Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
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Diverse Voices-African American Ventures
Unit of 5 lessons
Unit Overview:
Unit Purpose:
Students will become familiar with African American humanitarian efforts that promoted philanthropy and had a significant effect on the African American community.
Unit Duration:
Eleven to twelve 45 minute class periods
Unit Objectives:
Students will:
- identify traditional customs of African American giving and sharing in the family and the community.
- give examples of African American sharing and philanthropy.
- investigate and explain how needs dictated the establishment of African American organizations.
Skill Objectives:
The learner will:
- create timelines,
- use maps and bar graphs,
- interpret an original source document,
- participate in a cooperative group research project,
- express thoughts and ideas about a crucial civic issue, and,
- locate places on a local map.
Service Experience:
Although lessons in this unit contain service project examples, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.
- Development of a cartoon strip
- Conducting personal interviews
- Re-enactment of an historical event
- Creation of a Kwanzaa celebration
- Take study trips within the community
Unit Assessment:
- Write a reflective essay using the vocabulary acquired in the lesson.
- Present an oral report from research about African American philanthropists using unit list as a guide.
- Write an invitation to an African American cultural event reflecting philanthropic purposes.
- Recreate historical event about the Underground Railroad,
- Persuasive writing about whether or not certain actions taken reflected philanthropy,
- Written reflection about creation of philanthropic actions performed for Kwanzaa,
- Completion of a timeline of major events of the Civil War
- Listing of African American nonprofit Organizations.
Bibliographical References:
- Altman, Susan. Extraordinary Black Americans. Children's Press, 1989.
- Blume, Judy. Iggie's House. Yearling Books, 1970.
- Burden-Patmon, Denise. Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa. Modern Curriculum Press, 1992.
- Cowen-Fletcher, Jane. It Takes a Village. Scholastic, 1994.
- Ellis, Susan J., and Katherine H. Noyes. By the People: A History of Americans as Volunteers. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1990.
- Hamilton, Virginia. Zeely. 1968.
- Levine, Ellen. If You Traveled the Underground Railroad. Children's Press, 1989.
- Mathis, Sharon Bell. Sidewalk Story. Viking, 1971.
- Medearis, Angela Shelf. The Seven Days of Kwanzaa - How to Celebrate Them. Scholastic, 1994.
- Patrick, Denise Lewis. Red Dancing Shoes. Tambourine Books, 1993.
- Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach. Crown, 1992.
- Ross, Wilma S. Fabulous Facts about the 50 States. Scholastic, 1997.
- Winter, Jeanette. Follow the Drinking Gourd. Dragonfly Books, 1988.
- Yarbrough, Camille. Cornrow. Coward-McCann, Inc., 1979.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed and Piloted By:
Dorothy Rogers
Detroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
2915 E Outer Dr
Detroit, MI 48234
Larry Ray
Detroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
2915 E Outer Dr
Detroit, MI 48234
Ramona Purdy
Detroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
2915 E Outer Dr
Detroit, MI 48234
Sandra Hughes
Detroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
2915 E Outer Dr
Detroit, MI 48234
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Comments
The students developed an understanding of why nonprofit organizations need to raise money. The students at the end of the lesson were able to articulate why people donate money to philanthropic orgaznization and how the community comes together to support each other.