Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE
The LEAGUE
- teachers
- parents
- students
- youth workers
- faith groups
- independent schools
- find lesson plans
- browse resources
Unit Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is to have students identify the shared gifts in the folktale, "The Drum" and create drums using different recyclable containers and colorful craft supplies. Students visit a local preschool or retirement facility of their choosing to read aloud a book they wrote and illustrated about generous giving. They share a drumming performance and give the drums and books as gifts.
Unit Duration:
One 50-Minute Class Period, Five 30-Minute Class Periods, and time for a service-learning project
Unit Objectives:
- listen and respond to "The Drum" (folktale) www.learningtogive.org/resources/folktales/TheDrum.asp
- identify the gifts given and received in the story and discuss the needs and motivations of the givers.
- discuss the relative value of the gifts.
- brainstorm gifts of time, talent, and treasure young people can share to address another's needs.
- imitate a drumbeat pattern started by the teacher or another learner.
- retell the story of "The Drum" to create a class story.
- illustrate the story to create a gift for someone.
- create a homemade drum from recycled materials.
- practice drumming a given rhythm.
- practice reading the class book.
- prepare for the service-learning project.
- share a drumming performance with the group the class visits in the prearranged field trip.
- read aloud to a young (or old) friend the class book he or she illustrated.
- give the book to the new friend.
- give the drum to the new friend.
- reflect on the impact of the service-learning project.
Service Experience:
The learners share their talents with another group, such as a Head Start preschool, who would benefit from literacy experience or social interaction. They write a class story (a retelling of "The Drum") and create homemade drums. Each student shares his or her reading talent with an individual from the other group and gives the completed book and drum as a gift.
Unit Assessment:
Assess student contributions to responding to the text, creating the drum, writing the class book, and illustrating the book. Observe student engagement on the field trip and participation in the reflection to assess impact on the student.
School/Home Connection:
For Lesson Two: Beat by Beat, ask students to collect a variety of recycled containers and craft supplies. Examples include empty yogurt or cottage cheese containers, tissue boxes, oatmeal cylinders, tin cans, and cardboard boxes of all different sizes. For decorating, collect scraps of interesting wallpaper and wrapping paper, sequins, stickers, buttons, feathers, yarn and ribbon, beads, foam shapes, and other found objects.
Bibliographical References:
- Rhythm Web, "Tube Drums." www.rhythmweb.com/homemade/tubes.htm This is a good site to research about making drums before you start.
- Learning to Give Hindi folktale "The Drum" learningtogive.org/resources/folktales/TheDrum.asp
- Poems on the Internet:
Children's Poetry http://www.poetry-online.org/childrens_poetry_resource_index.htm
Ken Nesbitt's "Funny Poems" http://www.poetry4kids.com/poems
Story It: Children's Poetry http://www.storyit.com/Classics/JustPoems/index.htm
- Favorite Collections of Poems for Children
Kennedy, Caroline. A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children. Hyperion, 2005. ISBN: 978-0786851119
Prelutsky, Jack. Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young. Knopf, 1986. ISBN: 978-0394872186
Silverstein, Shel. A Light in the Attic. HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN: 978-0066236179
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed and Piloted By:
Tiffany Jackson
Belding Area Schools
Ellis Elementary
100 E Ellis RD
Belding, MI 48809
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.