One of the fundamental purposes for education is to prepare youth for responsible citizenship. This includes caring for others and the common good, understanding how government and voting work, following current events, listening to diverse points of view and having civil conversations, and advocating for a cause. This toolkit includes background information and project ideas related to civic participation.
Through a story in which a child inspires her neighborhood to improve a vacant lot, young people recognize that they can have a positive impact on others. They brainstorm a philanthropic project to benefit the school or larger community.
We learn about Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her leadership of the woman's suffrage movement. At the time it was hard for some people to see that women deserved equality or that change was possible, but her persistence and organization techniques helped raise awareness and involvement....
Students follow the example of philanthropists who impacted their community by cooperating rather than competing. Students identify their own giving passions and cooperate with each other and a community organization to plan a project. Examples of "cooperative philanthropists" are taken from the...
The meaning of philanthropy comes clear through stories and role-playing. Participants reflect on the value of philanthropy to the community and the philanthropist.
We look at the Society of Friends/Quakers and describe how this group promoted the common good. The Quakers pushed for religious freedom and freedom of choice, which are Core Democratic Values. As a group, they formed organizations to promote social change in the areas of slavery,...
The entire family is invited to a family night to assemble dried soup kits to donate to a local food pantry. They may use the dehydrated vegetables from lesson one and other ingredients or contact a food-packing organization that provides the ingredients, and you provide the volunteers. ...
Youth learn about the Nobel Peace Prize and analyze how the choices made by Nobel Peace Prize recipients led to improvement in the common good. Young people examine family, school, and local community for individuals or organizations that positively impact the common good and leave a legacy.
Young people identify environmental issues and ways to use their time, talent, or treasure to make a difference. They compare the mission statements of different environmental organizations and write their own personal mission statement.
