Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
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Purpose:
Learners will identify and investigate local and national nonprofit organizations by researching their histories, services, and target populations, as well as job opportunities using the Action without Borders/Idealist.org web site, www.idealist.org.
This lesson has been adapted from the 3-5 grade Learning to Give unit "Nonprofits in Our World and Community" found at http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit56/.
Duration:
Two Forty-Five-Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- research a nonprofit organization.
- explore nonprofit mission statements, activities, and career opportunities
Service Experience:
The learners create and display informational posters in a school display area so that other learners may gain information about nonprofits.
Materials:
- Internet Sites of Nonprofit Organizations (Attachment One)
- Information Recording Sheet (Attachment Two)
- Computer access to the Action without Borders/Idealist.org web site, www.idealist.org
- Large paper or poster board and markers or crayons for the poster
- Reporting Notes (Attachment Three)
- Optional: Teacher supplied informational brochures on local nonprofits
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Ask learners to recall Lesson One by writing down the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the word "nonprofit." Review the definition of "nonprofit.". Have learners compare what they wrote with the definition. Clarify understanding if necessary.
Day One:
Ask each student to select a nonprofit organization to research. These can be selected from the Action Without Borders/Idealist.org web site, www.idealist.org. By clicking on "Kid and Teens" on the left side of the homepage and then clicking on "Organizations Started by Kids," students can access a list of nonprofit organizations, along with their web site links, founded by children. Organizations can also be selected from Internet Sites of Nonprofit Organizations list (Attachment One). These organizations can be researched by using the Advance Search feature on www.idealist.org. Have the learners access www.idealist.org (no log in, user name or password required). Under "Advanced Searches," click on "Organizations," and select an "Area of Focus" according to their interests. The search option will indicate any jobs or internships available in the organization, and link to the organization’s web site.
Give each student a copy of the Information Recording Form (Attachment Two) for guidance in doing the research.
Ascertain that students understand opportunities to be involved in the work of nonprofits can be as a volunteer (unpaid), as an intern (may be paid or unpaid), or as an employee (paid).
Day Two:
After the Reporting Notes have been completed, the students should create an informative poster about their nonprofit.
Students should complete and display the posters.
Ask the class to do a "walk about" to view the information presented on the posters. Each learner will be responsible for taking notes, recorded on Reporting Notes Form (Attachment Three) and turned in to the teacher for assessment.
If time, allow students to share their responses to the last question on the Reporting Notes about the organization for which they would like to volunteer or work.
Assessment:
Learners will be assessed based on the completion and quality of the research recording Forms, the Reporting Notes, and the poster. The poster should include the organization’s name, mission statement, and a few facts from the research that represent the essence of the nonprofit. This should be presented in way that it effectively represents and communicates information about the nonprofit.
Bibliographical References:
- Action Without Borders/Idealist.org: : http://www.idealist.org
- Learning to Give, , www.learningtogive.org
Lesson Developed and Piloted by:
Dennis VanHaitsmaCurriculum Consultant
Learning to Give
Barbara Dillbeck
Curriculum Director
The LEAGUE Curriculum by Learning to Give
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Internet Sites of Nonprofit Organizations
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Handout 2Print Handout 2
Information Recording Form
Name: _________________________________ Date: ___________________
- Name of the nonprofit ________________________________________________________
- Date founded and by whom ___________________________________________________
- Why founded? ____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ - What population does this nonprofit serve (i.e., homeless, drug addiction, hungry, youth, etc.)?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ - What is the nonprofit’s mission. ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ - What goods or services are provided by this nonprofit organization?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
- How many people are served by this organization?
_________________________________________________________________________- How is this nonprofit organization funded (i.e., federal government, grants, etc.)?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________- What are some of the important accomplishments of this nonprofit?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
- What are some of the challenges for this nonprofit organization?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________- What job(s) is available in this nonprofit organization?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________- What are the qualifications required for the job?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________- Would you like to have a job with this nonprofit? YES NO
Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ - How many people are served by this organization?
Handout 3Print Handout 3
Reporting Notes
Name___________________________________________ Date________________
Read the information displayed on the nonprofit organization posters created by your classmates. Look for organizations with which you might like to be involved in the future, either as a volunteer or as a paid employee. Fill in information on this form for eight of the organizations and then respond to the last question.
1. Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________
Imporant Information
2. Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________
Imporant Information 3. Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________ Imporant Information 4. Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________ Imporant Information 5. Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________ Imporant Information 6.Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________ Imporant Information 7.Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________ Imporant Information 8. Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________ Imporant Information 9. Name of Nonprofit ________________________________________________ Imporant Information From the information displayed on the posters, at which organization(s) might you want to volunteer or be employed?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Why?___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Unit Contents:
Overview:Nonprofits and Careers Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Nonprofit or For-Profit?
- 2.
- Investigating Nonprofits
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