The Search Institute

Search Institute is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities. To accomplish this mission, the Institute generates and communicates new knowledge, and brings together community, state, and national leaders.

At the heart of the Institute's work is the framework of 40 Developmental Assets, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

Resources developed by Learning to Give encompass several of the assets.

INTERNAL ASSETS
Positive Values	26. Caring	Children are encouraged to help other people.
	27. Equality and social justice	Children begin to show interest in making the community a better place.
	28. Integrity	Children begin to act on their convictions and stand up for their beliefs.
	29. Honesty	Children begin to value honesty and act accordingly.
	30. Responsibility	Children begin to accept and take personal responsibility for age-appropriate tasks.

Excerpted from the 40 Developmental Assets for Elementary-Age Children, found at
http://www.search-institute.org/developmental-assets-tools

Asset 27, "making the community a better place," is also a critical philanthropy concept. Learning to Give incorporates this value in many lessons, including a K-2 unit entitled "Philanthropy is Phun!" The first lesson in this unit provides experiences for students outside the classroom.

HOW?

• Students choose from an A - Z "menu" of philanthropic activities, including:
A: applaud someone for doing a great job
D: donate a book to your library
V: volunteer to help out at a school function

• During the course of the year, students will choose various activities they can do at home that involve some type of philanthropic action. The goal is to complete at least half of the list.

• Students record their accomplishments using different methods throughout the year—from orally sharing with the class to writing an account of the experience.

• Students keep track of their projects by dating and storing them in a Philanthropy folder.