Learners will identify qualities that exemplify philanthropists and recognize those qualities in a local philanthropist.
 
Teacher Note: Prior to teaching this lesson, collect stories from the local newspaper about people who have been philanthropic to use as examples with the learners.

The learner will:

• identify qualities that define a philanthropist.
  
• identify local citizens who are contributing to the common good.
  
• identify a local philanthropist who is contributing to the common good and the qualities that this philanthropist portrays.

Anticipatory Set:
Ask the learners to draw on past knowledge (including the philanthropists studied in Lesson One: What Is a Philanthropist and Why Do We Care?) to have a silent brainstorming session to develop a list of qualities/characteristics that exemplify philanthropists.  Ask the learners to write the characteristics on large sheets of paper posted on the classroom wall, as they think of them, creating a “graffiti wall.” of ideas.  Encourage learners to write as many as they can or add tally marks next to existing qualities with which they agree.  They could also draw an illustration or symbol that help to clarify the quality.

 

Day One: 

• Focus on the philanthropic qualities posted. Facilitate a classroom discussion or debate on whether these qualities exemplify a philanthropist.  Cross out qualities that don’t fit the description or are duplicates, and keep the qualities that do fit the description.  Group those that are similar.  Discuss whether person’s exhibiting these qualities would be a positive influence for the common good of the community.
  
  
• As a class come to consensus on about eight philanthropic qualities/characteristics that learners will use as a qualifier for “finding” a philanthropist in their community. 
  
  Teacher Note: Choose to do the following activity with learners in teams of three or as individuals. 
  
  
• Distribute Attachment One: Qualities of a Philanthropist Rubric (Individuals or teams may need more than one copy of the handout as they decide on a philanthropist about whom to write.)  Have the learners fill in the ten qualities that the class selected in the appropriate spaces on their rubric handout.  Explain that they will be using these identified qualities to choose and report on a local philanthropist.  At least half of the class-identified qualities must be met when choosing a philanthropist, including a brief statement of how the philanthropist demonstrates them.  These findings will be reported to the entire class.
  
  
• For homework, have the learners take home Attachment One and discuss with their families, or others, who in the community might be a philanthropist (someone who demonstrates at least half of the identified qualities.)  Remind the learners that this person does not have to be “famous.”  This person can be themselves, a family member, neighbor, peer, youth group leader, coach, etc.
  
  

Day Two:

• Using the completed Attachment One as a guide, have learners write brief summaries of a local person’s philanthropic acts in the form of a nominating speech for a “Philanthropists Hall of Fame.”
  
  
• Ask several or all learners to give their nominating speeches to the class.

Learners will discuss Attachment One: Qualities of a Philanthropist Rubric with their family or other adult and ask for their suggestions in choosing a local philanthropist.