While reviewing the expectations for immigrants to become citizens, young people learn about their own rights and civic responsibility. They learn that freedom isn't free. It was purchased by service and requires continued responsibility of citizens to uphold the rights and expectations of the...
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.
Learners increase their reading fluency and awareness of philanthropy by reading to younger children.
In this lesson, young people compare the communications and strategies of Malcolm X with those of Martin Luther King, Jr. They discuss the causes, effects, and ways to address racism through a discussion forum. They plan and hold the forum in the community.
As a group we define good citizenship, including the classic Roman concept of civic virtue (putting the common good above individual need).
The learners analyze examples from history of civic virtue and then select the characteristics they believe are most important for enduring citizen engagement.
Our lives are the results of billions of decisions. Not only the big decisions – law school or skydiving classes, but the small decisions as well – do you greet someone or pass by? Do you extend a helping hand or the back of it? What we decide determines the course of lives, the content of our...
Performance of the mitzvah of tzedakah is, ideally, a holistic part of life, not an activity to be performed when all others have been completed! This lesson offers a classic model of how that ideal was realized by one of our Sages, Rabbi Tanchum, and how our families might...
Through discussion and response to literature, we define philanthropy as the sharing of time, talent, and treasure for the common good. Participants reflect on the benefit of philanthropy to the giver and receiver.
In this lesson, youth prepare a persuasive speech in which they demonstrate that one person (or small group) can make a difference in making the world a better place or taking action for the common good.