The learner will:

• describe and give examples of character traits representing good citizenship.
  
• explain that philanthropy is part of good citizenship, and is often exemplified through acts of kindness intended to promote the common good.

Anticipatory Set:

(Prior to class, have the following words listed as column headings, on a display board, overhead transparency or chart paper: Full Life; Personal Freedom; Respect; Generosity; Fairness; Equality; Non-Bias; Honest; Pro-Active/Involved; Patriotic.)

Read aloud “The Teenagers Bill of Rights” in the book Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.  Ask learners if they can think of any other rights they may have as young citizens.  List their answers on the board.

• Tell learners that today we are going to discuss the Character Traits of an Awesome Citizen in a democracy.  Hand out Attachment One: The Top Ten Character Traits of an Awesome Citizen.  Ask the learners to look at the first character trait: living life to its fullest, and ask learners to give examples of what that means to them.  Assign a learner to capture and record the responses on the display board or chart under the appropriate heading.  Continue the same procedure with the remaining nine characteristics.
  
  
• Read “Life Just Isn’t” from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.
  
  
• With Attachment One: Top Ten Character Traits of an Awesome Citizen displayed, ask learners to name the character traits from the list that were evident in “Life Just Isn’t.”
  
  
• Divide learners into groups of two or three (depending on class size).  Assign each group one of the “Top Ten” Character Traits of an Awesome Citizen.  Distribute Attachment Two: Song/Skit Reporting Form and Attachment Three: Skit/Song Rubric.  Go over both forms.  Explain that each group will be responsible for a brief song or skit that will demonstrate their assigned trait.  Groups should plan their task and complete the form.
  
  
• The groups should perform their song or skit for the other class members.
  
  
• Put the term philanthropy on the board or overhead.  Solicit ideas about its definition.  Explain that philanthropy is giving and sharing, volunteering, and private individual action intended for the common good.  Ask for examples of how volunteers can act for the common good.  Referring back to the Top Ten Character Traits of an Awesome Citizen, ask the learners which of these traits might apply to and promote philanthropic acts.

Ask the learners if they have heard of the idea of random acts of kindness.  This is a kindness done to someone without recognition and without thanks.  Examples can range from an anonymous note wishing someone a good day, a bright flower placed on someone’s desk, letting someone with one or two items move ahead of you in line at the check-out stand, etc.  Ask for other examples.  Initiate the idea of the learners doing a random act of kindness within the next week.  Follow up during the next session with a discussion of what kinds of acts were done or received, how they felt as a doer or receiver, and whether it was a worthwhile thing to do.

Ask: Could these random acts of kindness be considered a form of philanthropy?  Do they exemplify any of the character traits of an awesome citizen?

Have the learners complete a self-assessment to determine which of the “Top Ten Character Traits of an Awesome Citizen” (Attachment Four) they possess and to what degree they feel they posses it using a 0-5 scale (0 = “not like me” to 5 = “very much like me”).  Have the learners reflect on their total score and self-determine which traits they would need to work on if they were to become an even more “Awesome Citizen.”