This lesson introduces learners to taking personal action to respond to a crisis or disaster. They learn vocabulary terms spend, save, and donate, as well as the definition of philanthropy (giving time, talent, and treasure, and taking action for the common good).

Learners research a natural disaster and examples of aid to help the affected populations. They learn the roles of the four sectors in responding to the needs. They participate in a collection campaign or other service project and learn about organizations to which they can contribute their philanthropy. Youth carry out the project, track their results, advocate for the cause, and reflect on their participation.

This lesson introduces ways to respond with empathy and generosity to a natural disaster. Young people learn about civic responsibility and addressing needs. They define vocabulary terms philanthropy, spend, save, and donate. 

Using the plays from the previous lesson as a jumpstart, youth carry out a plan to share time and talent in the community.  They may help at a local food pantry or donation center.  After the visit, they reflect on the impact of their contribution to the community and themselves. 

Youth role-play situations in which they are involved in philanthropic acts.  They analyze the act of philanthropy.

In this lesson, youth prepare a persuasive speech in which they demonstrate that one person (or small group) can make a difference in making the world a better place or taking action for the common good.

Discuss and reflect in writing about their philanthropic experience of the previous lesson. They will talk honestly about how they can make a difference and whether or not they see themselves being philanthropic in the future.

Through discussion and response to literature, we define philanthropy as the sharing of time, talent, and treasure for the common good. Participants reflect on the benefit of philanthropy to the giver and receiver.

The youth read the book Seedfolks and discuss the diverse characters and their individual contributions to a community garden. While learning about the thirteen individuals in the story, they identify their character, heritage, motivations, and contributions to nourishing and maintaining the vacant lot garden. They discuss how their combined efforts changed not only their lives but also the lives of their community for the better. They relate this to their own diverse community.

Based on the recommendations of the soup kitchen guest from lesson one, young people decide how they will take action to help address a need. They may donate canned food, volunteer to serve lunch, bring games to play with children at the soup kitchen, or make bowls to sell as a fundraiser. This lesson describes the bowl fundraiser.