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What Does a Nonprofit Do, and for Whom? (3-5)

Lesson 2:

From Unit Nonprofits in Our World and Community (3-5)

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

3rd-5th Grade

Subjects:

Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

PHIL:	For Profit Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations
SOC:	Guidestar.org; Inquiry; LEAGUE Optional Lesson: The Drive; Research

Purpose:

Students will investigate key local and national nonprofit organizations by researching their histories, services, and target populations.

Duration:

Two Fifty-Minute Class Periods

Objectives:

The learner will

research a local or national nonprofit organization.

Service Experience:

Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

The students create and display informational posters in a school display area so that other students may gain information about local nonprofits, their work, and importance to the common good.

Materials:

Teacher created list of nonprofits with local affiliation for the student research project
created from Internet Sites of National Nonprofit Organizations (Attachment One) r from www.guidestar.org and/or www.idealist.org.
Teacher Note: Since Lessons Three asks students to plan and carry out interviews
with representatives from some of the organizations researched, care should be taken
in producing the student research project choice list to include nonprofits for which it
might be possible to conduct those interviews, either in person, by phone or by e-mail
communication.
Information Recording Sheet (Attachment Two)
Research materials (This may require access to a library.)
Access to Internet sites (www.guidestar.org or www.idealist.org or specific nonprofit
sites) for the research project or print materials about local nonprofits
18 x 12 paper and markers or crayons for the poster
Team Reporting Notes (Attachment Three)
Optional: Teacher supplied informational brochures on local nonprofits

Handout 1: Internet Sites of National Nonprofit Organizations
Handout 2: Information Recording Sheet

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:

Tell students to close their eyes and think of the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the word "nonprofit." Let students share their thoughts.

Pair each student with another student for their work on this and subsequent activities. Assign each team a local or national nonprofit organization. Inform students that their research during the next two class periods is very important, as representatives from the nonprofits they study will be coming to the classroom. We will interview them regarding their work in our community and their role in the nonprofit organization. In this manner, students will be accountable for gaining their own knowledge.
Give each team Internet Sites of National Nonprofit Organizations (Attachment One) and Information Recording Sheet (Attachment Two) where they will record all the information they gather. Research can be done using www.guidestar.org , by accessing the nonprofit's own Web site, or through print material such as encyclopedias and periodicals. It is expected that this process will take one fifty-minute class period.
In addition to completing the recording sheet, have students create an informative poster about their nonprofit for use in a class presentation.
On Day Two, teams should present their information to the rest of the class. Each student will be responsible for taking brief notes on each organization. These notes will be recorded on Team Reporting Notes (Attachment Three).

Assessment:

Students will be assessed based on the completion of both recording sheets and the poster. The poster should contain the name of the nonprofit and its primary mission. Teachers should realize that all information might not be available on the first recording sheet.

Note to teachers: You may decide whether you would like students to research the national nonprofit or if you would like their research to focus on the local branch, if separate information is available.

Bibliographical References:

Philanthropic Research, Inc. GuideStar: The Donor's Guide to the Charitable Universe http://www.guidestar.org (10 April 2001).

Lesson Developed and Piloted by:

Jamie Najim
Kansas City Kansas School
Emerson Elementary School
Kansas City, KS 66106

Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

Internet Sites of National Nonprofit Organizations

National Coalition for the Homeless http://www.nationalhomeless.org/

Heart of America United Way www.unitedway.org

Assoc. of Community Organizations for Reform Now www.acorn.org/

Volunteers of America www.voa.org/ Catholic Charities www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

American Association of Retired Persons www.aarp.org

American Cancer Society www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

American Humane Association http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer

American Red Cross www.redcross.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America www.bbbsa.org/

Boys and Girls Club www.bgca.org

Camp Fire Boys and Girls www.campfire.org

Futures for Children www.futurechild.org

Junior Achievement www.ja.org

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation www.gkccf.org

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation www.emkf.org

W.K. Kellogg Foundation www.wkkf.org

Literacy Volunteers of America www.literacyvolunteers.org

Make a Wish Foundation www.wish.org

Points of Light Foundation www.pointsoflight.org

Rockefeller Foundation www.rockfound.org

Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org

YMCA www.YMCA.NET

Youth Volunteer Corps of America www.yvca.org

To find a very thorough listing of most national nonprofits, you can try The Independent Sector @ www.independentsector.org.

Handout 2Print Handout 2

Information Recording Sheet

Name:__________________________________________________ Date:_______________________________________________

1. Name of nonprofit __________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Date founded and by whom __________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why founded? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the population they are trying to reach (i.e., homeless, drug addiction, hungry, etc.)? _________________________

5. Write their mission statement._________________________________________________________________________________

6. What services are provided by your nonprofit organization?

A. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

C. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. How many people are served by your organization? ______________________________________________________________

8. How does your nonprofit organization receive funding (i.e., federal government, grants, etc.)? ____________________________

9. What are some obstacles your nonprofit organization faces? ______________________________________________________

10. List any other important information regarding your nonprofit organization here.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Team Reporting Notes

Name:__________________________________________________ Date:_______________________________________________

Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:
Name of Nonprofit: __________________________________________________________
Important Information:

Academic Standards:

State:

Philanthropy Framework:

Unit Contents:

Overview:Nonprofits in Our World and Community (3-5) Summary

Lessons:

1.: Nonprofits? (3-5)
2.: What Does a Nonprofit Do, and for Whom? (3-5)
3.: Nonprofits in our Community and World (3-5)
4.: Day in the Life of a Nonprofit (A) (3-5)