Third graders spread holiday cheer through $2 experiment


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UTAH COUNTY -- Lots of folks are generous this time of year, and many of these acts of service are made anonymously.

A third grade teacher in Utah County was willing to share his secret of teaching children the joys of giving - on condition of anonymity. He calls it his $2 science experiment.

For 30 years, Mr. D has been sharing his love of science. But there is something else he believes is more important for his third graders to learn. His class motto: "We are friends to everyone and help each other achieve." This is a principle taught each year through Mr. D's $2 science experiment. Along with giving his 32 students a book at Christmas, each student receives a personal letter with a $2 bill.


It just warms my heart to see the wonderful, thoughtful things that these students have done, not only enriched their life but in turn enriched my experience in being able to see they have really taken this to heart and look to make someone else happy if its only for a moment.

–Mr. D


The note reads, "Daily living involves giving. Please use this small amount to help cheer someone who needs a hand at this special time of year."

So what can you do with just two dollars? You'll be impressed with Mr. D's students and their experiments.

"I am asking anyone that can either match the $2 my teacher gave me to do something good with or exceed it and all the money will be going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation," said Brian, one of Mr. D's third graders.

Natalie had a different idea.

"Me and my mom were looking through the newspaper and we found gloves that were $2," she said. "My mom reminded me that there is a tree at the library that you put mittens on and they take it to people who need it."

Jefferson took a more business-minded approach.

"I am selling hot chocolate for 50 cents a cup and then I am using the money to buy presents for kids in Primary Children's who are staying over Christmas," he said.

It's a homework assignment Mr D. hopes will last a lifetime.

"It just warms my heart to see the wonderful, thoughtful things that these students have done, not only enriched their life but in turn enriched my experience in being able to see they have really taken this to heart and look to make someone else happy if its only for a moment," he said.

A lesson to all of us that doing just a little bit of good goes a long way -- an act that becomes contagious -- that's what the $2 science experiment is really all about.

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Sam Penrod

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