Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Purpose:
Duration:
Two to Three Forty-Five Minute Class Periods (Including the experiential component, this lesson may take two to three weeks.)
Objectives:
The learner will:
- describe the steps needed to start a service project.
- evaluate a service project.
Service Experience:
Learn more about the stages of service-learning.
Students will work as a class to plan a service project to help a family in need. Each student will be responsible for contributing his/her time, talent, and/or treasure to reach the goal of the service project, which is to assist a family in the community.
Materials:
- Eight Great Steps to Reach Our Goal (Attachment One)
- Plan for Helping a Family in Need (Attachment Two)
- Evaluation for Planning a Service Project (Attachment Three)
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Ask, "If we want to help a family like the one in A Chair for My Mother, what kinds of things would we have to keep in mind?" Record the responses.
- Explain that it is important to follow a course of action so all people involved know the direction of the service project. Use Eight Great Steps to Reach our Goal (see Attachment One) to prepare students for making a service plan.
- Distribute Plan for Helping a Family in Need (see Attachment Two). Allow time in class for students to work in small groups or as a whole group to complete the service plan that is specific to the project. As the class discusses the service project, chart the different responsibilities needed to accomplish the goal.
- Allow students to choose roles of responsibility in order to carry out the service project. Students may create advertisements, make collection boxes, research the needs of the family, contact nonprofit agencies, etc. Carry out the project according to the service plan. (See following lessons for information regarding preparation of the budget.)
- At the end of the project, have students discuss their project and evaluate it.
Assessment:
Using Evaluation for Planning a Service Project (see Attachment Three), students will:
- identify and explain the eight steps needed to carry out a service project. (Award one point for each correctly identified step and one point for each correct explanation.)
- write their reactions about the service project.
Cross-Curriculum Extensions:
Students can use this plan to start a service project in a club or organization they belong to like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or a church group.
Bibliographical References:
- Lewis, Barbara A. The Kid's Guide to Social Action. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, 1991.
- Williams, Vera B. A Chair for My Mother. New York: Mulberry Books, 1982.
Lesson Developed By:
Christel HomrichForest Hills Public Schools
Thornapple Elementary School
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Handouts:
Handout 1Print Handout 1
Eight Great Steps to Reach our Goal
- Choose a Problem
Think of a problem in your community or a subject you have studied in school. It's not hard to find a problem. The hard part is selecting ONE on which to focus.
- Do Your Research
Survey people in your school/community to find out how they feel about the problem. Contact local agencies to discover the facts about the problem.
- Brainstorm Possible Solutions and Choose ONE
Brainstorm ways you might solve the problem. Select the solutions that seem the most possible and which will have the most impact.
- Get Group Support
Find people who agree to help solve the problem. You will create a working team.
- Advertise
Think of ways to get your message (problem and solution) out to the public. TV, radio, local newspapers are goods sources and sometimes allow free advertising for a good cause.
- Raise Money or Resources
Raise funds or collect resources to support your project.
- Carry Out Your Solution
After advertising and collecting donations, complete the solution by ACTING.
- Evaluate
Ask questions like:
Are there any parts of the solution that need changing?
Are we making a difference?
What went right or wrong?
Handout 2Print Handout 2
Plan for Helping a Family in Need
- Specifically identify the problem.
Notes:
- Research about the family, ways to assist, items they need, etc.
Notes:
- How to get the school and/or community involved?
Notes:
- Who will assist us?
Notes:
- How do we get the message out to the public?
Notes:
- How do we raise money or resources?
Notes:
- How long will this project last?
Notes:
- Evaluation of Service Project
Notes:
Handout 3Print Handout 3
Evaluation for Planning a Service Project
If you wanted to start a service project with a group of your friends, you would need to plan the project. List the eight steps needed to carry out a service project from the beginning to the end. Write an explanation for each step.
Step 1:
Explanation:Step 2:
Explanation:Step 3:
Explanation:Step 4:
Explanation:Step 5:
Explanation:Step 6:
Explanation:Step 7:
Explanation:Step 8:
Explanation:
Unit Contents:
Overview:Raising Resources Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- We Need More than Money
- 2.
- Plan of Action
- 3.
- How Much Will This Cost?
- 4.
- FUNdraising Goal
- 5.
- Nonprofits Compete
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
Comments
The eight steps were useful in planning our service project.
(The positive aspect of this lesson was) Laying out the steps of an action plan. The Students could see the amount of work to be done.
(The lesson) Allowed the students to plan, develop, create, and evaluate service learning. Students were actively engaged/responsible for their learning.