MENU

Public Trust

Grades: 
6, 7, 8
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Character Education: Trustworthiness
Civic Responsibility/Virtue

We learn about public trust and identify characteristics of public figures that merit trust. Learners also discuss how they can use their own time, talent, and treasure to support trustworthy politicians, sports figures, corporations, and celebrities.

Duration 
PrintOne 20-minute lesson
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • identify attributes of public trust.
  • discuss how to promote public trust.
Materials 
  • copies of the handout below Paul Newman
Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set

    Politicians, journalists, and major corporations want to earn the public trust. But appearing trustworthy and being trustworthy are not the same thing. One aspect of developing trust is through honesty. Through today's communication methods, people hear news of what is going on in the world from many sources; it is not always easy to tell which people are trustworthy.

  2. Ask the learners to think of the name of a public person or company that they trust (believe their words and actions match).

  3. Give each learner a copy of the handout Paul Newman. Have them read and discuss the article in small groups. After reading they will discuss whether this person/company is trustworthy and why or why not.

  4. As a whole group, discuss how Paul Newman and Newman's Own earned public trust.

  5. Discuss how they can use their own time, talent, and treasure to support trustworthy politicians, sports figures, corporations, and celebrities.

    Define advocacy as "to write or speak or act in favor of a person or ideal." Discuss whether we have a responsibility as citizens to be advocates and to take action to support public figures who show trustworthiness.

Handouts

Paul Newman

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark MS.1 Define philanthropy as individuals and organizations providing their time, talent, and/or treasures intended for the common good throughout history and around the world. Give examples.
      2. Benchmark MS.4 Give examples of how individuals have helped others.
  2. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 01. Self, citizenship, and society
      1. Benchmark MS.4 Describe the characteristics of someone who helps others.
    2. Standard PCS 07. Skills of Civic Engagement
      1. Benchmark MS.4 Analyze information to differentiate fact from opinion based on the investigation of issues related to the common good.
  3. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark MS.11 Identify a corporation's responsibilities to its community.
      2. Benchmark MS.4 Identify and describe the actions of how citizens act for the common good.
      3. Benchmark MS.5 Describe the responsibility students have to act in the civil society sector to improve the common good.