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A Community of Givers (Private-Religious)

Lesson 3:

From Unit Opening Our Hearts and Hands to Others (Tzedakah) (Private-Religious)

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

3rd-5th Grade

Subjects:

Arts, Language Arts, Math, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

ART-VA:	Visual Arts: Create/Communicate
ELA:	Analyze/Interpret; Informational Media; Letter Writing; Presentations; Research; Response to Text/Others; Teamwork
MAT:	Data Collection/Organization
PHIL:	Charity; Judaism; Service Project
SOC:	Civic Responsibility/Virtue; Communities; Nonprofit Organizations; Parochial; Research

Purpose:

In this lesson, the students are empowered to explore charities related to their own interests and make an impact of their own. Students research different charitable organizations and choose one to represent in a creative way at a tzedakah fair. The students invite family and community members to the fair to raise awareness about the charities that mean the most to them. Visitors learn about the different charities and have the opportunity to contribute while at the fair or on their own using information provided by the students.

Duration:

Two 45 Minute Class Periods

Objectives:

The learner will:

read about children who have made a difference.

research a charity related to his/her own interests.

plan a project to raise money, supplies, and/or awareness for the charity of his/her choice.

prepare a presentation about the project/issue of his/her choice.

carry out a school-wide tzedakah (charity) fair to teach others about their project.

Service Experience:

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

Students research charities and prepare a project for a tzedakah fair in order to raise awareness about and donations for an issue of their choice. The projects may include researching an organization or work outside of the fair such as a blanket collection, food drive, lemonade stand, etc. The fair may be a place to raise money or awareness. The students should provide information about their charity so visitors can either give at the fair, buy a product whose profits go to the cause, or take information with them so they can give (time, talent, or treasure) on their own time.

Materials:

Stories about children who have raised money, supplies, or awareness about an issue. (see Bibliographical References)
Copies of worksheet Attachment One: We Can Do It! for each student
Copies of worksheet Attachment Two: A Biblical Command to Give for each student
Copies of worksheet Attachment Three: Tzedakah Fair Planning Guide for each student
Variety of resources about charitable organizations (see Bibliographical References)
Tables, chairs, project boards, etc. for fair displays
Tzedakah boxes (one per table)

Handout 1: We Can Do It!
Handout 2: A Biblical Command to Give
Handout 3: Tzedakah Fair Planning Guide

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:
Ask students to name some activities which they have been told that they are too young to do. Write their list on the board. Ask students if there are any activities on the list that they feel they CAN do.Tell them you don’t think they are too young to create a community-wide tzedakah project.

Read aloud about successful (tzedakah) projects designed by children (see Bibliographical References). Also let the students explore the Websites and books for more inspiring projects by children who are making a difference. Assign Attachment One: We Can Do It! as a follow-up.

Note: While this reading project should be started before the remainder of the lesson, it does not need to be finished before continuing on. Rather, this reading can be done in small pieces throughout the lesson.

As a class, read and answer the questions to Attachment Two: A Biblical Command to Give (Answers: First give to the really poor people, then relatives before strangers, then local charities before others, then charities in Israel before others).

Tell students that some needs are met by nonprofit organizations and supporting these organizations is good for the community. The students will participate in a tzedakah fair for the school community in which many different nonprofit organizations are represented and explained. Those who visit the fair have a chance to contribute to the issues of their choice. Students will pick a charity/issue and find a way to support it and represent it creatively and factually at the tzedakah fair.

Brainstorm charities that fit into each of the following five categories. Write ideas on board so groups can use them to pick charities.

Helping the “destitute,” meaning providing basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care, etc. to those who have little or nothing.

Helping relatives of the students, meaning synagogue funds, school funds, any funds raised in honor of classmates, etc.

Local charities, such as local food pantries, local shelters, local habitat for humanity, local community centers, local parks, local school districts, local museums, etc.

Charities in Israel.

Global interests.

Arrange the class into groups of three to five students according to interests. Note: It is best not to have too many charities represented or the donations will be spread too thin.

Distribute Attachment Three: Tzedakah Fair Planning Guide that will guide the students through the planning process. They will choose their issue, conduct research, design a project (optional), create a display, and practice and present the information at the fair.

The teacher should set the date and time for the fair and assign some students to design a flier to send home, place around the school, and display in the community inviting people to the fair. Be sure to invite families, school personnel, and community and synagogue members.

Research may include finding the Website of a charity, studying an issue, and visiting local nonprofit organizations. Students may contact agencies to obtain information, phone numbers, and literature to display at the tzedakah fair. Teach the students how to request information on the phone (or in person if their parents help them).

The students may gather information about how a charity gets and spends its money. They should display statistics, success stories, and/or examples of ways to help. Alternatively, the students may design a project such as raising money for an issue/charity by creating a service or good to sell or collecting blankets, food, books, or toys for people who need those supplies. Allow the students to be creative so that people who come to the fair may give money, donate supplies, or learn a procedure (such as recycling).

On the day of the fair, leave ample time to set up tables and chairs in a large space, arrange displays, and practice explanations. The visitors will be able to circulate around the room and listen to and read each presentation at their own pace.

Instruct students to have a sufficient number of presenters at their table at all times, but encourage them to take turns roaming around the fair to see the other booths.

