Groups will collaborate to identify significant events and organizations in American history that involve philanthropy and share their findings with other student groups within the school.
Six Forty-Minute Class Periods
The learner will:
- identify major events in American philanthropic history.
- research and present information on a major event in American history which furthered the development of philanthropy.
None for this lesson.
Anticipatory Set:
Ask students to recall their earliest memory of philanthropy. It can be something that they observed, did for someone else or were recipients. Ask them to approximate the year in which the memory occurred (i.e., giving money to Salvation Army bell ringers as a 4 year old in 1993). As a group, silently get in chronological order of the year the memory occurred. The learners will need to use other modes of communication to achieve this. Once the students are ready, ask each person to share his/her earliest memory. Note the year and age of earliest memory.Day One:
State that the United States has a “memory” or history of philanthropy. Then have the group brainstorm a list of significant organizations or events in America that have shaped philanthropy in America. Record the events on chart paper. Try to apply years or time periods, if possible.
Distribute student copies of Roots of Philanthropy in the United States ( Attachment One ). Check for correlations between the learner-generated timeline and the general timeline. Decide on one organization or significant event in philanthropic history that is of interest to the entire group for research purposes.
Days Two through Four
As a group, research the topic chosen. Look for specific information such as:
why this event was significant;
the situations and background information that led to the specific event or organization;
the effect of the event or organization on American philanthropy;
individual(s) who played a significant role as well as the year(s) of the event or organization;
other relevant information.
Prepare a five-minute presentation of the information researched. All group members must play an active role in the presentation. A visual on chart paper including the date(s) of the event or inception of the organization across the top is required. The more creative and interactive, the more interesting the presentation will be for the learner.
Days Five and Six:
Gather all advisory groups together. Ask each group to present its information. As groups are presenting, every learner is to write two main ideas from each presentation. At the end of each presentation, provide an opportunity for students to ask questions of the presenters.
Post visuals in chronological order around the room after the presentations. If possible, after all presentations are completed, post them on a bulletin board in the hallway during study of the entire unit.
The journal entries recording two main ideas from each presentation will assess learning in this lesson.
Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
After the first day, the learner will follow up the discussion with his/her parents from Lesson One: What Is Service Learning? This follow-up should include a discussion of what the family can do together that fits the theme of philanthropy.
None for this lesson.
Burlingame, Dwight. “History of Philanthropy.” The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 2003. http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu
Lesson Developed and Piloted by:
Carolyn Lausch1787: Federalist #10 , James Madison
1789-91: U.S. Constitution : 1 st Amendment, Freedom of Assembly and Speech
1817: Dartmouth College Case
1835: Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
1848: Girard College Case
1861: U.S. Sanitary Commission
1867: First modern foundation established, Peabody Foundation
1889: Andrew Carnegie publishes Wealth and Jane Addams establishes Hull House
1907: Russell Sage Foundation established
1913: Modern Community Chest movement begins in Cleveland
Exempt Organizations Established in Rev. Act
Income Tax started with 16 th Amendment
1935: Social Security Act: Corporations can deduct charitable contributions up to 5%
1952: Cox Committee
1953: Barlow vs. A.P. Smith
1954: Brown vs. The Board of Education
1960: $10.92 billion estimated total giving for the year
1969: Tax Reform Act: Punitive provisions on foundations
1975: Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs
1980: Independent Sector Established
Created by Dr. Dwight F. Burlingame
Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.