Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Unit Overview:
Unit Purpose:
Through a variety of science activities and experiences with the arts, the students explore the concept that each person is unique and valuable. The students will work cooperatively and deliberately respect others and listen and accept the contributions of the others. Students use a decision-making model to come to a group consensus and perform a service for an audience. Students evaluate their service projects.
Unit Objectives:
The learners will:
- identify and define the simple machines and their functions (lever, inclined plane, wheel-and-axle, screw, pulley and wedge).
- recognize the contributions and value of each member of the group.
- demonstrate selflessness for the common good of the group.
- show respect for the members of the group.
- write about what makes him or her unique.
- recognize and respect the unique qualities of others.
- rewrite a story as a “readers’ theatre.”
- present a program to encourage others to respect uniqueness.
- demonstrate the use of line, shape, color and value in a portrait.
- study the portraits and philosophies of Van Gogh and Gauguin.
- explore how Van Gogh practiced philanthropy related to his own self-interests.
- give a gift of art to someone.
- work cooperatively with a partner.
- participate in reaching a group decision via consensus.
- plan, carry out and evaluate a service project involving the arts.
- create a drawing and share some words that express his or her reaction to the project.
- write a friendly letter.
Service Experience:
Students will present their own “readers’ theatre” and song to promote the idea of respecting the uniqueness of themselves and others. Students will create a piece of art and give it to someone who will appreciate it. Students will create a plan for delivering service. They will carry out their plan to create a presentation of the dramatic, musical and visual arts works they created in the first three lessons of this unit.
Unit Assessment:
- Assess the group skits about simple machines according to the objectives outlined in Lesson One: Simply Unique.
- Assess student participation in readers’ theatre outlined in Lesson Two: “I Am a Star.”
- Assess journals for completing assignments.
- Observe student participation in discussions and activities.
- Students demonstrate an effective use of the elements and principles of art studied to communicate their ideas through their self-portrait.
- Students write in their journals about to whom they will give their artwork. If possible, have them write about the experience of giving the portrait. How did the recipient respond and how did the artist feel?
- Use the given rubrics to assign a number value to the quality of effort performed by each student.
School/Home Connection:
- “Copy-and-Paste” Class/School Newsletter Information Insert:
We are starting a unit called, “You Are Uniquely You.” Each student in our class brings important skills, gifts and experiences that make our classroom a richer place. In an attempt to internalize this belief in each child, we will explore the idea of uniqueness. We will look at the six unique simple machines. Each machine has a unique important job. When the simple machines are put together into compound machines, they make machines that create materials and improve our world. We will be writing and performing theatre pieces to celebrate our special gifts. The students will also share their gifts with others in the form of artwork.
- Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
With the help of their families, students will search through their homes for examples of simple machines. They will make a list to bring back to school (see Lesson One: Simply Unique, Attachment Two: Simple Search). In Lesson Two: “I Am a Star,” students have a homework assignment of writing an essay titled, “I am Uniquely Me.” Parents and family members are encouraged to help students with ideas. In Lesson Five: Reflecting and Sharing, the students will write a friendly letter sharing what they have learned in the unit. With their family, they will draw and write about the unique qualities of all the family members.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Elizabeth Mahony
Albion Public Schools
Albion Open School
401 E Michigan Ave
Albion, MI 49224
Karen Sitron Haight
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Sibley Elementary School Building
947 Sibley, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Kim Davison
Kalamazoo Public Schools
Woods Lake Elementary School
3215 Oakland Dr
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Margaret Fox
Mona Shores Public Schools
Lincoln Park Elementary
2951 Leon Street
Muskegon, MI 49441
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
