Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Age:

• 7-11

Philanthropy is:

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

Purpose:

• Participants will recognize that each person has different and special talents. The giving of these talents is part of the definition of philanthropy.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• identify their special gifts and talents.
• understand that all people have special gifts and talents to share.
• share these gifts and talents with family, school and community.

Activity Theme:

“America is not like a blanket – one piece of unbroken cloth. America is more like a quilt – many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven together by a common thread.”

~Reverend Jesse Jackson, for over 40 years he has been a strong speaker for social and political change in the United States.

Reverend Jesse Jackson, This session will help participants understand the many similarities and differences between people. It asks each participant to begin to understand his or her special gifts and talents. Each person is unique and special. No two people are the same. Communities need a variety of gifts and talents to thrive. Participants will discover what they have to give and to share with family, school and community.

Activity Steps:

• Prior to the start of this activity ask students to bring a small box to the next session. It is suggested that the facilitator have a few extra boxes for those who are unable to bring one.
• Have a table set up in front of the room that is visible for all participants. Have a basket of apples on the table. Show the participants the variety of apples that you have. Select the different types of apples and ask the participants to help identify the different types (Granny Smith, Macintosh, etc.).
• After a few varieties are identified, ask the participants to notice the differences in the apples: color, texture, shape, size. The participants should note that the basket is filled with apples (in that way the fruit is alike) and each apple is different (kind of apple, color, taste, shape, name).
• People are also alike and different. Ask the group to look around the room at each other. In what ways are the participants alike? Post answers on the chart paper.
• In what ways are the participants different? Post these answers on the chart paper. Those things that make people different are special to each individual. Explain that those things that are special to each person are “their own gifts and talents.” Continue to talk, while cutting some of the apples in half horizontally across the middle of the apple. Do not cut lengthwise from the stem down as you would normally, but cut across the middle of the apple. Show the inside of the apple to the participants. Ask the participants what they see. All apples have a five-pointed star inside that holds the seeds.
• Continue cutting through the apples and showing the insides to the participants. Explain that people are just like the apple. No matter the differences on the outside, inside everyone are seeds that are just waiting to grow and develop and be nurtured to make each one a “star.” If nurtured and cared for, the gifts and talents of each individual will also grow. These gifts and talents will become unique to each individual. No one else will have exactly the same combination of special gifts and talents.
• Ask each participant to get out the boxes brought to the session. This will become a special “Gifts and Talents Box.” Give each participant 7 to 10 small pieces of paper. The facilitator explains that each person has “special seeds” inside and should begin to think about his or hers. A special gift might be a pleasant smile, a good singing voice or a strong soccer kick. Participants should share some of the ones they thought of. These “special seeds” should be written or drawn on the scraps of paper, one per paper, folded and put in the box.
• After each individual has filled their box, explain that philanthropists share their special gifts and talents by giving them away. Ask the participants to find a partner and together help to form a circle sitting around the facilitator. Instruct the partners to pull one of their gifts and talents from each other’s box. Working together, the partners are to think of all the ways that they can share this gift or talent with their family, school or community. The partners have one minute to think of ways they can share.
• When the minute is up, spin a bottle that has been placed in the center of the circle. When it stops, it will point to the partner group that is then to share their thoughts on using their gifts and talents. After sharing, the duo then spins the bottle for another group. This can be done several times. Then ask the partners to pull another gift and talent from each other’s box and repeat the process. All partner groups should have the opportunity to share.
• Give each person gift wrapping paper and ribbon. All gifts and talent slips of paper should be put back in the box and the box is wrapped. Remind the participants that only they can give away their special gifts and talents because there is no one exactly like them.

Processing Questions:

1. Which of your gifts and talents would you most like to share with others? Which are you most proud of?
2. How can you encourage others to use their special gifts and talents?

Supplemental Activity:

The facilitator suggests the participants take their “Gift and Talents Box” home to share with the family. Have a family member select a slip of paper from the box and help them think about how they might share this gift/talent with someone in the family, school or community. Suggest each family member make their own special box and set aside time for each one to select a gift and talent to share with family, school and community.

Activity Source:

Adapted from Community Partnerships with Youth Inc.
The Word for Me Is Philanthropy

Additional Resources:

Young Youth Philanthropists

Learning to Give Lesson (K-2) “What Can I Do?”

Unit “Volunteering As Good Work”

Pooling Our Talents

Learning to Give Lesson (K-2) “How Can Our Talents Be Used Together”

Unit “Using Our Talents for the Common Good”

Identifying Personal Values

Learning to Give Lesson (K-2) “Life Shields"

Unit “Selflessness”

 

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL III. Philanthropy and the Individual PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy E 1. Describe one reason why a person might give or volunteer. PHIL III. Philanthropy and the Individual PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy E 5. Give examples of actions students can take to improve the common good and list or describe responsibilities that go with those actions.