Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Unit Purpose:
What factors motivate a generation and a community to value giving and volunteering? In 2004, West Michigan was recognized by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as the nation's second most generous region per capita. This unit explores the stories, events, personalities, and motivations that create a culture of philanthropy. Using a video documentary about West Michigan as a model, students learn about the philanthropists, unique features, and needs of their own community and create documentaries (alternative projects suggested in Lesson Three Extension). Although it was written about West Michigan, this unit is easily adapted to any community, urban or rural.
Focus Question: How does a generation share a legacy of giving, and what does this mean for our generation?
Unit Duration:
Eight or nine 50-minute lessons, plus independent and class time to interview and create documentaries, and an evening event for the community
Unit Objectives:
The learner will:
- discuss attributes of different generations.
- define philanthropy and give examples.
- view, discuss, and respond in writing to the 40-minute documentary The Gift of All: a Community of Givers (See Bibliographical References).
- write journal entries that compare the experiences and values of the featured philanthropists to learner's own experiences and values.
- read a biography and create a four-slide presentation to show to the class.
- reflect on the attributes of a generation of philanthropists.
- identify the four sectors of society and explain how the civil society sector steps in when other sectors cannot or will not meet a need.
- define civil society and nonprofit company.
- identify seven motivations for giving.
- teach one motivation for giving to the class using multiple intelligences.
- write a personal mission statement.
- Note: The Extension includes steps for carrying out a service project to address a community need.
- define and discuss the concept of community.
- identify characteristics of the local community.
- work in a small production group of 5-8 students to create a documentary.
- research individuals and conduct interviews with local philanthropists.
- view and discuss student documentaries.
- determine places to show and donate the documentaries to benefit the community and promote philanthropy.
- share documentaries with family and community members.
- reflect on the experience through writing and images.
Service Experience:
Students learn about the people and places and needs in their community (school, city or town, or state). They interview local philanthropists (can be someone from their neighborhood, family, or faith-based organization) and create a documentary about their own community. The documentary is an act of philanthropy because it teaches others about philanthropy and becomes a gift to the community as it is donated to the school library, public library, local community foundation, or other venue of students' choice.
Unit Assessment:
- Student presentations in Lesson One: A Good Story should include the four required slides.
- Evaluate the personal mission statement in Lesson Two: A Motivated Cast to determine whether it expresses personal goals and values, shows thoughtfulness, and is written with appropriate style, grammar, and spelling. Students will not be evaluated on the content of the purpose or goals. Encourage students to keep a copy of their mission statements to refer to and adjust periodically.
- In Lesson Three: Life Inspires Art Inspires Life, the documentary text will meet grade level expectations for writing and format. The documentary must include a definition of philanthropy and examples of philanthropy in their community.
School/Home Connection:
For homework in Lesson One: A Good Story, the students read a two-page biography and make a presentation (using software such as PowerPoint or Keynote) to share with the class the next class period. Students also get input from family members on names of philanthropists in the community.
In Lesson Four: A Grand Showing, families and community members are invited to the evening showing of the documentaries.
Notes for Teaching:
Although this unit was written for West Michigan, the lessons are adaptable to any community, urban or rural.
This unit involves creating a video documentary about the community, however, alternative formats are offered in the Lesson Three Extension. For an inexpensive, easy-to-use video recorder that includes simple editing software, see the Flip video camcorder at http://www.theflip.com/
The documentary featured in this unit was produced by the SO.U.L (Sharing Our Uncommon Legacy) of Philanthropy project along with The Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Calvin College. It is available for viewing at the following URL: http://learningtogive.org/videos/gift_of_all.asp Grand Rapids Public Library holds the copyright and has copies available for $5 purchase. Go to www.soulofphilanthorpy.org for more information.
Additional Resources:
- Additional background information is available in the special features section of the DVD.
- Guest speakers from the production of the documentary are willing to visit classrooms in West Michigan to talk about the interviewing or filmmaking experiences or the SOUL of Philanthropy project process. Go to www.soulofphilanthropy.org for contact information.
- Complete collection of all interviews available at the Grand Rapids Public Library in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Bibliographical References:
The Gift of All: a Community of Givers, produced by The S.O.U.L. of Philanthropy along with The Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Calvin College. Copyright © Grand Rapids Public Library, City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008, 2009. (DVD available for $5 purchase from the Grand Rapids Public Library at 111 Library Street NE; Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503.) Available as streaming video: http://learningtogive.org/videos/gift_of_all.asp
Learning to Give. "SOUL of Philanthropy" project. Includes links to video, related quotations, and briefing papers (biographies) http://learningtogive.org/teachers/SOUL/
"S.O.U.L. of Philanthropy" (Sharing Our Uncommon Legacy), a project of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation http://soulofphilanthropy.org/
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
Lessons Developed By:
Barbara Dillbeck
Director
Learning to Give
Betsy Flikkema
Associate Director
Learning to Give
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
