Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Unit Overview:
Unit Purpose:
This unit will show students how acts of philanthropy were demonstrated in the field of medicine despite racial discrimination. Vivien Thomas shared his time and talent to assist Dr. Alfred Blalock in pioneering a surgical clamp. He worked in the era of segregation in the United States. Hamilton Naki assisted Dr. Christian Barnard in heart transplantation in South Africa. They worked within the system of apartheid. These techniques would not have been implemented without Thomas and Naki. Both men worked for unequal pay and without recognition, yet continued to work for the common good rather than personal gain.
Focus Questions:
1) How are people able to persevere and display courage in the face of racism, prejudice and discrimination?
2) What causes people to put the needs of society or humanity ahead of their own personal needs?
3) How does society benefit when all people are given equal opportunities to succeed academically and economically?
Unit Objectives:
- identify specific health issues.
- express in written or verbal form their feelings about the importance of overcoming adversity.
- identify the significance of collaboration and perseverance for the common good in their school and community.
- research an African American inventor.
- reflect on the invention's impact on self and society.
- compare the response of Vivien Thomas and that of Hamilton Naki to the discrimination they encountered in the field of medicine.
- analyze the possible motivates a person might have to persevere in spite of adversity.
- create a picture book or role-play events describing the life of Vivien Thomas, Hamilton Naki or any of the other African American inventors/scientists (See Lesson Two).
Service Experience:
Lesson One:
- Teacher can contact local hospitals/health agencies to investigate ways in which students can help in a healthy heart initiative.
- Teacher can find additional lessons and resources at the American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Educator/Educator_UCM_001113_SubHomePage.jsp.
- Students can participate in a health walk/run to raise money for heart research.
- Students can participate in a "Jump Rope for Health" activity. (See American Heart Association)
Lesson Three
- Investigate a global community that does not respect the rights of minorities, contact Amnesty International to determine what can be done to petition the government of the country.
- Investigate anti-bullying and related diversity strategies with the result being the development of a plan for the school community.
Unit Assessment:
Assessment strategies include KWL comparisons of before and after instruction, journal prompting, and assessment rubrics for research and storyboarding.
School/Home Connection:
Students will ask parents/guardians or relatives how they may have been impacted by the segregated practices of the past.
Students may also inquire about "heart disease" in the family. Students may check for hereditary patterns.
Notes for Teaching:
- It is imperative that the teacher watch the video prior to lesson. The choice of video ( "Partners of the Heart "or "Something the Lord Made") is strictly a personal choice.
- The African American Inventors list can be altered depending on the resources available.
- Additional NOTES: are found throughout the Instructional Procedure and are intended to provide ideas and reminders.
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Cathy Johnson
Detriot Public Schools
Office of Social Studies
3031 W Grand Blvd
Detroit, MI 48202
Denise Young
Forest Hills Public Schools
Eastern Middle/High School
2200 Pettis
Ada, MI 49301
Sylvia Greene
Detroit Public Schools
Heilman Middle
15491 Maddelein
Detroit, MI 48205
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