Helping Children in Need

Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Keywords & Concepts: 

The participants will distinguish the difference between wants and needs and learn that many times refugees are without basic needs. They respond to a story about a refugee camp, “Four Feet, Two Sandals” and come to a consensus on a service project to benefit refugees or others in need, and plan and implement a youth-driven service project.

Duration 
PrintTwo 20-30 Minute Class Sessions plus time for a service project
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • distinguish between wants and needs.
  • define philanthropy as giving time, talent and treasure for the common good.
  • identify a need in the school, local community, state, nation, or world.
  • select a service project based on interests, abilities, and research.
  • plan and implement a service project to benefit refugees or other people in need.
  • reflect on their service project.
Materials 
  • computer and projector and needs and wants game selected from the Bibliography below
  • Read-aloud copy of Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Williams 
Vocabulary 
  • needs - something necessary or indispensable: food, shelter, and other necessities of life
  • wants - something wanted or desired.
  • volunteer: one who offers him/herself in service of his/her own free will
  • resources: available supply or support that can be drawn on when needed or wanted
  • common good: working together for the greater benefit of all; promotes the welfare of the community
  • philanthropy: the giving of one's time, talent or treasure for the sake of another or for the common good
  • service: help given to others
Bibliography 
  • https://www.tigweb.org/images/tiged/docs/activities/267.pdf This resource contains a printable Needs and Wants game (ages 8 - 13)
  • https://www.teachervision.com/social-studies-history/needs-and-wants This resource contains a printable worksheet on needs and wants (ages 5 - 7)
  • Needs and Wants Group Sort (online, ages 5 - 13)
  • Williams, Karen Lynn & Mohammed, Khadra. Four Feet, Two Sandals. Wm. B Eerdman Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI (2007)  ISBN: 978-0-8028-5296-0

Instructions

Print
  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Define needs and wants to students. After reading the definitions, further the explanation by saying, a need is something you must have to stay healthy, like food, water, clothing, and shelter. A want is something that you would like to have. For instance, you need some kind of shoes to protect and keep your feet warm but you may want a pair of fancy new tennis shoes that light up when you jump. See the Bibliography above for some games to reinforce needs and wants. 

  2. Before reading the book Four Feet, Two Sandals, tell the children that the story takes place in the Afganistan/Pakistan area (show on a map or globe). There are over 20 million refugees in camps all around the world, many of them are women and children who have had to flee their homes because they were afraid of being hurt.

  3. Show the book cover and explain that just as people can do acts of philanthropy to help others, there are organizations or groups of people whose special mission is to help refugees. Many of these groups build "refugee camps" to provide the basic needs of shelter, water, food, and clothing and to help the refugees find new, permanent homes. Read the title of the book and ask what they observe about the refugee camp on the cover illustration.

  4. Read aloud the book Four Feet, Two Sandals. Help children reflect on the message during and after reading the story using the following discussion quide:

    • What were some “needs” that were provided to the people in the camp?
    • The relief workers provided clothing and shoes. Where do you think these came from?
    • The girls waited in line to get water from a well. Who built the well in the refugee camp?
    • Who arranged for people to get on the list to go to a new home?
    • Who are the philanthropists in this story?
  5. Tell the participants that in addition to the refugee aid organizations they learned about through the story, there are also nonprofit organizations that help children in need right in their own communities, such as The Salvation Army, Goodwill, a local food pantry, or a homeless shelter. Ask if any of the children have heard of these organizations and what they know about them. Ask if they would like to act as philanthropists and support the work of one of these organizations by holding a collection drive to collect items for people in need.

    Contact a nonprofit organization to ask about their needs. 

  6. Engage the participants in a discussion of what needed items they might collect such as clothing, shoes, baby items, personal care products, blankets, coats, or books. (Contact the local organization to find out their needs first.)

  7. Guide the children in making decisions related to their chosen collection drive, including who they will ask to donate, how they will ask, when will they collect the items, what kinds of containers they might need to hold the collected items, and to whom will the items be donated.

  8. After the collection drive is successfully completed, reflect on the project to help the participants recognize their impact and celebrate their success.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.1 Define philanthropy as the giving and sharing of time, talent, or treasure intended for the common good.
    2. Standard DP 02. Roles of Government, Business, and Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.2 Explain the difference between wants and needs.
    3. Standard DP 03. Names and Types of Organizations within the Civil Society Sector
      1. Benchmark E.1 Name and recognize the civil society sector as a separate part of the community.
      2. Benchmark E.2 Name an example of a civil society charitable organization.
  2. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 02. Diverse Cultures
      1. Benchmark E.3 Identify the similarities in philanthropic behavior among people of different cultural backgrounds.
      2. Benchmark E.4 Demonstrate listening skills.
  3. Strand PHIL.IV Volunteering and Service
    1. Standard VS 01. Needs Assessment
      1. Benchmark E.1 Identify a need in the school, local community, state, nation, or world.
    2. Standard VS 02. Service and Learning
      1. Benchmark E.1 Select a service project based on interests, abilities, and research.
    3. Standard VS 03. Providing Service
      1. Benchmark E.1 Provide a needed service.
    4. Standard VS 04. Raising Private Resources
      1. Benchmark E.1 Identify why private resources (volunteers and money) are needed.
    5. Standard VS 05. Integrating the Service Experience into Learning
      1. Benchmark E.3 Identify outcomes from the service.