Young people are making a difference for the issues they care about in big and small ways every day. Learners read stories of young people who are taking action through philanthropy and discuss the attributes of youth philanthropists. They reflect on their own power and potential to make a difference.
Youth learn about basic human rights and discuss whether everyone deserves these rights. In addition, they reflect on examples of human kindness and collective action for the common good.
Youth analyze personal reasons for taking action and compare them to the researched motivations for giving.
Youth make a chart of how they typically spend a free day and then envision what that same free day would look like when it is infused with philanthropy. They plan a free day, substituting their usual routine with activities that serve the community. They discuss the benefits and opportunity costs involved in sacrificing personal time for the common good of their community.
After reading about historical figures who have taken philanthropic action related to justice, youth write a narrative about a more recent (young) philanthropist who took action for social justice.
Using words of Native Peoples, youth explore examples of the philanthropic attitudes and traditions.
Young people discuss examples of philanthropy in poems and quotations. They write an expression of philanthropy using the poetic conventions of metaphor, simile, and personification. These statements could be used as the text for greeting cards produced for an Art from the Heart service project and given to veterans, elderly neighbors, or another identified group.
Groups analyze and define the concept of community. They identify the benefits and sacrifices involved in actions for the common good in their role as citizens.
Inspired by stories of service, young people define philanthropy concepts and actions. They brainstorm acts of kindness and determine how they will contribute to the common good.
Learners identify and investigate local and national nonprofit organizations by researching their histories, services, and target populations, as well as job opportunities using the Idealist.org web site.