Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Unit Overview:
Unit Purpose:
The purpose of this unit is to introduce learners to the regions of the Earth that are considered deserts. They will explore why it is important to be good stewards of the land both world wide and locally. Learners will “adopt” an area around the school or community and take care of that area. The learners will practice stewardship of the land by adopting a public/common area in their community to care for.
Focus question: How are civic responsibility and the care of public lands related?
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- identify major desert regions around the world.
- identify human and physical characteristics of deserts around the world.
- name at least five major desert regions, and name plants and animals indigenous to that region.
- define stewardship and philanthropy.
- state three reasons for conserving water resources.
- create and implement a plan for cleaning an area of the school or community.
Service Experience:
The learners will develop and implement a plan for cleaning an area of the school or community. They will develop a deeper understanding of volunteering and stewardship for the common good while they donate their time to care for the area.
Unit Assessment:
Learners will be assessed on their mapping skills for accuracy and information; their Plan for Improving a Public Area and cooperatively working together. The teacher will subjectively evaluate all learners throughout the unit. The final assessment will include the learners’ self reflection on the project including how they felt they performed during the activity, and their knowledge of the projects’ importance and its effects.
School/Home Connection:
Our learners are studying deserts around the world and why it’s important to take care of the land. The purpose of the unit is to help them understand that stewardship and conservation are the responsibility of everyone.
Interactive Parent/Student Homework:
Learners will take the maps that were created in class home to share with family members. They will also ask family members if they have visited or lived in a desert region. If so the learner will add the name of the desert to the map and discuss the experience with the family members.
Notes for Teaching:
If you are caring for a community area off school property, you will need to get permission from school officials and parent/guardian permission for the learners to leave the school area.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Clare Friend
Curriculum Consultant
Learning to Give
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