Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
The LEAGUE
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Unit Overview:
The three lessons will teach learners the importance of giving charity. The unit will focus on the idea of giving to others through Biblical laws, stories, modern biographies, and Rabbinical interpretations. Students will participate in group discussions and creative activities and that will foster an appreciation for giving charity and the rewards derived from it.
Unit Purpose:
In the modern era, charity is often an essential component of the community. Children are often bombarded with television advertisements, billboards, articles and stories of charities. Many times, young people do not understand the concept of giving charities, the origins or the importance. These lessons are intended to give the students an overview of what charity is, why it is important, how to give it, to whom to give it, and the benefits of giving it.
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- identify and understand the Eight Levels of Charity.
- understand the rationale for each of the Eight Levels of Charity and the hierarchical order of them.
- identify and learn about community, national, and/or worldwide organizations that help people find jobs and careers.
- participate in an activity that he/she will identify as achieving one of the Eight Levels of Charity.
- understand the concepts of ma’aser ani, leket, and peah -acts of charity in farming.
- read the story of Ruth, and identify the charitable acts of Boaz.
- identify and understand the non-monetary rewards of giving charity, according to the Bible.
- identify the source and understand the concept of giving 10% of one’s earnings to charity.
- understand the order of giving charity; first to one’s poor relatives, then to the needy of the town, and then to the needy of other towns.
- identity and make application of this concept to modern day life.
- participate in a Charity Expo. (Teacher Note: This is a charity activity that includes the learner raising his/her own money, helping to select the organizations to receive the money, and deciding how to allocate the money to these selected organizations.)
Service Experience:
Students will participate in two philanthropic activities. Students will volunteer at a local charitable organization while following Rambam’s Eight Levels of Charity. Students will also participate in a Charity Expo, raising money in order to give the money to organizations of their choice.
Unit Assessment:
The learner will be assessed during each class through written materials, class discussions, group participation, and involvement in the Charity Expo.
School/Home Connection:
See individual lesson plans for recommended School/Home Connections.
Notes for Teaching:
- It will be helpful for the teacher to review the bibliographical references for background information.
- Prior to the start of lesson three, obtain a listing of Charitable Organizations in your community. This listing could be obtained by contacting your local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, IRS Web site http://www.irs.gov/ or telephone book.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed and Piloted By:
Eytan J Apter
Areyvut
http://www.areyvut.org
147 South Washington Avenue
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.