Through the use of a fable, learners will understand that the giving of their time, talent and treasure will improve the quality of life in their communities.

The learner will:

• describe how characters reveal traits about themselves and their values in a fable.
• recognize family and personal traditions of giving.
• analyze the implications for a community of a lifespan of philanthropic giving.

Anticipatory Set:

Review the definitions of philanthropy, time, talent and treasure.

• Distribute Time, Talent, Treasure Recording Sheet (Attachment One). Read the book, The Quilt Maker’s Gift to the class. As the story is being read, the learners should complete Part One of the worksheet.
  
  
• In a whole group format, discuss the information gleaned from the story and recorded on the sheets. Emphasize the ways in which characters reveal traits about themselves and their values.
  
  

• Have the learners complete Part Two, showing how families contribute time, talents or treasure to their communities, and Part Three showing how the learners can contribute time, talent and treasure to the betterment of family life in the community. Is it possible that some families have developed a philanthropic tradition of giving over the years? Give examples.
  
  
• Lead a discussion on how use of time, talent or treasure might change over one’s lifespan (birth to death, teen years, early adulthood, middle adulthood, retirement). Illustrate this on the chalkboard by creating a timeline showing the changes in the giving of time, talent and treasure over one’s lifespan.
  
  
• Using paper and colored pencils, students sketch a quilt block that represents the philanthropic idea of giving in the story. Display the sketches.

Brumbeau, Jeff. The Quiltmaker’s Gift. Illustrated by Gail de Marcken. NY: Scholastic Inc., 2001. ISBN: 0439309107