Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Unit Purpose:
This unit asks learners to choose their favorite heroes from the "Star Wars" or other movies and identify acts of courage. Using charts created in lesson one, learners find hero traits related to courage and facing daunting challenges. After highlighting the key words explaining the classic hero myth, learners look for these traits in themselves, the Founding Fathers, and our current leaders. The learners will then reflect on the relationship between courage and fear, and identify the different character attributes that guide us when facing a challenge.
Focus Questions:
What role does courage play in relationships and life success? How can developing courage equip people as world citizens who contribute to the common good?
Unit Duration:
Five 20-minute lessons
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- choose a hero from "Star Wars."
- identify the courageous acts of the hero.
- review the features of a classic hero.
- define courage.
- identify real-life heroes.
- work in a group to answer three questions about one hero.
- compare and contrast key themes in the classic hero tale with traits of real-life heroes.
- compose a slogan or inspiring saying that communicates the key lesson learned from a real-life hero.
- identify personal and group strengths and weaknesses related to taking courageous action.
- identify opportunities and threats related to taking courageous action.
- state that courage does not mean fearlessness.
- reflect on the words of Gandalf from a passage in "The Lord of the Rings."
Service Experience:
This character education mini-lesson is not intended to be a service learning lesson or to meet the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. The character education units will be most effective when taught in conjunction with a student-designed service project that provides a real world setting in which students can develop and practice good character and leadership skills. For ideas and suggestions for organizing service events go to The League.
Notes for Teaching:
It is recommended that learners keep a journal to record their learning and reflections about the character traits studied.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Barbara Dillbeck
Director
Learning to Give
Betsy Flikkema
Associate Director
Learning to Give
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
