Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is to heighten the awareness of the public about oil spills and the environmental issues they can cause. Learners will actively participate in an advertising campaign advocating for legislation to protect wildlife from human caused disasters like oil spills.
Duration:
Two forty-five minute class periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- increase their ability to influence others.
- present their ideas and opinions in a clear and simple way.
- share their knowledge of how humans can impact the environment.
- advocate for legislation to protect the environment against human caused disasters.
- create an advertising campaign.
Service Experience:
Learners will create advertisements on grocery bags advocating for legislation for the protection of habitats from human-caused disasters like oil spills. Learners will write an opinion essay for publication in a local newspaper encouraging people to write to members of congress asking for legislation that will better protect the oceans against oil spills and holding those that cause such devastation of wildlife and their habitats responsible.
Materials:
Paper shopping bags
Markers (permanent not washable)
Scrap paper- newsprint
Attachment One, Shopping Bag Billboard Assessment Rubric
Attachment Two, Opinion Essay Rubric
Instructional Procedure(s):
Teacher Note: Advance preparation - the teacher should go to the local grocery store and tell the store manager that your class would like to decorate paper shopping bags with environmental messages. Ask them for paper grocery bags. Tell the manager you will be returning the bags after they are decorated for them to use for customers.
Anticipatory Set:
Show the learners a grocery bag. Ask: What do you think we are going to do with these bags that will help the environment. Accept all reasonable answers. Tell them that they are going to create environmental advertisements on the bags to share the knowledge that they have gained during this unit of study about oil spills and habitats.
- Brainstorm ideas of things that would be appropriate to put on the bags to create advertisements. Remind them that advertisement needs to be concise and still convey the message.
- List some of their suggestions on the board for their future reference.
- Have the learners make a rough draft of their advertisement. Remind the learners that the bags must include a philanthropy theme.
- For example, demonstrating people volunteering to help to clean up the oil, people writing letters to members of congress, etc.
- Check rough drafts for incorrect grammar and spelling errors.
- Give each learner at least one bag for their advertisement.
Teacher’s Note: This may be a homework assignment if time is an issue.
- After the bags are completed, have the learners share their advertisements with the rest of the class.
- Return the grocery bags to the store.
Assessment:
Learners will write an “Opinion Essay” to send to a local newspaper advocating for legislation to protect environments from human caused disasters like oil spills. They will also reflect on this unit and what they think they could do to further help protect the environment.
Use the Opinion Essay Rubric (See Attachment Two) to evaluate the letter.
Cross-Curriculum Extensions:
Learners may make posters of their bag designs to display in the school. Pictures can be taken of the posters and posted on the school’s web site.
Lesson Developed By:
David WallsHolton Public Schools
Holton Middle School
Holton, MI 49425
Jessica Wagenmaker
Holton Public Schools
Holton Middle School
Holton, MI 49425
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Shopping Bag Billboards Assessment Rubric
|
Points |
Action |
|
10 |
Slogan depicts an environmental disaster |
|
10 |
Slogan demonstrates a philanthropic act taking place |
|
10 |
Picture and slogan is colored neatly |
| 10 |
Slogan printed neatly |
| Max 40 | Total Points |
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Opinion Essay Rubric
|
Criterion |
Points |
|
Essay is written in a clear and concise manner, with no grammatical or spelling errors. The writer states a position and supports it with at least three reasons why legislation is needed to protect wildlife from human created disasters |
4 |
|
Essay is written in a clear and concise manner, with only one or two grammatical or spelling errors. The writer states a position and supports it with at least two reason why legislation is needed to protect wildlife from human created disasters |
3 |
|
Essay is poorly written with several grammatical and spelling errors. The writer states a position but only supports it with one reason why legislation is needed to protect wildlife from human created disasters |
2 |
|
Essay is poorly written with several grammatical and spelling errors. The writer does not state a position and there are no reasons stated why legislation is needed to protect wildlife from human created disasters |
1 |
Unit Contents:
Overview:Oil Changes Everything Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Oil, Oil Everywhere
- 2.
- Oil + Water = A Mess
- 3.
- Oil + Water + Wildlife = A Real Mess
- 4.
- Oil + Water + Students= Knowledge
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