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?