After the fair, have the students write letters to their charities that explain where the money (or gifts) is coming from. Deliver the donations as soon as possible (see School/Home Connection).

Assessment:

Assess students based on their responses on Attachment One: We Can Do It as well as their participation and enthusiasm toward their tzedakah fair preparation. See “Evaluation” on Attachment Three: Tzedakah Fair Planning Guide.

School/Home Connection:

Arrange for families to help their children deliver the donations and letters to the charities as soon as possible. For long-distance donations, parents can accompany students to the post office.

Bibliographical References:

Alex’s Lemonade Stand http://www.alexslemonade.org/ (one child’s story of raising over a million dollars for cancer research) September 1, 2007
Just Give—Kids Corner: Inspiring Kids Making a Difference http://www.justgive.org/html/kidscorner/inspiringkids.html (examples of kids helping animals, children, and the earth)
Lewis, Barbara A. The Kid’s Guide to Social Action. Free Spirit Publishing, 1998. ISBN: 1575420384
MAZON www.mazon.org (provides information about hunger) August 31, 2007
Peace Corps Kids World: Make a Difference http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/difference/ (stories about kids solving some local problems creatively) September 1, 2007
Siegal, Danny and Naomi Eisenberger. Mitzvah MAGIC: What kids can do to change the world. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2002. ISBN: 1580130348
Trevor’s Campaign for the Homeless. http://www.volunteersolutions.org/volunteerway/org/217084.html (tells story of one boy’s efforts that evolve into something big) August 31, 2007
ZIV Tzedakah Fund www.ziv.org (provides lists of charities and projects for kids)

Lesson Developed and Piloted by:

Shira Hammerman
Areyvut
http://www.areyvut.org
New York, NY 10018

Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

We Can Do It!

Name: ______________________________ Date:_____________________________

After reading a story about a young person able to do an incredible tzedakah project, answer the following questions.

What was the name of the young person that you read about?
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
What incredible project did s/he do?
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
What inspired him/her to do such an incredible project?
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
How do you think s/he succeeded in making the project work?
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
Is this young person a hero? Why do you think this?
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
If you could make any tzedakah project you could dream of into a success, what would it be and why? (Write on the back of this sheet.)
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Handout 2Print Handout 2

A Biblical Command to Give

Name:___________________________________Date:______________________

The following passage from Deuteronomy commands us to give to those in need. The command tells to whom we should give and in what order.

If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of your towns, within your land that the Eternal your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him, and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

Who are the four groups to whom we should give? (Hint: they are listed in the first two lines of the text.)
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
What are some “needs” each of these groups might have?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Handout 3Print Handout 3

Tzedakah Fair Planning Guide

Our group includes the following people:

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Part I: Brainstorming
Refer to the list made by the class. Which ideas interest the members of this group for a project? Write down all the ideas that sound good to anyone.
________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

What are the interests, talents, and temperaments of your group members (sports, crafts, strengths, preferences, activity level)?

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

What are some issues that interest you (or really bother you)? Think about areas such as hunger, health, children, poverty, environment, and animals.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Discuss all of these and come to a consensus about a project.
“Our group has decided to prepare a presentation on ___________________ for the tzedakah fair.”

Part II: Find Out More
How can you find out more about your charity? Plan each person’s responsibilities for gathering information. (Contact an organization by phone. Read about an issue on the Internet. Gather brochures about an agency. Gather statistics about how money is used. Read about the success stories. Find out ways people can help by giving time, talent, or treasure.)

Name: Responsibility:

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Take careful notes about the organization or issue. Write down the following information for each contact because you may need to verify facts later.

Person or organization contacted: ________________________________

How contacted: ________________________________

Name:________________________________

Date: ________________________________

Where located: ________________________________

Why help is needed: ________________________________

What good or service it provides: ________________________________

Mission statement:

________________________________________________________________________________

Other interesting facts or stories about the charity:

________________________________________________________________________________

How can people help?
________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Part III: The Plan
Your group must make a display about your charity for the tzedakah fair. It should be interesting, informative, attractive, and inspiring to the visitors.
Describe the plan for the display.Your group must make a display about your charity for the tzedakah fair. It should be interesting, informative, attractive, and inspiring to the visitors.Describe the plan for the display.

________________________________________________________________________________

Your group must make a display about your charity for the tzedakah fair. It should be interesting, informative, attractive, and inspiring to the visitors.Describe the plan for the display.

List the materials needed to do this display.

________________________________________________________________________________

Assign responsibilities to each member of the group to create the display.

Name: Responsibility: Time-line: Check when complete:

________________________________________________________________________________

Part IV: Evaluation
What was the overall response of the visitors? (You may wish to have a comments notebook available for visitors to write in.)

________________________________________________________________________________

What was the overall response of the visitors? (You may wish to have a comments notebook available for visitors to write in.)

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Do you feel that your work on this project has made a difference? Explain.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

What else would you like to do related to this project?

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Write a letter to the organization you helped and explain your project.

Academic Standards:

State:

Philanthropy Framework:

Unit Contents:

Overview:Opening Our Hearts and Hands to Others (Tzedakah) (Private-Religious) Summary

Lessons:

1.: Giving is Getting (Private-Religious)
2.: Tzedakah Begins at Home (Private-Religious)
3.: A Community of Givers (Private-Religious)