Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

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Call to Care (A)

Lesson 2:

From Unit Learning About Philanthropy-Diocesan Standard

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

3rd-5th Grade

Subjects:

Language Arts and Philanthropy

Key Words/Concepts click to view

ELA:	Universal Themes; Vocabulary
PHIL:	Christianity; Stewardship
SOC:	Parochial

Purpose:

To introduce students to the concept of Stewardship. While written for a Catholic Elementary School, the lesson may be easily adapted for public school use.

Duration:

One class period

Objectives:

Students will:

create stewardship lists.
complete stewardship surveys.
learn six new words related to stewardship by listing them in an acrostic poem (see Attachment Two).

Materials:

Bible
Dictionaries/Thesauruses
Construction paper
Markers/Crayons
Magazines

Handout 1: Stewardship
Handout 2: Acrostic Poem
Handout 3: Acrostic Poem Rubric

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set
Ask a volunteer to read the following verse in the Bible while the others follow along. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) Discuss the meaning of this passage:
"God blesses those of us who give. If we give a lot, we will be blessed a lot. If we give little, we will have little blessings. Also, give out of the goodness of our heart. Not because it is expected."

Introduce stewardship as our responsibility to take care of creation. God has trusted us to take care of each other and the world. As a group, discuss whether or not we are currently being good stewards.
Distribute the stewardship handout concerning a pet (see Attachment One). Have students work on it with a partner. Discuss their specific results as a class. Ask students how this relates to philanthropy.
(Philanthropy is the giving of one's time, talent, or treasure for the sake of another or for the common good. Therefore, by achieving philanthropic acts, we are acting as stewards).

Assessment:

Have the students create acrostic poems using the word steward. For every letter in the word steward, they will use a word that describes stewardship. The students may use dictionaries or thesauruses to help them. They can decorate their poem by cutting out pictures from magazines or coloring to show people who care about each other and the world around them. Score using Acrostic Poem Rubric in Attachment Three. See example of acrostic poem below:

S ervice
T rustworthy
E ager
W illing
A ssist
R ewarded
D uty

Extension:

Hang the posters in the hallway to remind students what is involved in being a good steward/philanthropist.

Bibliographical References:

"Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. Each one should give, then, as he has decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly. And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause."
(2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
The Good News Bible: Today's English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1976.

Lesson Developed and Piloted by:

Kelly Serwick VanSkiver
Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
St. Alphonsus Elementary School
Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

Stewardship

Name :

Date:

Suppose you had to find someone to watch your new kitten. Discuss with a partner the kind of person you would entrust to watch over your new pet. Write out the qualities that you would want that person to have in the space below.

How do you think this relates to Jesus calling us to be stewards or loving caretakers?