ABCs of Philanthropy: Action Game
Youth Activity: Participants recognize a wide variety of philanthropic actions through fun and active participation. See the handout for supplemental faith-based discussion questions.
"If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers." ~Whoopi Goldberg
The youth will
- name and identify philanthropic actions.
- collaborate and support one another.
- recognize philanthropy as sharing time, talent, and treasure, and taking action for the common good.
- paper and markers
- tape for marking the floor
- a large space for making a life-size gameboard
Before the game begins, mark the floor with tape to indicate advancement points. There should be at least ten or twelve advancement points appropriately placed for the age group.
Have the students look for philanthropic actions throughout the week that represent every letter of the alphabet and bring that list with them to the next group meeting.
- What did you learn about philanthropy from our game?
- How would our community become a better place by the actions you have written and placed on the wall? Why are these actions helpful to others?
- Tell us about philanthropic actions you have done and why you did them.
- What could this group do to encourage others to take philanthropic action?
Instructions
Tell the participants that they will have some fun learning about philanthropy. They are going to play a relay game that will help them learn about philanthropic actions.
Before the game begins, mark the floor with tape to indicate advancement points for the groups to stand on (like a board game path). There should be at least ten or twelve advancement points appropriately placed for the age group.
Divide participants into groups of about 5-6 people. Ask the groups to have a seat. Explain that this activity will use all that the group has learned thus far about philanthropy.
Explain that each group is a team, and each team will have strips of paper and a marker. The facilitator calls out a random letter of the alphabet. The group works together to come up with a philanthropic action that begins with that letter and write that action on the paper. If groups are unable to brainstorm actions, get them started by giving examples from the actions listed in the handout.
The first team to write down an action and hold up their strip of paper advances two spaces. In the event of a tie, each team will move one space. Repeat with other alphabet letters. The goal is to have each group complete the game, expand their ideas of what philanthropy looks like, and celebrate the group victory.
Groups that complete the course first are encouraged to be cheerleaders for the others. The actions they write may be posted on the wall under the corresponding letters of the alphabet.
Variation: Once the game is completed, collect the papers from the wall and use those philanthropic actions to play charades with the group.
