Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Unit Purpose:
Learners discover how celebrities demonstrate their caring by giving their time, talent and treasure and taking action for specific causes. It gives the learners an opportunity to begin to think of what they care about. Learners will discuss a quote about gratitude and consider the relationship between caring and gratitude. Learners read about the work of Oprah Winfrey and define enlightened self-interest and pro-social behavior. After discussing causes and social issues they care about, they will write one idea for an action they can take to "make a difference to that one."
Focus Questions:
What role does caring play in relationships and life success? How can developing caring equip people as world citizens who contribute to the common good?
Unit Duration:
Three 20 minute lesson
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- identify how some celebrities care for specific causes.
- list what they care about enough to give their time, talent and treasure and take action.
- discuss a quote about gratitude by Texan Matthew McConaughey.
- investigate the relationship between caring and gratitude.
- reflect on how gratitude may influence the causes and social issues they care about.
- read about and discuss the work of Oprah Winfrey and the Angel Network.
- define enlightened self-interest.
- brainstorm issues that students would like to see addressed by the time they are adults.
- reflect (may write in journals) on why certain issues are important to him or her.
- read and respond to a story about making a difference with small acts of caring.
- brainstorm and write examples of five acts of caring.
- define pro-social behavior.
- write a specific plan for carrying out an act of caring that will "make a difference for one."
Service Experience:
This character education mini-lesson is not intended to be a service learning lesson or to meet the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. The character education units will be most effective when taught in conjunction with a student-designed service project that provides a real world setting in which students can develop and practice good character and leadership skills. For ideas and suggestions for organizing service events go to The League.
Notes for Teaching:
It is recommended that learners keep a journal to record their learning and reflections about the character traits studied.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Barbara Dillbeck
Director
Learning to Give
Betsy Flikkema
Associate Director
Learning to Give
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
