Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

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Where Did it all Start? In the Beginning
Lesson 3:
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Lesson
Handouts
Academic Standards
Philanthropy Framework
6th-8th Grade
Subjects:

Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view
PHIL: Nonprofit Organizations
SOC: 10 genOn; Analyze/Interpret; Good Character; Government; Historical Biographies; Inquiry; Personal Virtue; Public Policy; Red Cross; Research; Sierra Club; Timelines; UNICEF; United Way; USO; YMCA/YWCA

Purpose:

To increase students' understanding of philanthropy by tracing the origin and history of a nonprofit organization.

Duration:

Two 60-Minute Class Periods

Objectives:

The learner will:

  • select one of the five service organizations from the previous lesson for further investigation.
  • organize the activities of the selected organization chronologically.

Materials:

  • Pencil, paper

  • Print materials (Almanac, telephone book, text, pamphlets, etc.)

  • Computer.

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:
Ask the class, "How many of you could describe one of your philanthropic organizations using ten important details? Seven? Four?" 

  • This lesson is an extension of the previous lesson. Each student will be asked to select one of the philanthropic organizations they researched for their chart in the previous lesson.
  • The students will continue to investigate the organization selected but in more detail.
  • Using the Internet and/or print materials (Almanac, telephone book, text, pamphlets, etc.), students will gather information about their philanthropic organization. This information should include:
    • The date the organization was founded.
       
    • The history of the organization.
       
    • This should include the founders, the history of the organization's growth, a chronological listing of events or activities of the organization, and milestones in the history of the organization.
       
    • Goals of the organization.
       
    • The location of the organization's headquarters
       
    • Where the organization is active: locally, nationally, internationally
       
  • In small groups or in pairs, students research a philanthropic organization and parallel events in history that link them together. Students will prepare a written outline of the information gathered. The instructor should define the time period that will be used (e.g., U.S. History from 1900-1995).
    The following examples could be used:
     
    • Shortly after the beginning of WWII (1941), the Red Cross established its blood donor program in the U.S. 
    • The beginning of WWII also marked the beginning of the USO in the United States. 

Assessment:

  • All six categories of organizational research ("Using the Internet" bullet and its five subcategories above) are adequately completed.

  • Linkage to historical event(s) firmly established.

  • Topical Outline is logically constructed and complete.

Bibliographical References:

 

  • A timeline of major philanthropic events is available at http://www.learningtogive.org/timeline/
  • Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History. Touchstone Books, 1991. ISBN: 067174271X. 
     
  • Hirsch, E. D., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993. ISBN: 0395655978.

Lesson Developed By:

Thomas Webb
Fulton Schools
Fulton Middle School
Middleton, MI 48856

Handouts:

Philanthropy Framework:

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