This lesson will introduce students to the concept of philanthropy. As a class, they will brainstorm possible ideas for the word philanthropist. The students will learn that even young people can be philanthropists.

The learner will:

• create a chart listing possible definitions for philanthropist.
  
• create a flip book representing the beginning, middle and end of the story, The Lion and the Mouse.
  
• retell the story, The Lion and The Mouse, in peer groups.

Anticipatory Set:

Tell the students “Today we are going to learn a really big word.”  Show the size with a motion of hands stretched out.  Get the students excited about this word by telling them “It’s a word WAY bigger than a first grade word, way bigger than a second grade word, maybe even bigger than a grownup word.”

 

• Write the word PHILANTHROPIST on chart paper.  Have the students repeat the word several times together.  Introduce essential question, “What is a philanthropist?” Lead a class discussion generating ideas about what a philanthropist is.  Write all suggestions on the chart.  The chart should remain on display throughout the unit for students to come back to as needed.
  
  
• Show the students a picture of a lion and a mouse.  Tell them that you are going to tell (read) them a story is about a philanthropist. As the story is shared with the students, tell them to “Pay close attention and see if you can figure out what a philanthropist is from our story.”
  
  
• As the story is shared talk about the characters and setting of the story.  Students will need to be reminded that the characters are the people or animals in the story and the setting is where the story takes place.  
  
  
• Discuss the concepts from the book: ask the students to recall what happened at the beginning, middle and end of the story.  What changes took place?  How was the lion able to help the mouse?  How was the mouse able to help the lion?  Which character(s) in the story were philanthropists?
  
  
• Have the students create a picture flipbook by folding the construction paper in half the long way and dividing it into three equal 6” sections.  Cut each section to the fold to create a window that will flip up to reveal a student illustration.  Have the students write the word beginning on the first window, middle on the next window, and end on the final window.  The students will then need to decide what happened at each point in the story and draw an illustration under the window.
  
  
• Students can practice retelling the story in small peer groups using their flipbooks.

• A copy of the Aesop's Fable, The Lion and a Mouse.
  http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/
  Aesop/Aesops_Fables/The_Lion_and_the_Mouse_p1.html