Whether keeping hands in need warm or giving presents to others, Bow Elementary School first-graders have learned how to give a helping hand during the holiday season.

After reading Candace Christiansen’s children’s book, “The Mitten Tree,” students in the six first-grade classes brought in unused mittens and hung them on a tree in the school’s hallway to donate to families in need.

In addition, the classes for the second consecutive year have worked out job contracts with their families to do chores to raise money that will be used to buy gifts so those less fortunate can have happier holidays.

“We wanted to get them presents because they don’t get any from Santa,” said Ben Wheeler, 6.

“It’s nice to give things the kids don’t have, and it’s good to share because they probably don’t get a lot for Christmas,” said first-grader Brianna Boone.

One of the organizers of the two drives was Colleen Snow, a first-grade teacher in her second year at Bow.

“We work really hard in the month or so before Christmas trying to get the kids to think outside of just getting gifts. We want them to think more about giving to others,” she said.

During last year’s job contract project, the first grade raised about $960 that purchased a variety of toys and clothes for needy children. So far this year, Snow said the classes have raised about $800.

“Once they get over the initial excitement of seeing all of the toys, they think about what it’s like for the kids to wake up with gifts under the tree,” said Snow. “At the beginning of the project, a lot of the kids said they could give their old toys, but they think about what it would be like if they got old toys for Christmas. It’s nice to see that growth in the kids.”

The holiday season has brought out the giving nature in all of the students. When Snow first brought up the mitten drive to the class, one student said, “I don’t even have mittens for myself.”

Another student said she had just learned how to make mittens and came to school the next day with a handmade gift for her classmate.

Snow is impressed with the empathy many of the students have shown, she said.

“I have learned that helping other people is better than helping yourself,” said first-grader Casey Cafasso.

“It’s not about giving what you like to other people, it’s about giving what the other people need,” said student Calvin Carey. “A toy isn’t much, but if it’s something that helps that is a lot better.”

When the lights and trees of the holiday season are taken down, the giving doesn’t end for Bow Elementary’s first-graders, as the children make Valentine’s Day cards and are looking to donate some of their artwork to a nursing home in Concord.