Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

 

Objectives:

• To have some fun with the word “Philanthropy” while, at the same time, understand what the word means
• To have the participants add to their philanthropic vocabulary
  

Activity Theme:

“My friends are much more likely to get involved if word gets
out that what we are doing is fun. We need to get that
message out. We need to be the messengers.”

~ Youth participant at a HABITS OF THE HEART Jam Session, Fall 1997

The facilitator explains that this energizer is a fast and fun way to learn about philanthropy.

Activity:

The facilitator asks the participants to get in a large circle. He/she explains that a timed object will be passed across the circle. If the object comes to you, you are to catch it and say the word “philanthropy” before the timer goes off.

If you beat the time, you are to throw it quickly to another person, who repeats the word, and throws the object. Each time the object goes off before the person has gotten rid of it, they are eliminated from the circle.

After a few rounds have been completed, the facilitator says that they will still throw the object, but, instead of saying “philanthropy,” the person who has the object must say what the word means to them. Rules remain the same and participants are eliminated in the same manner.

In the third go-round, the facilitator says that when the object arrives to them this time, they must spell the word “philanthropy” in the time allotted and pass the object on to the next person. Game ends when only one participant remains.

If there is a “stand off,” ask the participants to do all three in the time allotted:

1. Say the word
2. Say what the word means to them
3. Spell the word: ALL in the time allotted.
   

Option:

Participants might practice with another word, like service, before using philanthropy. They would:

1. Say the word, service.
2. Say what service they have done in the past.
3. Spell the word service.