Exploring Nonprofit Careers
Unit of 5 Lessons
Grade Levels:
3
4
5
Subjects:
Language Arts
Mathematics
Media / Technology
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Arts Education
Keywords:
Issue Area:
Civil society
Focus Question
How do different organizations and people address issues for the common good?
Photo Credit: Downtown Cityscape San Francisco by David Yu is licensed under CC by 2.0
Unit Overview
Students learn the difference between for-profit and nonprofit organizations. The concepts will be taught through the creation and performance of a musical production.
Service Experience
Students will create and perform a musical production for other students and the community that illustrates the difference between profit and nonprofit organizations and the careers involved.
Lessons in This Unit
To define profit and nonprofit organizations and explore the variety of careers available within those sectors. Students will prepare questions and then interview individuals involved with those careers.
To explore in more detail a career of special interest. The students will be looking for historic information, training requirements, profit or nonprofit status, relationship to the state and local needs and resources, and resources required to supply the good or service.
To use the information the students have collected to create a song about their career of interest and design an accompanying dance and/or drama.
To practice the vignettes, make simple costumes and scenery, and plan and arrange for advertising. This is a hands-on, student-led lesson as they use their ideas to practice and develop a finished production. The teacher is present to ask guiding questions and nudge progress along.
To share with other students, families, and/or the community a production designed and prepared by students to entertain the audience while explaining the difference between profit and nonprofit organizations and the types of careers within them.