Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

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How Did We Help?

Unit of 4 lessons

3rd-5th Grade

Subjects:

Arts, Language Arts, Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

Lesson 1 :	ELA:	Graphic Organizer; Response to Text/Others
	PHIL:	Common Good; Native Americans; Stewardship
	SOC:	Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle; 1 genOn; Environment; Pollution
Lesson 2 :	PHIL:	Common Good
	SOC:	1 genOn; Civil Society; Mayflower Compact
Lesson 3 :	PHIL:	Common Good; Time/Talent/Treasure
	SOC:	1 genOn; Democratic Values; Inquiry; Quakers; Research
Lesson 4 :	ART-VA:	Visual Arts: Create/Communicate
	ELA:	Poor Richard’s Almanack
	PHIL:	Nonprofit Sector
	SOC:	Franklin, Benjamin; 1 genOn; Core Democratic Values; Good Character; Personal Virtue; Primary/Secondary Sources

Unit Overview:

The students will learn about the contributions from four different groups/people to the development of the independent sector through the creation of documents and their work toward furthering the "Common Good." Literature and reprints of documents will be explored to find the connection to the Core Democratic Values and the development of this country, the United States of America.

Unit Purpose:

This unit will introduce early philanthropic behavior in the United States. Lesson One: Native Americans and Giving uses literature to relate the contributions of a native American to the stewardship of the land. Lesson Two: The Mayflower Compact Started It shows how the Mayflower Compact prepared the Pilgrims to act for the common good. Lesson Three: The "Society of Friends" and Society analyzes the work and beliefs of members of the Society of Friends as it affected the common good and reflected Core Democratic Values. Lesson Four: Benjamin Franklin and Life uses the actions and writings of Benjamin Franklin to show how the common good and the independent sector was furthered in the early days of this country.

Unit Objectives:

The learner will:

describe the Native American vision of stewardship and common good as reflected in their care of the earth.
identify how the signers of the Mayflower Compact contributed to the common good.
evaluate whether beliefs and actions of the Quakers helped to further the common good and democratic values.
illustrate how Franklin's writing and actions helped to promote the independent sector and the common good.

Service Experience:

Although lessons in this unit contain service project examples, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

In Lesson Four: Benjamin Franklin and Life the students will create posters using quotes from Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin. The posters will focus on artistic skills by accessing the visual spatial portion of the students' learning. Once the posters are completed they will be preserved and displayed in the school. The students will also decide two other locations to which the posters will be donated.

Unit Assessment:

The students will demonstrate their understanding of the unit and its lessons through the creation of a mind map, an essay, oral discussion and finally a poster. All of the assessments will ultimately evaluate the social studies skills as well as the philanthropic objectives mentioned in the benchmarks.

School/Home Connection:

Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
See Attachment Two: Parent Letter from Lesson Four: Benjamin Franklin and Life for the letter to send home informing the parents of the upcoming creation of the posters. Have them discuss with their child the design of a poster that can be displayed at home and why it would be pertinent.

Notes for Teaching:

A basic understanding of the information of this unit is helpful. If in doubt, check the listed Web sites and review the attachments and literature before teaching. The focus is on the "Common Good" and the historical figures which promoted it.