Living History-An Intergenerational Philanthropy Project

Unit of 4 Lessons
Grade Levels: 
3
4
5
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Issue Area: 
Diverse people
Focus Question 

In what ways does diversity make a community stronger?

 

Photo Credit:  Null by Beryl_snw is licensed under CC by 2.0

Unit Overview 

Children develop sharing and learning relationships with senior friends from a local senior center or retirement home as they volunteer to write the "living history" of that person. Partners from both generations discuss how they have been philanthropists in their lives. The children write, illustrate, and publish their books. This unit involves several field trips to a retirement home and one field trip to a local history museum. This should be arranged in advance and include permissions.

Service Experience 
Children build community relationships with senior friends at the senior living facility and at the local museum. They establish a caring relationship over three or four visits as they work toward writing a story about that person’s life. A copy of the written biography is presented at the Celebration of Living History at the end of this project.
Lessons in This Unit 
Unit: 
Living History-An Intergenerational Philanthropy Project
Lesson 1 of 4
Grades: 
3
4
5

This lesson introduces the "Living History Project." We begin with sensitivity training, as a pre-service reflection and to help volunteers understand possible needs, disabilities, and attitudes of people with whom they will be working. The training leads children to understand the importance of showing respect and grace for their senior friend. The unit provides guidance for the children to learn about philanthropy and to write a book about their senior friend's life. 

Unit: 
Living History-An Intergenerational Philanthropy Project
Lesson 4 of 4
Grades: 
3
4
5

This lesson is a celebration to culminate this intergenerational project. The children make a final visit to the senior center or retirement home where all the participants gather for a snack and a farewell celebration. The children read aloud and give their published Living History Books to their senior friends. They debrief the entire project through journal entries.