August 15, 2008 Current Stories Animal Testing Ethics Slow Medicine Atheist Baby Naming Altruism: Meeting Society's Needs Back to Lesson Plan List Level: Elementary School Background Overview Many people's fundamental needs are not being met in the U.S. today. Food, shelter, medical care, and safety from violence elude increasing numbers of people. In a spirit of altruism, individuals, faith-based organizations and secular groups undertake humanitarian efforts to meet these people's basic needs and -- in the process -- discover that other, deeper needs are being met for both the server and the served. In this lesson, students explore the meaning of altruism and the bonds created when people take care of each other. Resources include segments from RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, Web sites, and guest speakers. As a culminating activity, students explore and synthesize the lesson's themes through a service learning project. Grade Level: Grades 5-6 Time Allotment: This lesson [unit] can carry over anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the level of interest and commitment to the topic. Subject Matter: Science; social studies; English/ language arts; religion Learning Objectives Students will: Identify and categorize the basic needs that human beings have Arrive at a definition of altruism Research and report on altruistic organizations and individuals Interview guest speakers about the way they serve those who are in need Plan and carry out a community service project Standards Click here to see the academic standards for this lesson plan. This lesson was prepared by: Kathleen Cochran, Ed.M. What do you think of this lesson plan? We want to know! Good teaching gets better, and becomes more exciting, when people share ideas. If you've used this or any of R&E's lesson plans, please take a moment to e-mail us to describe what worked best for you, what you might have wanted done differently, or anything else you feel would make our lesson plans better. Contact David Streight  |  Ask a question  |  Make a suggestion R&E's Master Teacher David Streight Background Procedures for Teachers Organizers for Students Choose another lesson plan Select One Elementary School: - Religion, Culture, and Diversity - Altruism: Meeting Society's Needs - Homeless in America - Living with Special Needs Middle School: - Resistance to Parents - Dishonesty - Religion, Culture, and Diversity - Faith-Based Initiatives: Separation of Church and State - Bioethics: Where the Future May Take Us - Traditions and Transformations - The Death Penalty - Religion in Public Schools - War and Religion High School: - Recreating Marriage: The Same-Sex Union Debate - Spirit and Nature - Religion and the Civil Rights Movement - Rights of Passage - Death and Dying - Evolution vs. Intelligent Design - Internet and Right-to-Privacy Issues - Branding and Marketing Religion - Ethical Issues Around Cell Phone Use - Living the "Good" Life - Religion and Immigration: Muslims in the United States and Europe - Religion and Peace - Trafficking in Humans - Interpreting Women in Islam - Religion and Politics: The Battle Over the Judiciary - Politics of Death: The Right to Live, the Right to Die - Immigration: U.S. Policy in the New Millennium - AIDS: Responding to a Health Crisis - Islam and Terrorism - Stem Cell Research - Muslim-Hindu Conflict in India Visit PBS TeacherSource

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