We're all the same in one basic way: We all want other people to understand us. In this lesson, youth learn about needs of differently abled children in their school or community and take a step toward removing barriers. They use the persuasive power of communication to raise awareness of ways to understand and show respect for people with disabilities through a service project.
The purpose of this lesson is for the learners to reflect on how philanthropy, enlightened self-interest, and caring are related and to determine why and how they will "care" in the future.
Learners determine different ways that they show caring. They write the things they care about in word webs related to "how" they care about each thing.
Learners read about the actions and projects of people their age who stick their necks out for the sake of others.
We investigate and expand our understanding of caring and determine things or people we care about.
Learners relate enlightened self-interest to caring by discussing a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville about the American tradition of democracy.