Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
generationOn
Unit Purpose:
In this unit, students construct a definition for fairness and compare and contrast definitions with others. They discuss how there are two sides to most fairness issues. Students compare and contrast both sides of two fairness issues--one global and one personal. They reflect on when fairness is a matter of perspective and when fairness is a matter to advocate for through citizen action. Students participate in a role-play of fair and unfair decision-making. They identify behaviors that promote and put up barriers to making decisions. After a read-aloud, students compare the lesson in the text to real-life situations. Students use a Frayer model graphic organizer to analyze the term impartial. In the final reflection, students identify a personal bias and make a written plan for overcoming the bias now that they are aware of it.
Focus Question: What role does fairness play in relationships and life success? How can developing fairness equip people as world citizens who contribute to the common good?
Unit Duration:
Five 20-Minute Lessons
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- construct a meaning of fairness.
- compare and contrast several definitions of fairness.
- discuss positive attributes of a definition.
- recall situations when something felt unfair.
- respond verbally to a list of unfair practices.
- brainstorm a list of unfair practices.
- state that we don't always agree about what is fair; what is unfair to one group or person may benefit another.
- discuss the difference between feeling something is unfair and knowing something is unfair.
- participate in a role-play or discuss the behaviors in a role-play.
- compare and contrast fair and not-fair behaviors.
- brainstorm behaviors that promote fair decision-making.
- respond to a read-aloud of "The Zax" (See Bibliographical References)
- compare the meaning of impartial with the meaning of fair in two sports examples.
- complete a graphic organizer to analyze the meaning of fair.
- define bias.
- reflect in writing about a personal bias and make a plan for overcoming the bias when making decisions or judgments.
Service Experience:
This character education mini-lesson is not intended to be a service learning lesson or to meet the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. The character education units will be most effective when taught in conjunction with a student-designed service project that provides a real world setting in which students can develop and practice good character and leadership skills. For ideas and suggestions for organizing service events go to generationOn.org.
Notes for Teaching:
It is recommended that learners keep a journal to record their learning and reflections about the character traits studied.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Barbara Dillbeck
Director
Learning to Give
Betsy Flikkema
Associate Director
Learning to Give
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
