Students explore the components of the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and apply them to their own lives, with a particular emphasis on philanthropy. This lesson is designed for Citizenship/Constitution Day (September 17) and connects students to the community-building focus of the...
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Unit: Constitution Day
Unit: Writers as Activists
By reading about her life and her work, students will understand how Mary Eliza Church Terrell’s writing and activism brought about change for African Americans and women.
Unit: Telling Our Stories of Giving
Students become familiar with the structure of the newspaper and the purpose of the different types of articles as they explore "stories" about acts of giving and sharing time, talent, and treasure for the common good. Students recognize the types of voices and articles in the newspaper. They...
Unit: Our Constitutional Connection
Three amendments to the Constitution extended voting rights to more citizens. Look at the language of these amendments and the effectiveness of everyone actually getting the vote. Youth discuss the purpose of voting, and they take action to make a difference, such as by making ...
Unit: Be the Change: Democracy
In this lesson, we explore the importance of each person's right to vote and the injustice of limiting that power.
Unit: Art for the Common Good—Junkanoo!
In this lesson, groups work together to make their headdresses based on a common design. Each person makes their own headdress that fits the group theme but has their own style or cultural uniqueness. The groups compete against each other, so the group...
Unit: Exploring the Timeline of US Philanthropy
With similar motivations to present-day refugees, African Americans moved north in the mid-1800s to escape slavery and unsafe living conditions in the South. Detroit was an important location where Conductors on the Underground Railroad helped thousands to cross the Detroit River into Canada. In...
Unit: Food for Thought Middle School Unit by the Westminster Schools
To help students understand how to use their voices to advocate for causes about which they care.
Unit: A Voice for Children
Youth learn about basic human rights and discuss whether everyone deserves these rights. In addition, they reflect on examples of human kindness and collective action for the common good.
Unit: Music of the Civil Rights Era, 1954-1968
Music may bring joy or it may help people reflect on their feelings. The "freedom songs" may have motivated the Civil Rights activists as they sought to aid the common good, and we can bring music to someone in the community as a gift of generosity and inspiration.