Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Note: The National Arbor Day Foundation, www.arborday.org, has a wealth of information useful in this activity. For a ten-dollar membership fee they will send ten small trees for planting and the Tree Book including planting and care information.

Age:

• 12-18

Philanthropy is:

• Giving, serving and private citizen action intended for the common good.

Purpose:

• Participants will gain an appreciation for the importance of nature and the environment through the philanthropic act of planting a tree to beautify their community

Objectives:

The young person will:

• understand the importance of trees and how they affect the
  lives and the health of people in our communities and the world.
• understand the connection between philanthropy and environmental stewardship.
  

Activity Theme:

“Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents,
it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth
from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ”

~American Indian Proverb

The facilitator explains to the group that they will be planting a tree(s). Planting a tree is an example of a philanthropic act related to caring for our environment. This activity is about giving of one’s time and talent. The facilitator will remind the group that philanthropy is simply giving of one’s time, talent, and treasure, and taking action for the good of others and/or the common good. The purpose of this activity is to foster an appreciation of nature and the environment. Emphasize that a healthy environment is the foundation of our world and that they have the opportunity to get involved today to make a positive and important difference. They will learn about various philanthropic roles in which we all can participate in order to keep our world environmentally safe, not only for us but for the generations to come.

Activity Steps:

• Ask participants to list the many purposes of trees in the lives and health of people. Record their responses on chart paper. Give them the handout or share in the information from Attachment One (scroll to bottom of page to view) about the importance of trees.
• Make sure that the group has collected all of the necessary materials before leaving to plant the tree(s): i.e., the shovel, extra soil, and water to nourish the tree after it has been planted. Also make sure that the necessary steps have been taken to arrange for the field trip and the planting. The facilitator should already have permission from the participant’s parents/guardians before leaving on the trip. Have a celebration after a job well done!

Processing Questions:

1. How does planting a tree help people?
2. How is planting a tree considered to be a philanthropic act?
3. What are some occasions that the community comes together to better the environment?
4. Why is it important to protect the environment?
5. What are some other ways that we can protect our environment?
6. Do you know of any clubs or groups that work to protect the environment?
7. Would you consider creating or getting involved in an environmental group and/or doing other environmental projects?

Variation:

Depending on the location and time involved, there are many other possible activities that the group could do to emphasize protecting the environment: i.e. picking up trash in a local park, planting flowers, weeding a garden, learning about water conservation, create a recycling project and many more. The group would be able to generate a list of ideas and possibly pick a next project.

Supplemental Activity:

Have the participants return home and talk to parents, friends and neighbors about creating a neighborhood Earth Day or Arbor Day. Ask them how they can become involved in an Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration or how they could begin their own Earth Day celebration in their town or neighborhood. One example would be for everyone in his or her neighborhood to pick up trash on his/her block. Challenge the participants to share their planting experience with others.
Suggest that the participants access the National Arbor Day Foundation web site at www.arborday.org and click on Carly’s Kids Corner - the picture of the red cardinal bird - to find fun information and activities about trees.

Activity Source:

From the Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 3-5) “Helping Others with a Garden”
Unit “Building a Mini-Park or Bird Sanctuary”

Additional Resources:

The National Arbor Day Foundation. www.arborday.org

Local Heroes
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades K-2) “Heroes in Our Community”
Unit “We Can All Do Our Share”

Community Volunteers
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 6-8) “Unsung Heroes”
Unit “The Power of One? Everyday Heroes for the Common
Good”

 

 

Attachment One

The Importance of Trees

Trees:
Provide shelter and food for wildlife and humans

Release oxygen into the air

Release moisture into the air

Reduce air pollution

Provide summer shade, lower the temperature and reduce air-conditioning costs

Block winter winds and reduce heating costs

Create a neighborhood atmosphere, discouraging vandalism

Prevent soil erosion

 

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy HS 1. Define philanthropy to include giving and sharing; volunteering; and private individual action intended for the common good. Explain how a volunteer group can act for the common good. PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy MS 1. Define philanthropy as individuals and organizations providing their time, talent, and/or treasures intended for the common good throughout history and around the world. Give examples. PHIL I. Definitions of Philanthropy DP 01. Define Philanthropy HS 2. Identify and discuss examples of philanthropy and charity in modern culture. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS01. Self, citizenship, and society MS 4. Describe the characteristics of someone who helps the community. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS01. Self, citizenship, and society HS 4. Describe and give examples of characteristics of good citizens in a democracy. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS03. Philanthropy and Economics HS 5. Give examples of stewardship decisions throughout history and in current events. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS03. Philanthropy and Economics MS 5. Define stewardship as a trust of common resources held by a community for citizens. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS03. Philanthropy and Economics MS 7. Give examples of common resources in the community. PHIL IV. Volunteering and Service VS 01. Needs Assessment HS 1. Identify a need in the school, local community, state, or the nation. PHIL IV. Volunteering and Service VS 01. Needs Assessment MS 1. Identify a need in the neighborhood or local community. PHIL IV. Volunteering and Service VS 05. Integrating the Service Experience into Learning MS 3. Identify outcomes from the service. PHIL IV. Volunteering and Service VS 05. Integrating the Service Experience into Learning HS 3. Identify outcomes from the service.