Middle school students often do not look beyond their own self interest except to see perhaps what their peers are doing so they can be like them. They might even prefer to stay in their safe school environment and not reach out to others except in an athletic competition. During the school week, 6 th , 7 th and 8 th grade learners largely concentrate on their academic subjects and complete their homework. Their parents pick them up or they ride a school bus, often oblivious to the surrounding neighborhood in which their school exists. The weekend comes and they are off to the mall or other students' homes.

Ask them what surrounds their school in the way of organizations, institutions and philanthropic needs, and the response would probably be, “Huh, what's that mean?” or “I dunno.” Yet, at Thanksgiving the whole school collects canned goods for some agency across town. Someone comes from the agency to pick them up, or the school's bus driver delivers them and that's the end of that. But what happens on a week-to-week basis to shake up students' self-centering? What can a middle school or junior high educator do to get adolescents to look outward into the nearby community for its needs?

The following unit will introduce students to philanthropy and the 3 T's: time, talent and treasure and will interest the 6 th , 7 th and 8 th grader into being both a learner in the ways of philanthropy and a server for the common good.

The learner will:

• define and use the vocabulary of philanthropy and service learning.
• describe the importance of philanthropic activities to the common good.
• identify major events in American philanthropic history.
• research and present information on a major event in American history which furthered the development of philanthropy.
• describe resources of time, talent and treasure that contribute to the common good.
• identify the importance of citizenship participation in the community.
• research programs that benefit the community and allow for community service.
• reflect on and evaluate contributions to the common good through acts of philanthropy.

The unit will be assessed through journal writing, teacher observation and group presentations. The journal writing questions will include such things as:

• Show that you demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of philanthropy.
• What are important events in the development of philanthropy in the United States?
• How did the project build a bridge between you and the community in which you served?
• Why is it important to be involved in a project like this?
• How do I see myself in relationship to the community?

• Some key components to the success of this unit are the need for trust, and collaboration skills, to be addressed before the commencement of this unit.
• For more information regarding Philanthropy and the 3 T's (Time/Talent/Treasure) please refer to the Briefing Papers found on the Learning to Give website