Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

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Philanthropy in Literature

Unit of 6 lessons

3rd-5th Grade

Subjects:

Language Arts, Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

Lesson 1 :	ELA:	Brainstorming; Compare/Contrast; Group Discussions; Reflection; Vocabulary
	PHIL:	Time/Talent/Treasure; Volunteer
	SOC:	Citizenship/Civic Engagement; Common Good; Communities; Compare/Contrast; Inquiry; Volunteerism
Lesson 2 :	ELA:	Compare/Contrast; Constructing Meaning; Group Discussions; Inferences/Generalizations; Literary Devices; Literary Forms/Genre; Media Genres; Perception; Plot Development; Presentations; Reading; Research; Response to Text/Others; Summarizing/Paraphrasing; ThemeSelflessness; Time/Talent/Treasure
	PHIL:	Selflessness; Time/Talent/Treasure
	SOC:	Citizenship/Civic Engagement; Common Good; Inquiry; Volunteerism; Wants/Needs
Lesson 3 :	ELA:	Compare/Contrast; Constructing Meaning; Genre; Group Discussions; Literary Response; Media Genres; Perception; Reading; Reflection; Research; Resources; Summarizing/Paraphrasing
	PHIL:	Common Good; Time/Talent/Treasure
	SOC:	Communities; Compare/Contrast; Democracy; Wants/Needs
Lesson 4 :	ELA:	Compare/Contrast; Fable; Genre; Group Discussions; Literary Response; Parable; Perception; Persuasive Techniques; Reading; Research; Summarizing/Paraphrasing; Teamwork
	PHIL:	Selflessness; Time/Talent/Treasure
	SOC:	Common Good; Communities; Core Democratic Values; Wants/Needs
Lesson 5 :	ELA:	House of Dies Drear (The); Group Discussions; Historical Fiction; Literary Response; Perception; Predicting; Questioning; Research; Summarizing/Paraphrasing; Teamwork; Writing Mechanics
	PHIL:	Philanthropic Act; Social Action; Volunteer
	SOC:	2 genOn; Civil War/Reconstruction (1850-1877); Common Good; Communities; Decision Making Model; Democratic Values; Personal Virtue; Underground Railroad; Wants/Needs
Lesson 6 :	ELA:	Analogy; Brainstorming; Compare/Contrast; Constructing Meaning; Group Discussions; Letter Writing; Predicting; Questioning; Reflection; Research; Retelling; Teamwork; Technology; Writing Mechanics
	PHIL:	Cooperate
	SOC:	Common Good; Communities; Timelines

Unit Overview:

Learners will comfortably use the term “philanthropy” while reading an excellent variety of stories to engage discussion and action about learning to give. Learners will identify individual and community efforts to fill needs for the common good. Learners will recognize examples of philanthropy in literature and their community.

Unit Purpose:

This unit progresses from cognitive exercise to affective behavior. Learners will examine models of philanthropy in literature, in history, and in modern day life. They will learn to recognize behaviors, demonstrating giving of time, treasure or talent using examples discovered through their reading in order to model it themselves.

Unit Objectives:

The learner will:

define philanthropy and give examples of it in everyday life.
identify the main characters in each reading selection.
discover the problems and solutions presented in each reading.
connect the readings to his/her understanding of philanthropy.
distinguish between examples of philanthropy in literature and philanthropy in everyday life.
analyze what comprises a community.
identify philanthropic acts, comparing and contrasting these acts in different situations.
take a stand and defend his/her viewpoint on who can perform a needed service for the community.
identify examples of philanthropy in historical settings as depicted in his/her reading.
analyze costs associated with philanthropy.

Service Experience:

Although lessons in this unit contain service project examples, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

Students will share their knowledge (time and talent) with younger students by performing a play.

Unit Assessment:

Learners will make a word map on the definition of philanthropy or write what “philanthropy” means as developed through their reading selections. Learners will demonstrate through their paragraph writing the concept of common good, sharing of their time, treasure and talent through citing specific examples, and analyzing the impact philanthropy had on the characters. Learners will take a pre and post- test.

Notes for Teaching:

Before the concept of philanthropy can be recognized, students must have a clear understanding of what philanthropy is. We have chosen the definition, “private citizens sharing/giving time, talents and treasure for the common good.” A careful study of these terms will enhance the learner’s awareness of what philanthropy really is. “Philanthropy” is so unfamiliar to learners, or its meaning so misunderstood by the general public, that it is essential to build an understanding of this concept on a solid comprehension of terms. Learners throughout this unit build layers of understanding through the reading selections, their experiential actions and the play they produce and present to younger learners.