U.N. Part Activity
- Ultimate Fish Catcher of Doom Instructions
Websites and Videos
- KIVA.org
- Video: Class Playing Fish Out of Water
- Video: Microlending Success Story: Betty
- Video: Microlending Success Story: Karry, Aaron & Charlane
- Video: Microlending Success Story: Mary Ann
- Video: Jean-Pierre’s Story
- Video: Rethinking How We Give
- Video: Shark Tank Clips
- Virtual Fundraising Ideas
Additional Resources
- Blue Apple Fundraiser Ideas*
- Blue Apple Press Release Tips
- Fundraiser Pitch Assistant
- Home Letter
- How to Make Toast Poster
- Lend a Hand Vocabulary
- Recommended Book List
- Reflection Journal
- Student Assessment Rubric
- Teacher Assessment Rubric
- Voting Stars Resource
All lessons include:
- In-person, virtual, and hybrid options
- Modifications for primary grade students and/or emerging readers
About the Author
Angela Marzilli
PreK-12 STEM and PBL Coordinator
South Portland High
South Portland, ME
Each Blue Apple Project Includes:
- Engaging lessons designed to make learning memorable, meaningful, and fun
- Curated online resources to save you time searching for content
- In-person, virtual, and hybrid options for all learning environments
- Cross-curricular mini-lessons in English-Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Social-Emotional Learning
- Videos and contact info provided by real-world experts willing to meet with your students
- Opportunities to collaborate with other classrooms doing the same project
- Free project supplies to get you started right away
