Introduction to Giving and Making a Difference in Community
This introductory step-by-step guide helps educators teach students about giving and responding to needs in the community. Just like generosity is part of all aspects of your life, teaching generosity in community can be part of every aspect of teaching. We’ll show you how. This course is for the educator working in-school, after-school, with youth groups, or community foundation youth advisory committees.
This first mini-course walks you and your students through the basic introduction to Learning to Give and taking action. We start with definitions and activities that explore passions, and then guide you to investigate, plan, take action, and demonstrate a project and impact to a public audience. We suggest you first read through the whole course of six sections, then go back to the beginning and follow the “Do This with Your Students” steps at the top of each section.
After you complete the course on your own or after the step-by-step process with your students, take the quiz and get a certificate. Then look for the other mini-courses that guide teaching and learning through specific issues or times of year.
You may return to this course again and again for reminders, clarification, and ideas.
After completing this course (about 45 minutes), the learner is prompted to take a four-question quiz based on the content. Upon successful completion of this quiz, the learner may request a certificate suitable for a professional development portfolio, or as proof of .75 educational clock hours that can be used toward continuing education credit in most states. Please contact your State Department of Education or school district for specific information. Documentation of the completed courses and copies of the certificate are stored under "My Account" of the Learning to Give website where the learner may access (and print) them at any time.
The learner will:
- define philanthropy, community and what it means to take action for the common good.
- identify and lead students through the stages of the service-learning process.
- reflect on stories and motivations, values, talents, and giving passions.
We have all been part of a school food drive in which we sometimes have to bribe students to be involved. If we want them to care about giving, we have to show them that giving is related to THEIR interests and hearts, and their contribution matters. This first section defines philanthropy and provides tools so you can teach your students about generosity and service in your after-school program. An overview of the rich and deeply researched Learning to Give website provides a hint of where you can go with teaching and learning beyond the introductory activities and lessons in this mini-course.
In Part II you and your students do community-building activities and reflect on the interests and talents each of us brings to make the whole community better together. Before taking action outside of the classroom, the culture of caring and trust, as well as skills of communication and problem-solving, are developed in activities and discussions.
In Part III we introduce you to the lesson plans available on Learning to Give's website. We suggest you start with one of our turnkey TeachOne lessons that is brief and includes a service project suggestion. We have a backlist of hundreds of lesson plans available for you to search by academic subject, grade level, teaching standard, and/or issue area. After you are familiar with the offerings, we ask you to choose one lesson to teach that fits the interests of your students as well as the academic work in your planning.
Part IV provides an overview of the service-learning process we call the IPARD process. We give you some examples of service-learning projects. The process is a guide, much like the STEM or process writing strategy that involves students in asking questions, making plans, and carrying out projects with reflection and demonstration. With the process in mind as a guide, you will be ready to facilitate your students as they lead a service-learning project.
Part V is all about reflection. Your students gain ownership and motivation when they verify their service will be effective and make a difference. Reflection ensures they make this connection.
Part VI, the final section in this mini-course is focused on the central idea that philanthropy should be shared! Not only does it give the students publicity so the community sees what they are capable of, but it also solidifies the learning for them. Encourage students to share their process of discovery, planning, academic and philanthropic knowledge, and the impact of their service.
This quiz has four multiple-choice questions based on the mini-course "Introduction to Giving and Making a Difference in Community." If you answer 75 percent correctly, you will have the opportunity to download a personalized certificate. You may revisit the course and retake the quiz, if...