Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
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Unit Overview:
Students explore changes through time both in the past and looking toward the future. The themes of "What a Wonderful World" and timelines run through this unit as students meet seniors and babies and explore the physical changes in the community. Children will participate in discussions with senior citizens to learn more about their community and the people who were part of these communities. Through research, interviewing, and writing, they will learn about changes through time and working for the common good.
Unit Purpose:
The purpose of the lesson is to recognize that the community has changed over time and elderly people have seen some of these changes and can provide different perspectives.
Focus Questions: How has my community changed over time? What have the elderly people seen and done in my community? What great things are the babies of my community going to see and do?
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- recognize that friendships with people of different ages and background are enriching.
- define philanthropy as the sharing of time, talent, and/or treasure for the common good.
- state the concerns of incorrect first impressions.
- conduct an interview with an elderly person.
- write an acrostic poem.
- draw or paint a picture of an elderly person.
- create a slide show set to music.
- read birth announcements in newspapers and write two paragraphs.
- recognize the interconnectedness of people of all ages in a community.
- interview a classmate.
- develop a timeline for a peer through photographs and pictures from magazines.
- recognize and respect the unique qualities of others.
- read and respond to The Little House by Virginia Burton.
- observe the history of the area through pictures and stories.
- draw an old building.
- discuss memories with a senior friend.
- go on a historical tour of the area (or in a museum).
- create a timeline of when major local buildings were constructed.
Service Experience:
Lesson One: Students are teamed up with a resident of a retirement facility with the purpose of establishing a reciprocal relationship. Students come with an attitude of openness. They should be prepared with questions for learning about the other person’s life, but also be ready to share their own information. The teacher can set up several meetings to continue the friendships with the residents or establish a writing relationship. The students will later present their new friends with poems and a slide show of photos set to music.
Lesson Two: Students help out the family of a new baby with a kind act. Within the school community, there may be a family with a new baby who can use some help with yard work, a meal, or a small gift.
Unit Assessment:
Writing and timeline rubrics are provided in each lesson.
The teacher will also evaluate student participation in discussions and projects according level of engagement and willingness to participate.
School/Home Connection:
"Copy-and-Paste" Class/School Newsletter Information Insert
What a wonderful world we live in. We live in a world rich with diversity. In the current unit, "What a Wonderful World," our students will learn from the heritage of our wonderful community. Students will meet and establish a friendship with elderly residents of the community and learn about their perspectives on issues about life and giving back to the community. Students also learn about the potential of babies and choose and carry out a service project for a family with a new baby. The students create several timelines related to growth and change.
Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
- Lesson Two: Students will bring in variety of pictures of themselves to create a timeline of their life.
- Lesson Three: Students will talk to older family members about buildings that have been razed or replaced by newer buildings in their community.
Notes for Teaching:
The students visit a retirement community on Day Four of Lesson One. Prepare for this visit by calling a local facility well in advance and discussing the goals of the project with a manager. Let the manager know that you would like each of your students to get to know one individual through discussion. The manager should be able to arrange the meeting place and choose appropriate guests for the experience. Ideally, this can be a long-term relationship with regular visits or through writing.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed and Piloted By:
Annette Peterson
Pre-service Teacher
Grand Valley State University
Carol Doyle
Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
Saints Peter & Paul School
1433 Hamilton Ave., NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-3226
Jane Herschberger
West Ottawa Public Schools
Glerum Elementary
342 Lakewood Blvd., W
Holland, MI 49424
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.