The learner will:

• define and use the vocabulary of philanthropy.
  
• list and describe how volunteer groups act for the common good.

Anticipatory Set:
Write “philanthropy” on the board.  Have the learners write down what they might recall or think the word means. Give them about two minutes to write something down, and then ask for volunteers to share their ideas and write their responses.

Optional: Show segment one of the video What is Philanthropy? In this brief video people are asked to guess the meaning of philanthropy.

Teacher Note: This video can be viewed at
http://learningtogive.org/videos/what_is_phil_large.asp

• Use the following as a definition of philanthropy:  the giving of one’s time, talent, or treasure and taking action for the sake of another or for the common good.  Give learners Attachment One: Philanthropic Terms.
  
  
• Divide the class into five groups and, without the other groups hearing, assign two concepts to each group.  They are to discuss the concepts quietly among themselves, and think of a way they can portray the terms so others can guess the concepts they are trying to act out – Philanthropy Charades!  After each group has performed and all concepts are portrayed, ask the learners what all of the concepts have in common.  Point out that these are all words associated with philanthropy/philanthropists.
  
  
• Focusing on the term common good.  Tell the class that people who are philanthropic often form associations that protect and/or enhance the common good. These associations are called nonprofit organizations.  They will be investigating some of the organizations.
  
  
• As a class, brainstorm all of the volunteer agencies they know that act for the common good. After they have brainstormed, students are to return to their previous small group.  Hand each group a local telephone book.  Ask the learners to look in the Yellow Pages under Human Services and Social Services to see if the volunteer agencies that they listed as a class are in their local area.
  
  
• Ask each group to list at least five additional agencies found in the phone books and what services they might offer for the common good. As a whole class, have the learners share the agencies they have identified, add these to the original list if they are not already on it.
  
  
• Ask the students if they can identify which of the listed agencies are government agencies and which might be nonprofit organizations.  Tell the students that the nonprofit sector often supplies services that the government cannot or chooses not to provide.

Assign students to research one of the volunteer agencies that the groups listed and find out about its history, mission statement, and its programs. The information could be used to create an informational poster to teach their classmates about the organization.