Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
generationOn
Unit Purpose:
In this unit, the teacher poses several questions to spark conversation and critical thinking about the meaning of fairness. Students work together to create a definition of fairness. In the story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, students identify the barriers and challenges to addressing an unfair situation. Given a list of ways to respond to unfair situations, students match ways to respond to possible unfair situations. Students work in small groups to analyze personal responses to a specific unfair situation. Students play a simulation game that raises awareness of their power to take action for the good of others. In the final reflection, students connect the concepts of fairness and philanthropy through written response to a quote or personal experience.
Unit Duration:
Five 20-Minute Lessons
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- respond in discussion to a scenario about a fairness issue.
- give a personal non-verbal response to several questions.
- discuss and come to consensus on a definition for fairness.
- identify the difficult decisions involved in taking action against unfairness.
- read and discuss different ways to respond to unfairness.
- apply ways to respond to a list of potential unfair situations.
- respond to a familiar scenario of unfair treatment on a school campus.
- collaborate on writing an action plan for responding to a specific unfair situation.
- listen to a set of rules for a game.
- agree to follow the rules exactly and then play the game.
- reflect on the meaning of the game for empowering students to take action for the common good in the real world.
- respond in writing to a quote or personal experience.
- reflect on the vocabulary words fairness and philanthropy and connect the two concepts.
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.
