Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

Age:

• 7-11

Philanthropy is:

• Sharing time, talent and treasure, and taking action for the common good.

Purpose:

• Participants will recognize philanthropic actions through fun and active participation.

Objectives:
The young person will:

• name and identify philanthropic actions.

Activity Theme:

"If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers." ~Whoopi Goldberg

Tell the participants that they will have some fun learning about philanthropy. They are going to play a relay game that will help them learn about philantrhopic actions.

Activity Steps:

• Before the game begins, mark the floor with tape to indicate advancement points. There should be at least ten or twelve advancement points appropriately placed for the age group.
• Divide participants into two groups of about 5-6 people. Ask the groups to have a seat. Explain that this activity will use all that the group has learned thus far about philanthropy.

• Explain that each group is a team, and each team will have 26 small strips of paper (one for each letter of the alphabet) and a marker. A letter of the alphabet will be called out by the facilitator. The group will work together to find a philanthropic action that begins with that letter and write that action on the paper. In case the group is unable to brainstorm an action, give clues from the actions listed in Attachment One.

• The first team to write down an action and hold up their strip of paper advances two spaces. In the event of a tie, each team will move one space. The answers will be posted on the wall under the corresponding letter of the alphabet. The goal is to have each group complete the game and celebrate the group victory. Groups that complete the course first are encouraged to be cheerleaders for the others.

Processing Questions:

1. What did you learn about philanthropy from our game?
2. How would our community become a better place by the actions you have written and placed on the wall? Why are these actions helpful to others?
3. Tell us about philanthropic actions you have done and why you did them.
4. What could this group do to encourage others to take philanthropic action?

Variation:

Once the relay is completed, collect the papers from the wall and use those philanthropic actions to play charades with the group.

Supplemental Activity:

Have the group look for philanthropic actions throughout the week that represent every letter of the alphabet and bring that list with them to the next group meeting.

Activity Source:

Learning to Give Lesson (K-2) “Phil up on the Arts”

Unit “Alphabody ABC's of Giving”

Additional Resources:

Philanthropic Literature

Learning to Give Lesson (3-5) “A Look at Philanthropy in Children’s Literature”

Unit “Just What is a YAC (Youth Advisory Committee)”

What is Philanthropy

Learning to Give Lesson (3-5) “’Phil’ing Good”

Unit “Foundations and You"

Identifying Philanthropy

Learning to Give Lesson (3-5) “Philanthropy—What Is It?”

Unit “Why Do People Give?”

 

Attachment One

ABCs of Philanthropy Game

A: applaud someone for doing a great job
B: bake something for a homeless shelter
C: care for a sick animal
D: donate a book to your library
E: encourage a friend to volunteer with you
F: form a “Kids Kare Klub” with your friends
G: give a helping hand to an older person
H: help clean up a part of your neighborhood
I: illustrate a picture for someone
J: join a club
K: kindly ask if you can help someone
L: listen to and respect people
M: make something special for someone you love
N: notice if someone needs your help
O: offer to help out a neighbor
P: participate in a fundraiser
Q: quietly share
R: remember to say please and thank you
S: share a book with someone who cannot read
T: teach someone about the importance of caring
U: use your talents
V: volunteer to help out at a school function
W: welcome a guest in your classroom
X: explain what philanthropy means to you
Y: yes to sharing and caring

Other words that can be used for ABCs of Philanthropy Game

A: applaud, assist, accept, appreciate
B: bake, begin, bring
C: care, carry, celebrate, change, choose
D: donate, dedicate, decide, draw
E: earn, encourage
F: fix, feed, find
G: give, go, guide
H: help, hold, honor
I: illustrate, imagine, independently
J: join, just
K: keep, know
L: lead, lend, learn, listen
M: make, meet, model
N: notice, need
O: offer, observe, open
P: participate, pass, play
Q: question, quickly
R: raise, read, reach, reward
S: share, smile, start
T: think, talk, tell
U: use, unselfishly, understand
V: view, volunteer
W: welcome, watch
X: exchange, exercise, explain
Y: young, youth, yes
Z: zip

Sparks, Kristi. Philanthropy is "Phun," Lesson One: The ABCs of Giving , http://learningtogive.org

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy E 1. Define philanthropy as the giving and sharing of time, talent, or treasure intended for the common good. PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 02. Roles of Government, Business, and Philanthropy E 6. Explain why acting philanthropically is good for the community, state, or nation. PHIL III. Philanthropy and the Individual PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy E 4. Give an example of how citizens acted for the common good.