Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Age:

• 7-11

Philanthropy is:

• Sharing time, talent and treasure, and taking action for the common good.

Purpose:

• Participants will create a collage depicting philanthropic traits and actions. They will identify philanthropists from their faith tradition. This collage will serve as a visual definition of philanthropy.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• recognize philanthropic traits and actions.
• expand their understanding of philanthropic traits and actions.
• relate philanthropic characteristics to their own lives.

Religious Activity Theme:

Proverbs 3:28

Do not tell your neighbor, go and come back, and tomorrow I will give.

Acts 4:32

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

Explain to the group that an important part of understanding philanthropy is recognizing philanthropic traits/characteristics and activities of others. Participants will explore what philanthropy means, and then have the opportunity to create a “philanthropy collage” with pictures and words representing philanthropy. Remind the group that a collage is a piece of art, made up of many pictures, words or drawings, that represent an idea.

Activity Steps:

Draw a large T-graph on the chart paper. Label one side “Philanthropic Traits” and the other side “Philanthropic Actions.” Divide the group into two teams and pass out self-stick notes to each team. Ask one team to write or draw a picture of “philanthropic traits” or words they would use to describe a person who shares and cares in their community, one trait per self-stick note. Invite the second team to write or draw a picture of “philanthropic actions” or things that a person who cares and shares might do, one action per self-stick note. Tell the teams they will have five minutes to come up with their traits and actions. If participants are having a difficult time beginning to identify words, assist them in getting started by suggesting words from “Characterizing Philanthropic People” (Attachment One). At the end of five minutes, ask the groups to stop.

• Starting with the “Philanthropic Traits” group, ask for one word or picture (one self-stick note) to be brought up and stuck on the T-graph. Each member of the team is to take a turn bringing up a trait. When they bring up the trait, ask that member to explain what that word has to do with philanthropy or caring, sharing and taking action in the community. Give the same instructions to the “Philanthropic Action” group. Now take turns between the teams letting the members bring up the note and sticking them on the board.
• After participants have placed all their words on the board, explain that we will keep the board out for all to use as a reference throughout the rest of the activity.
• Ask the participants to brainstorm people from their faith tradition, past and present, who possess some of the philanthropic traits, or exemplify the philanthropic acts they identified.
• Explain that we will keep the board out for all to use as a reference throughout the rest of the activity.
• The facilitator explains that they will be using the list as a starting point to make a philanthropic collage. Each participant collects one piece of construction paper or poster-board, along with a few newspapers and magazines, scissors, tape or glue, and crayons. Instruct participants to create a “philanthropy collage” or picture so someone looking at the collage would better understand philanthropy. The collage will be a “visual definition” of philanthropy. Encourage members to use their creativity in making a collage that shows philanthropic action in their faith community or around the world. They may add words (philanthropic traits) and/or pictures to the philanthropy collage.
• Ask for volunteers to share their collages, explaining to the group some of the actions and traits that they included in their philanthropic picture.

Processing Questions:

1. What did you learn about philanthropy?
2. What are some ways the faith community serves the world?
3. What makes service an essential part of our faith?
4. What are some needs of others in our faith community that we could help address?
5. Which of the actions or traits on the collage represent you – who you are or actions you have taken?
6. What are some of the words and pictures that appear more often in the collages?
7. Ask members to identify someone they know who is a philanthropist. Ask each member to share one trait that describes the person they know and to share what that person does that makes them a philanthropist.

Additional Questions—Christian Perspective:

1. The Acts passage points out that because of the early faith communities’ devotion to one another no one was needy. Could that statement be made of our faith community—that we’re so devoted to one another that no one is in need? Explain.

Variation:

When members of the two teams have written the traits on their self-stick notes, each participant should pick one trait that describes them and stick it on their shirt to let people know that they have “philanthropic traits.”

Philanthropy collages may be created in groups rather than by individuals.

Supplemental Activity:

Participants take home their philanthropy collages to share with their family members.

Activity Source:

Learning to Give Lesson (6-8) “Characterizing Philanthropic People”

Unit “Philanthropy You, and Your World”

Additional Resources:

Historial Philanthropy

Learning to Give Lesson (6-8) “Philanthropy, A Timeline for Us”

Unit “Communities in Crisis”

Philanthropy

Learning to Give Lesson (6-8) “Philanthropy Actions of the Heart and Mind”

Unit “Philanthropy – Sharing our Time, Talent and Treasure with our Family and Friends”

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

 

 

Attachment One

Characterizing Philanthropic People

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy E 1. Define philanthropy as the giving and sharing of time, talent, or treasure intended for the common good. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS05. Philanthropy and Government E 3. Discuss the importance of personal virtue, good character, and ethical behavior in a democracy. PHIL III. Philanthropy and the Individual PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy E 1. Describe one reason why a person might give or volunteer.