Youth Activity; Students read about the philanthropy of Madam C.J. Walker, David Robinson, and Jason Crowe, and they begin to tell their own story.
"I do what I do for a simple reason, really; I like to help people." - middle school student
In this activity that follows the model of the story of Stone Soup, we learn about a mindset that says "yes we can" rather than looking at what we don't have. We cooperate to solve a problem for the good of all.
Young people read about the talents and interests of people who took action for the common good during the Civil War and Reconstruction. The youth identify some of their own talents and match them to nonprofit organizations they can support today.
Participants analyze the essential qualities of the Core Democratic Values and how these values are evident in relationships and behavior in a classroom/group and in the community/nation.
Youth reflect on the lessons they have learned through building cultural competence in this unit. They identify an adult they trust to have critical, or difficult, conversations.
A celebrity philanthropist may become focused on a specific cause because her life is connected to the cause. Learners read about Oprah Winfrey's philanthopic work and then reflect on issues that are important to them.
In a persuasive essay, learners describe the responsibilities of American citizenship and the cost of freedom. They connect how philanthropic action is a part of those costs. “Freedom isn’t free. It passes on an enormous debt to the recipient.”
Children listen and respond to a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They discuss the importance of kind acts and service to others. They reflect on a quotation by Dr. King and apply it to their own lives.
Through storytelling, children recognize that their actions and behaviors have an impact and become memories for future generations.