Carolyn Beaty

Charity Lesson- How Can You Take Action? February 25th

Purpose: For students to learn how they can take action as third graders to help a charity. Student will learn that instead of donating money, they can donate their time or their talents. Students will be thinking about what they would do, how they would do it, and when. We have already talked about why they should take action in previous lessons, but now it is time for students to think about what they can do on a smaller/local scale, and to think about how they could take this plan and apply it around the world. For instance, if students decide to collect clothing items and donate it to the homeless shelter in their city, they will also be thinking about how doing something like this would benefit people around the world. Could they do this same thing in another country? Standards: Iowa core > 3rd-5th grade > Social Studies > Understand that human beings have different interests, motivations, skills, and talents. Iowa core > 3rd5th grade > 21st Century Skills > Understand the importance of voluntarism as a characteristic of American society. Objectives: Third grade students will be able to understand they can help a charity by donating their time or talents. Third grade students will be able to determine when they would be able to help a charity in their schedules. Third grade students will be able to decide what they can do as a third grader to help a charity. Third grade students will be able to determine what needs their community has and what they can do to help. Third grade students will be able to create a plan to use their individual talents to help a charity of their choice with a need in the community. Third grade students will be able to communicate why their plans are important to the community. Third grade students will be able to realize that there are needs around the world, not just in their community, and they will be able to think about how their charity plans could be beneficial for people around the world. Materials: ELMO Paper and marker Spiral notebooks Pencils My Charity Plan worksheet (one for each student) My Charity Plan notebook heading Procedure:

1. Introduction: We have been talking a lot about charities and how we can help our communities by volunteering or donating. Sometimes it is hard to realize that even third graders can make a huge difference in the lives of those who need help. You can all take action and work to help our community and others. Sometimes it might feel like you cant make a difference when you are only 8 or 9, but today we are going to learn how you can make a huge difference in the lives of others with your own unique talents and giving your time. 2. Explain to students that using their talents can help or bring joy to others. Give the example of going on our valentines fieldtrip to the retirement home. They used their talents of singing and creative abilities to bring joy to the residents living there. 3. Give an example to the students. I love to read, and I am a good reader. This is one of my talents. I can use my talent to make others happy. I can take time out of my life to go volunteer to read to young children at a library, or to blind people, or even to the elderly who cannot read anymore. I can make others happy by simply using my talents and taking a little bit of my own time to give to others. Reading to others is a great way to volunteer and I am giving people the gift of stories, adventure, imagination, and love. 4. Create a list with the students of ways that they can bring joy to others using their own unique talents. a. Bake sale b. Art show c. Poetry reading 5. I can also use my talent to help a more specific charity. For example, I can work to earn money for a charity called Kids Need to Read. This is an organization that works to give books to children in need. These children do not have any books to read, and this charity gives them books for free so they can learn and grow. The need for books is prevalent in our community. If you dont know where to start and you want to give to a charity, look for where the needs in your community are. Use the ELMO and begin to fill in My Charity Plan graphic organizer. Fill in each section of the graphic organizer as you go through this lesson. Students will fill out their own plan at the end of the lesson. Filling out the graphic organizer as you go will help model actions for students. Step One: choose a charity you care about. Is there a need for this in your community? Next, I have to think of ways to earn money for the charity that I care about. I could organize a read-a-thon, where people could sponsor students for reading. Step Two: How can you use your talents to help this charity? What are you going to do? But in order for my fundraiser idea to succeed I need to get my message out.

Step Three: How can you get your message out/raise awareness for your charity? 6. What are some ways that we could get our message out? Create a list with the students. Examples could include: a. Word of mouth b. Make an announcement c. Put up signs and posters d. Send a letter home 7. The next thing you need to think about when making a plan to help a charity is to think about when you will be able to give your time. Are you available before school? After school? On the weekends? It is important to think about when you can work towards your goals and put your plan into action. Step Four: When can you put your plan into action? 8. Do you have to do this by yourself? Think about who can help you. Talk to your friends and parents to see if you can join forces. Talk to your parents about your ideas. See is they are willing to help you. Talk to your teachers and talk to your friends. You do not have to do this alone. 9. I want you to think about your plan. Could we use this same idea in another city? What about another state? Another country? Facilitate a discussion about how volunteering and charity is needed everywhere. Their ideas can span across states, the country, and can even be applied in a global way. This will get students to think about how their actions can affect their local communities and global population. Their ideas can make a difference. 10. Hand out the My Charity Plan graphic organizer worksheets to students. Allow enough time for students to fill out each section of their plan. Remind students about each section/step for creating their own plan. Walk around the classroom and visit with students. Listen to their plans and make sure students are on task. Answer any questions students may have. 11. Have a few students share their plans/ideas with the rest of the class. Help facilitate discussion among students. This lesson may be extended if students want to actually put their plan into action. There is an Americore worker at school who can help students take their plans and make them into a reality if the students desire and are willing to work. It is a very unique opportunity to have the potential to take a student idea and make it into a reality. Not every student idea will be feasible, but if one or two are, then students can work together to put the plan into action. 12. Conclusion: Today we have talked about how we can use our talents and our time to help people in need and raise money to charities that are important in our communities. I am very impressed with all of the ideas you have come up with. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything, even as a third grader.

Higher Order Thinking Questions: How can our actions help our community? Do we have to do this alone? Who can help us? Why might joining forces be helpful? Could our charity plan be beneficial in another state? What about another country? Assessment: Assessment for this lesson will consist of both informal and formal assessment. I will be able to informally assess my students by listening to their answers during whole group discussion as well as when I rotate around the room during student work time. I will be able to ask students questions about their plans to see if they understand the concepts. I will assess my students formally when they turn their plan worksheets in. I will look to see if students answered each section appropriately and if they understood each step to the plan making process. This will give me a good idea about which students understood the lesson and which students need more help learning this content. Differentiation: For struggling learners (ELL in particular) I will have them draw pictures on their plan worksheets instead of insisting on writing full sentences. I will also have them explain their plan to me verbally so that I know they understand each step of their potential plan, and that they understand the point of the lesson. For advanced learners I will have them actually begin to put their plans into action. They can form a group, or work in partners to create a plan that they will actually put in place. They will work with our Americore teacher to make their charity plan a reality.