Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Age:

• 12-18

Philanthropy is:

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

Purpose:

• Participants examine their lives and ambitions and explore how the most effective philanthropy is a daily activity. Through this activity participants will be able to recognize acts of “everyday philanthropy.” They will examine their personal likes and interests in order to design an individual philanthropy collage.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• understand and recognize philanthropic characteristics, traits and actions in themselves and others.
• look at their own lives and identify the acts of philanthropy they do and/or are interested in doing.
• become more aware of self and the important impact they can have.

Activity Theme:

“The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day. ”

~Gloria Steinem, writer, activist and the founder of Ms. Magazine.
She is one of the leaders of the modern women’s rights movement.

The facilitator explains that an important part of increasing awareness and understanding of philanthropy is to be able to recognize the philanthropic traits and actions of others as well as themselves. Participants will brainstorm together about philanthropy, and then be asked to create a “philanthropy collage.”

Activity Steps:

• The facilitator passes out a sheet of paper and a pencil to each participant. Ask participants to make two columns on their paper. Label one column “Philanthropic Traits” and the other column “Philanthropic Actions”. Invite the participants to fill in words or phrases under each column that represent words that would be used to describe philanthropic traits or actions a philanthropist might take. Allow the participants time to fill in words or phrases under each column. If participants are having a difficult time trying to identify some words or phrases, begin a discussion by suggesting words from Attachment One, asking if they fit into either of the columns. This step may be done individually or as a group.
• After participants have created a variety of words, ask them to share what they have listed and the facilitator will write their responses on chart paper.
• The facilitator explains that the participants will be using this list as a starting point to make a philanthropic collage about themselves. Ask the participants to make a collage of their philanthropic traits and actions, i.e. words and actions that describe them as a philanthropist. Encourage participants to use their creativity in making a collage that represents them and their own personal interests, talents and skills - a collage that represents the actions they take to share their time, talent and treasures for the common good.
• To make their collages, each participant receives one piece of colored paper, a file folder or poster-board, along with a few newspapers and magazines, and additional colored paper for symbols and drawings, plus scissors, tape or glue, and crayons/markers.
• When the participants have finished their collages, ask them to share their collages, explaining to the group some of the actions and traits that represent them.

Processing Questions:

1. What are some things that you learned about philanthropy today?
2. What are some of the words and pictures that appear most often in the collages and why do you think this is so?
3. What would a display of all of the group’s collages show or say to someone who was just learning about philanthropy?
4. How can we encourage others perform more philanthropic actions? How would the community be different if more people represent the philanthropic traits and actions of this group?

Variation:

Instruct members of the group to write traits on self-stick notes, and then pick one trait that describes them and stick it on their own shirt to let people know that they have that “philanthropic trait.” Then they can pick a trait and stick it on other members of the group, letting that member know they recognize that particular trait in them. (The facilitator should participate in this activity to ensure that each participant receives a philanthropic trait from someone else to wear.)

Supplemental Activity:

Ask family members and friends about words they would use to describe themselves as philanthropists. Find out what philanthropic actions each family member has performed in his/her life. Discuss ways that you could do a family philanthropy project.

Activity Source:

Adapted from Learning to Give Lesson (6-8) “Characterizing Philanthropic People”
Unit “Philanthropy You, and Your World”

Additional Resources:

American Philanthropists
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 9-12) "American Philanthropists”
Unit “Student Volunteer Symposium”

Historical Philanthropy
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 6-8) “Philanthropy, A Timeline for Us”
Unit “Communities in Crisis”

Philanthropy
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 6-8) “Philanthropy Actions of the Heart and Mind”
Unit “Philanthropy? Sharing our Time, Talent and Treasure with our Family and Friends”

 

 

Attachment One

Characterizing Philanthropic People

Some Common Philanthropic Traits

caring
giving
helpful
serving
altruistic
concerned
just
fair
cooperative
understanding
charitable
generous
humanitarian
selfless
virtuous
supportive
respectful
advocate
trustworthy
responsible


Some Philanthropic Actions

Volunteer
Donate
Serve
Advocate
Help clean up a neighborhood
Lead a school debate about school policy
Write letters to a legislator
Organize a community clean up
Plant flowers in the neighborhood
Volunteer at a senior center
Tutor a younger student
Raise money for a good cause
Make a bequest
Establish a foundation

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 HS 4. Describe and give examples of characteristics of good citizens in a democracy. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS01. Self, citizenship, and society MS 4. Describe the characteristics of someone who helps the community.