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Time, Talent, and Treasure
Lesson 3:
Purpose:
Students will recognize time, talent, and treasure as components of stewardship and philanthropy. While written for a Catholic Elementary School, the lesson may be easily adapted for public school use.
Duration:
One session
Objectives:
The learner will:
- identify their talents and what they do with their time and treasures as they relate to philanthropy and stewardship.
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 meet with a younger class (their "superfriends") to present a story they have written about a character who uses his/her time, talent, or treasure to help others.
Materials:
- Time/Talent/Treasure Survey (Attachment One)
- Time/Talent/Treasure Rubric (Attachment Three)
- Journal Activity (Attachment Four)
- Construction paper
- Filler paper
- Scissors
- Markers/crayons
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set
Pass out the Time/Talent/Treasure Survey(see Attachment One). Ask students to fill it out independently (possible answers are listed). This section is to be given with minimal assisstance.
- Discuss answers as a whole group, pointing out the differences and similarities between our talents and how we give our time.
- Explain to the students that we can give our time, talent or treasure to help the greater good. We can give in all three areas, two or one.
- Ask students to write a story for their "superfriends" (a younger class), about a character that uses his or her time, talent or treasure to help the world or others. Publish these stories and bind in a book. Request that students include illustrations.
- Present the finished books to the superfriends as a gift and a reminder to the younger students to be good philanthropists/stewards.
Assessment:
- See Time/Talent/Treasure and Story Writing rubrics (see Attachment Three).
- See Journal Activity (see Attachment Four).
Lesson Developed and Piloted by:
Kelly Serwick VanSkiverCatholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
St. Alphonsus Elementary School
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Time/Talent/Treasure Survey
Name:
Date:
- If I had an hour to spend it on myself, I would
- If I had an hour to spend for the good of my community, I would like to use that time doing
- I am really good at
- One way that I use my talent (look at #3) to help others is by
- If I won $50, I would
- If I won $50 and was trying to be a good steward/philanthropist, I would
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Time/Talent/Treasure Survey (Sample Answers)
Name: Sample Answers
Date:
- If I had an hour to spend it on myself, I would
reading a book
- If I had an hour to spend for the good of my community, I would like to use that time doing
cleaning up all the graffiti
- I am really good at
basketball
- One way that I use my talent (look at #3) to help others is by
helping students who are not very good at basketball become better
- If I won $50, I would
buy a new Lego set
- If I won $50 and was trying to be a good steward/philanthropist, I would
buy garbage bags and pick up trash around my neighborhood. Perhaps I would then give the rest to someone who needs it.
Handout 3Print Handout 3
Time/Talent/Treasure Rubric
Name:Date:
| Answers reflect appropriate and honest thought. | |
| Neatness counts and don’t forget correct heading! |
Ratings:
5 - Excellent
4 - Good
3 - Average
2 - Poor
1 - Unacceptable
Name:
Date:
| Story shows philanthropic character. | |
| Finished draft contains correct spelling and grammar. | |
| Neatness counts! (cursive, illustrations, heading) |
Ratings:
5 - Excellent
4 - Good
3 - Average
2 - Poor
1 - Unacceptable
Comments:
Handout 4Print Handout 4
Journal Activity
Use these journal questions as a way to assess your students’ understanding of philanthropy.
- Philanthropy means the giving of one’s time, talent, or treasure for the common good. Is that difficult to do? Explain your answer.
- Is it easier to be the one giving or the one receiving? Explain.
- Stewardship is like philanthropy. God has called us to be stewards over all he has given us. Tell one way that you could be a steward.
- Do you like doing good things for other people as a group or by yourself? Explain.
- People have been wearing those WWJD bracelets. They stand for “What Would Jesus Do?” What do you think those bracelets mean? Do you think they help? Why or why not?
- Write about the most recent philanthropic deed that you have done. How did it make you feel to do this deed?
- Write about the most recent good deed that you have received from someone else. How did it make you feel to receive this good deed?
- Why do you think that people give? What is one reason that you give? Why do you think that people do not give?
- Jesus said to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” What do you think that means? Who are our neighbors?
- Some people need food, love, clothes, medicine, shelter, etc. What are some things you need that you do not have now? How do they compare to the items listed above?
- How would you teach someone to be philanthropic?
- How do you feel when you are treated unfairly? How do you feel when other people are treated unfairly? Which is harder for you: to be the one mistreated or to see others mistreated? Explain.
- If you could give one thing to the world, what would it be? How would life change?
- Do you think that people are more philanthropic now or were they more in the past?
- What can we learn from the elderly? What can the elderly learn from children?
- Brainstorm a list of GOOD DEEDS.
- If you could give an award of philanthropy, what would the winner be like?
- Middle school has a Christian Service requirement. Those students have to achieve a certain amount of service hours. Do you think students should be required to do acts of philanthropy? Why or why not?
Unit Contents:
Overview:Learning About Philanthropy-Diocesan Standard Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Love of Mankind
- 2.
- Call to Care (A)
- 3.
- Time, Talent, and Treasure
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Comments
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