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Getting the Hang of Philanthropy
Lesson 1:
From Unit Diverse Voices-African American Ventures
Purpose:
Students will demonstrate an understanding of philanthropy and interview family members concerning individual and community action which changes lives for the better.
Duration:
Three to Four Forty-Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- identify examples of philanthropy in the family and community.
- describe the economic impact of philanthropy on the family and community.
- compare volunteer activities people do today with activities done in an earlier time.
Service Experience:
Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.
After completing this lesson, students will reinforce their concept of service to family and community and will understand the importance of the things they and others do voluntarily.
Materials:
- Vocabulary List
- Construction paper
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Chart paper
Vocabulary Words Used in This Lesson:
- community
- family
- service
- volunteer
- philanthropy
- care
- share
Teacher Background Information:
Philanthropy has always been deeply rooted in the Black community. Even on the Middle Passage, various individuals attempted to lessen pain and inhumane conditions. During slavery "surrogate mothers" informally adopted children who had been torn from their natural mothers. This care of abandoned children has always continued so that it is not unusual to see children being raised by aunts, uncles and grandparents. The sharing of food during slavery is a practice that continues today. Free societies and the church were and are dominant forces in the African American community. Students should be reminded that money is not the only means by which philanthropy exhibits itself in the African American community.
Instructional Procedure(s):
- Anticipatory Set:
- Share one of the books from the materials list by reading it to the class or assign the book to students as additional reading with a group, partner, or individually. Ask students, how did family members show caring and sharing toward one another? Lead a discussion about family, family interaction, needs, wants, caring, sharing, and jobs within the family. Prompt students by asking if they have any chores or errands that they do around the house. Are these chores done for pay or to just help? Do students think that they are doing these things as volunteers? Why or why not?
- Divide the students into groups of three to four and have them work on charts entitled, "Caring, Sharing, and Volunteering". Have teams divide their papers into three columns. Write the three headers, "Caring," "Sharing," and "Volunteering" at the top of the columns. Instruct students to illustrate each word using examples from the previous discussion.
- Have student teams prepare a list of services that do not require payment. Invite students to compare their charts with the other groups to determine which jobs would receive payment/non payment.
- Ask students to interview parents or a caretaker to determine how things were done when they were younger. A list of questions may include:
- What type of things did you do for others?
- What kinds of responsibilities did you have?
- Was your community better because people helped out more?
- What did others do to help out?
- How do you think it made the person who was helping feel?
- Did the people helping expect to be paid?
- What can children do now to make things better for the community?
- Construct an interdependency web to identify people the students depend on and why. Have students name at least three people.
- Brainstorm about how life would be different if payment was required for each thing that a family member does as a day-to-day family responsibility.
- Allow each student to construct a colorful balloon in a shape that they want and write one word that they feel reflects the answer to "What is Philanthropy?" Display the balloons within the classroom for students to use as a reference point for further activities.
- Have students create a story or comic strip on construction paper about volunteering within the family. (It may be similar to the soft sculpture displayed in Tar Beach.)
Ask students to think of the things that they do in and around school to help out. Ask them how they feel after doing these things. When they are doing these things, do they think that they are performing a service for others? Why or why not? What are some of the things that students can do to help others that do not require payment?
Assessment:
Students will write one to two paragraphs to explain how this lesson made them feel. Students should use the vocabulary words (family, service, volunteer, philanthropy, community, care, and share in their reflections) from the lesson in their answers.Scoring Rubric for Reflection Assessment
| Score 1 | Score 2 | Score 3 | Score 4 |
| Shows a response | Response uses 2 words from list | Response uses 3 words from list | Response uses 4 words from list |
Extension:
- Art - Balloon construction
- Math - Chart construction
- Language Arts - Written reflections, charts, interviews, and journals
Bibliographical References:
- Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach. Crown (1992): p28.
- Patrick, Denise Lewis. Red Dancing Shoes. Tambourine Books (1993): p32.
Lesson Developed and Piloted by:
Dorothy RogersDetroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
Detroit, MI 48234
Larry Ray
Detroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
Detroit, MI 48234
Ramona Purdy
Detroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
Detroit, MI 48234
Sandra Hughes
Detroit Public Schools
Van Zile Elementary School
Detroit, MI 48234
Handouts:
Unit Contents:
Overview:Diverse Voices-African American Ventures Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Getting the Hang of Philanthropy
- 2.
- Piece of Bread (A)
- 3.
- It's a Matter of Freedom
- 4.
- Underground Railroad—People Get Ready...There's a Train a Comin'
- 5.
- It's All in the Making—Our Local Organizations
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Comments
(The positive aspect of using this lesson was) students learned about a variety of things. They were able to see examples of philanthropy in every activity that was done.
(The positive aspect of using this lesson was) teaching the students about caring, sharing, and volunteering.
For my students, it was the first time they had heard "philanthropy." After discussing various examples of philanthropy, the children came away with the feeling of being philanthropists. They do many things that exhibit kindness and caring towards mankind. Some of them are quite active through church, but never really thought about how important what they do is. Great introduction to vocabulary used throughout the unit. Gets children thinking about how they and their families are philanthropists. They do more than they think. It aligned with curriculum. benchmarks.
The lesson made the students rethink their behavior and express desires to change and want to learn more. Many said they enjoyed the lesson and hope we do more.