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 see how they are already philanthropists. They will discover their own special talents and skills that they can individually contribute to the common good.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• define philanthropy.
• identify their individual talents.

Activity Theme:

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything,
but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

~Helen Keller, blind and deaf since she was a baby, she became known all over the world for her work to promote the rights of women and people with disabilities.

The facilitator tells the participants that they will be making their very own “Talent Envelopes”. The facilitator explains that at the end of the activity they will be able to identify their talents and share them with the group.

Activity Steps:

• Discuss with the group that philanthropy means sharing your talents, treasure and /or time to help others and your community. Ask the participants to think of examples of each of these.
• Reinforce the concept that the giving of time is to spend your free time helping others. The giving of treasure is to donate your money or possessions (such as clothing and food) to help others in the community. The giving of talent is assisting others with something that you are good at doing.
• Ask the participants what it means to give of their talent. Explain that because each person has special and unique talents, there are many things that each person in the group can give or share with others. Remind the group that the sharing of talents is one of the foundations of philanthropy.
• Distribute the pre-cut strips of paper, envelopes, and pens or markers to the group. Have each participant record on a strip of paper what they feel their talents are. Use a different piece of paper for each talent. Be aware of any participants who may be having difficulty identifying their talents. Encourage them to think of some of the talents that you have noticed in them, or by asking them open-ended questions such as “What do you like to do for fun? What can you do well?”.
• After each participant has completed at least five strips of paper, have them write their names on the outside of their envelopes in big letters and then decorate them in colorful and fun ways.
• Have the participants put their talent strips into their Talent Envelopes to take home to show their family and friends how talented they are!

Processing Questions:

1. How is using your special talents related to philanthropy?
2. How is your Talent Envelope going to help someone else?
3. Where and how can you best use your talents?
4. Were you surprised about any of the talents that you have? Were any of them talents you have not thought of before?
5. Do you think you could think of even more ways to help others? What are some additional ideas?
6. How does it make you feel when you are able to help others?
   

Variation:

(To be used if the participants are too young to record their own talents)
Have the participants brainstorm a list of talents that they could share to help others. After a list has been created, have the participants stand in a circle facing each other. Tell them that they will be practicing sharing their talents with the group by acting out a talent, as a group, when one is called out. Begin with talents everyone knows how to do, such as dance, hug, or smile. After the group has warmed up, use more complicated talents such as painting, singing, planting a tree or playing a game. The youth can take turns doing the “call outs”. They love to have roles of responsibility.

Supplemental Activity:

Tell participants to have their family and friends add to their envelopes with other talents that the participant has. They can bring them back to the next group meeting to share.
The youth may want to plan a real talent show with the adult helpers serving as “guides on the side”. This is a great way to involve family members and mentors, too! The talent show should be interactive, with an MC who asks the audience for suggestions on ways the various “showcased” talents can be used to help others in the community. Always remember that the “behind the scenes” roles are as important to the show’s success as the “on stage” roles. All the youth should be introduced and recognized. The Talent Show could be used as a fundraiser using the “treasure” collected for a good cause that the students pre-determine. More money can sometimes be raised by not charging a set fee, but by simply asking for donations.

Activity Source:

Learning to Give Lesson (K-2) “What are our Talents”

Unit “Using our Talents for the Common Good”

Additional Resources:

Using a Talent (Service Project)

Learning to Give Lesson (K-2) “Special Delivery - Handle With Care”

Unit “Phil’s Garden of Good”

Serial Reciprocity

Learning to Give Lesson (K-2) “Helping Up!”

Unit “Good Will – Three Chinese Stories”

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 I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 02. Roles of Government, Business, and Philanthropy E 5. Recognize that volunteering requires freedom of choice.