Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Linking Community, Core Democratic Values and Public Policy Issues
Lesson 2:
From Unit Opportunities in Philanthropy
Purpose:
To organize data gathered about the United Way and share the information they have gathered in both oral and written form.
Duration:
One Fifty-Minute Class Period
Objectives:
The learner will:
- explain three fundamental beliefs of American Democracy: common good, justice and equality.
- identify public policy issues and link them to core democratic values.
- develop a comprehensive outline about the United Way.
Materials:
- World Book Encyclopedia, s.v. "United Way."
- Core Values of American Constitutional Democracy (see Attachment One)
- Research the Web-site: www.unitedway.org
- Pamphlet on your state and local United Way (contact your local United Way or United Way of Michigan)
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Ask the students to respond orally or in their daily journal to this question, "Can the United Way and its local or state member agencies help the community address Core Democratic Values?"
- Distribute Core Values of American Constitutional Democracy (see Attachment One) and guide discussion of three Fundamental Beliefs: Common Good, Justice and Equality.
- Write Public Policy issues on the board and ask students to suggest those they deem most pressing. Use inquiry method to ensure that students can link the issues to core values.
- Form students into the same groups that researched United Way and direct them to develop a sentence outline that organizes their research. Their outline should include how the organization was founded, and when the state and local organizations began. Additionally, they should select and list three important events in the history of both the national and state or local organizations. See the Chronology of Events Affecting United Way: 1887 - 1995 on the Web site to choose these events.
- Using their group's outline, each student will begin to write a one- to two-page description of the United Way and how its services address the common good, justice or equality.
Assessment:
- Group outline and information.
- Students' written description of the United Way and its links to a core democratic value and public policy issue.
Bibliographical References:
- World Book Encyclopedia, s.v. "United Way."
- On the Internet, www.unitedway.org
- United Way Pamphlet of Jackson County (or your specific county or state).
- Core Values of American Constitutional Democracy (see Attachment One).
- Bahmueller, Charles F., ed. Civitas: A Framework for Civic Education, National Council for the Social Studies Bulletin, No. 86, Calabasas, CA, 1991.
Lesson Developed By:
Libby BrownJackson Public Schools
Jackson High School
Jackson, MI 49201
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Core Values of American Constitutional Democracy
Core Democratic Values are the fundamental beliefs and constitutional principles of American society which unite all Americans. These values are expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and other significant documents, speeches and writings of the nation. Listed below are examples of core democratic values.
| Fundamental Beliefs | Constitutional Principles |
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Sources:
Bahmueller, Charles F., ed. Civitas: A Framework for Civic Education, National Council for the Social Studies Bulletin, No. 86, Calabasas, CA, 1991.
National Standards for Civics and Government, Center for Civic Education, 1994
Unit Contents:
Overview:Opportunities in Philanthropy Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Investigating How Our Community Needs Are Served
- 2.
- Linking Community, Core Democratic Values and Public Policy Issues
- 3.
- Becoming a United Way or Member Agency Director
- 4.
- Who Cares About Needs in the Community?
- 5.
- Answering the Question of Serving Community Needs
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Comments
(The positive aspect of using this lesson was) combining ideas (values) with community needs.