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

generationOn

Find Lesson Plans Browse Resources
Our Area's History of Philanthropy
Lesson 2:
printEmail this Lesson
Lesson
Handouts
Academic Standards
Philanthropy Framework
Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Subjects:

Language Arts, Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view
ELA: Communicate; Graphic Organizer; Letter Writing; Reading; Reflection; Research
PHIL: Charity; Civil Society; Common Good; Community; Motivation for Giving; Personal Wealth; Philanthropic Traditions; Time/Talent/Treasure
SOC: Communities; Historical Biographies; Past/Present/Future; Research

Purpose:

Duration:

Three Forty-Five Minute Class Periods

Objectives:

The learner will:

  • identify situations in which meeting basic needs required attention during the area’s early years.

  • describe a philanthropic act that made an impact on the area’s development.

  • examine the life of a prominent local philanthropist.

Service Experience:

Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.
None for this lesson.

Materials:

  • Paper and pencils

  • Chart paper and markers

  • Books and articles about the settling and establishing of the local area. See Bibliographical References for many resources related to Cleveland.

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:

Remind the students that in Lesson One: Meeting Our Daily Needs they learned about how philanthropists act in response to a need. Ask the students to imagine their community before there were houses, schools, parks, libraries, stores and so on. What are the basic needs of a new community? Brainstorm a list of basic needs for a brand-new community.

  • Tell the students that the area they live in once had many needs—it was unsettled and people needed homes, food, good sources of water, schools, libraries, doctors and so on. When people set up a community, the new members of the community contribute time, talent and treasure to establish a nice place to live. In honor of the contributions they have made, some people’s names are used on libraries, hospitals and other public buildings. Name some of the people that are well known in your community’s history. Discuss what they did and why they did it.

  • Read aloud to the students about the settling of your area. Talk about the settling of various neighborhoods by ethnic groups, if applicable. Discuss the importance of charity within a community and how immigrants provided assistance in helping one another adjust to a new country.

  • Guide students as they research and read narrative histories and biographies about prominent members of your community’s history. Student groups choose two people to compare on a Venn diagram. Ask the students to recall details from the reading to fill in the diagram.

  • Student groups present the information on their diagrams. Ask the students to tell why these individuals acted for the common good.

  • Challenge the students to think about why acting philanthropically is good for the community. Have them reflect on the actions of people in their own community before they respond in a group discussion.

Assessment:

Students work in small groups. They choose a prominent philanthropist or a neighborhood leader who contributed to your area’s development. The students work together to compose a letter of thanks to that person which includes a description of the person’s contribution and the legacy of that contribution.

School/Home Connection:

  • Interactive Parent / Student Homework:

Ask students to talk with their families about ways they have been philanthropists/volunteers in the community. The students draw a picture illustrating an experience in which their family helped others. Students will share their illustrations with the class the next day.

Cross-Curriculum Extensions:

  • Invite a speaker from a local charitable organization to visit the classroom and speak to the students.

  • Students brainstorm how their own talents, time and treasure could be devoted to helping others.

Bibliographical References:

  • Cleveland’s Early Leaders Website by Maryalice Johnson and Carole Lechleitner, August 2001. http://www.hb.edu/school/primary/resources/Early_Cleveland/biographies.htm

  • Haddad, Gladys. A Legacy of Stewardship: Flora Stone Mather. Written and produced by Gladys Haddad for Case Western University, College of Arts and Sciences. 23 min. 1997. Videocassette.

  • Johnson, Maryalice. Cleveland: From Settlement to City. Shaker Heights: Hathaway Brown School, 1998.

  • Miller, Carol Poh and Robert Wheeler. Cleveland: A Concise History, 1796-1990. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, 2nd Edition, 1997. ISBN: 0253211476

  • Rose, William Ganson. The Making of a City. Kent State University Press (Reprint Edition), December 1990. ISBN: 0873384288

  • Van Tassel, David D., et al. Dictionary of Cleveland Biography. Indiana University Press, 1996. ISBN: 0253330556

  • Van Tassel, David D. and John J. Grabowski. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Indiana University Press. ISBN: 0253313031

Lesson Developed By:

Maryalice Johnson
n/a
Hathaway Brown School
Shaker Heights, OH 44122

Handouts:

Philanthropy Framework:

Submit a Comment

Unit Contents:

Overview:People Making a Difference Summary

Lessons:

1.
Meeting Our Daily Needs
2.
Our Area's History of Philanthropy
3.
Community Heritage

All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.