Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Phil Up on the Arts
Unit of 4 lessons
Unit Overview:
This unit will introduce the concept of community and philanthropy using the arts: music, movement, and creative dramatics. The students will create a product to be given to an organization that will use it with children.
Unit Purpose:
This unit will introduce the meaning of philanthropy and community and show how the students can practice philanthropy in the school and neighborhood in which they live. They will learn about these concepts through music, movement, and creative dramatics experiences. The students will then create a philanthropic product that will be given to an organization or group that works with children.
Unit Duration:
Depending on who videotapes and how the students perform, the last lesson could be more than three class periods.
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- define philanthropy.
- identify independent philanthropic opportunities.
- solve a problem using kinesthetic awareness.
- describe the concept of community within the classroom and the school.
- list philanthropic acts they can complete without permission from the teacher.
- memorize and sing two songs about philanthropic acts.
- demonstrate pantomime skills and the ability to dramatize a character in a story.
- explain the benefits of volunteering for the common good.
- cooperatively perform songs.
- volunteer time and talents without expecting anything in return.
Service Experience:
Although lessons in this unit contain service project examples, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.
The students will perform a variety of songs appropriate for children ages two to eight. The performance will be videotaped and donated to the local hospital Pediatric Unit for use with the children.
Unit Assessment:
- Student teams will demonstrate the "construction" of the letters of the alphabet with their bodies and pantomime the action described for each letter.
- Students will be "caught" doing philanthropic acts in the classroom.
- Students will be listened to as they sing. When they have had the opportunity to sing the entire song several times, they will be challenged to sing without help.
- Students will retell a story in their own words.
- Students will state the similarities of their wants/needs to that of storybook characters.
- Students will explain why they think someone would volunteer their time, talent, or treasure.
- Students will predict a different story ending in which there is no group cooperation.
- Students will decide what they can do for their "school" that would benefit everyone.
- Students will critique their videotape performance.
- Students will provide suggestions for future videos.
School/Home Connection:
- Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
Send a note home explaining the simple philanthropic acts that the students have been involved with in the classroom and school. Ask the parents to tally philanthropic acts they observe at home and return the tally to school at the end of a specified time period.
The goal is to make these small acts a new habit! Have students look at their tally and challenge them to increase their number of philanthropic acts in the next week.
Notes for Teaching:
Some background in pantomime, music and movement is helpful. However, these lessons can be completed with no background. Do what you feel you can.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Jennifer O'Toole
Buchanan Community Schools
Moccasin Elementary School
410 Moccasin Avenue
Buchanan, MI 49107
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