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Acting for the Common Good

Grades: 
3, 4, 5
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Keywords & Concepts: 
Conflict Resolution
Role-Play
Service

The learners present skits share strategies for addressing bullying behavior. They make a plan to reduce bullying in their school or community.

Duration 
PrintOne 45-Minute Session
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • work toward reducing bullying in their school or network.
Vocabulary 

pledge: a solemn promise to do or not to do something

Reflection 

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bibliography 

 Broom, Maria. The Village Bully. http://www.mariabroom.com/village-bully 

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    From "The Village Bully" by Maria Broom, read and discuss the following story of surrounding people with love.

    In one African village, when a person does something truly hurtful, work stops as everyone, young and old, circles around the accused. Each one tells all the good things they remember about the person. Every positive incident, strength and kindness is recited in detail. The ceremony can often last several days and ends in celebration. The 'circle of love' helps the person to feel and remember who he is.

  2. Allow the skit groups from the previous lesson a few minutes to practice, then have each group present its skit to the full group. Discuss the techniques.

  3. Define a pledge as a solemn promise to do or not to do something. Brainstorm what a pledge to stop bullying would say. Work together to write a pledge.

    Make a plan to present their skits and invite others to sign their pledge.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.3 Recognize that citizens have a responsibility for the common good as defined by democratic principles.
    2. Standard DP 02. Roles of Government, Business, and Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.5 Recognize that volunteering requires freedom of choice.
      2. Benchmark E.6 Explain why acting philanthropically is good for the community, state, nation, or world.
  2. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.5 Give examples of actions students can take to improve the common good and list or describe responsibilities that go with those actions.
      2. Benchmark E.7 Give classroom examples of when a student does not need the teacher's permission to act philanthropically.