An Introduction to Altruism

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An Introduction to Altruism
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Watch, listen and follow the lyrics
http//www.mtv.com/videos/michael-jackson/206759/m
an-in-the-mirror.jhtml
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Quick-Write 1

• Discuss how the message of this song relates to
  this class and this unit?
• 2) Discuss how the message of this song relates
  to you and your life.

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• EVERY MAN MUST DECIDE WHETHER HE WILL WALK IN
  THE LIGHT OF CREATIVE ALTRUISM OR THE DARKNESS OF
  DESTRUCTIVE SELFISHNESS.
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Definition

• ALTRUISM by definition is the principle or
  practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to
  the welfare of others.

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Quick Write 2

• Based on the definition alone, brainstorm
  several people who demonstrate this word. These
  people can be famous or individuals in your life.
  What do they do to show altruism?

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Opposite of Individualism

• Sadly, some foreigners view The United States
  of America as extremely individualistic. In
  other words, they believe that we are all
  selfish, only want to better ourselves and our
  own life, and simply dont care enough about
  others.
• Other antonyms selfish, egotistical, arrogant,
  narcissistic

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Quick-Write 3

• Do you agree or disagree with this stereotype?
  Why or why not?

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History of Altruism

• - The French philosopher named August Comte
  coined the word altruism in 1851 and it was added
  to the English dictionary two years later.
• - However, all human kind has been
  demonstrating altruism since the worlds
  beginning.
• - Altruism is studied today by psychologists,
  biologists, theologians, anthropologists,
  political scientists, economists, sociologists,
  mathematicians and more.

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Yesterday and Today

• - Most societies acknowledge the importance of
  altruism in that it benefits a community as a
  whole.
• - Societies also understand that it is
  imperative to cooperate with one another rather
  than strive on conflict. Thus, it helps avoid
  war and instead, instills peace.

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Arguments

• - Some believe that altruism is human nature,
  while others disagree.
• Some believe that altruism is hereditary, while
  others disagree.
• Some believe that even animals purposely show
  altruism in their behaviors.

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Arguments Continued

• - Many believe that all human beings are 100
  self-interested. In other words, even if someone
  helps another, they are doing it for their own
  interest and essentially for the wrong reasons.

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Quick-Write 4

• Do you believe that altruistic behavior is
  hereditary? Why or why not?
• AND/OR
• Do you agree or disagree that all human beings
  are 100 self-interested? Why or why not?

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Good Citizenship

• - As we get older, we will become more a part of
  our community. We should take part in actions
  that make up our civil duty. These types of
  things include voting, jury duty, being aware of
  politics around you, and demonstrating altruistic
  behavior.

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Where do we see altruism?

• - All of the different kinds of organizations
  that you researched.
• - Within communities at the city (and within
  cities, like neighborhoods), state, national or
  global level
• - In schools, shelters, hospitals, governments,
  homes, etcEVERYWHERE!

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Who demonstrates altruistic behavior?

• Immediately, when thinking about altruism, we
  think of famous people such as Martin Luther
  King, Mother Theresa, Oprah and even celebrities
  who are doing good around the world.
• Fact of the matter is however, that you do not
  need money to be altruistic. You simply need to
  sacrifice your time.

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Religion

• -As we have learned by studying many
  genocides, we now understand that hatred often
  stems from intolerance, and oftentimes, this
  includes religion.
• -However, most, if not all WORLD religions
  have this one thing in common, and that is that
  they all believe in altruistic behavior.

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All of the below religions revolve around
altruism

• Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam,
  Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, and many more

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Three Characteristics of Altruistic Behavior

1. Perceiving the need of another person
2. Being motivated by empathy to help the other
   person
3. Addressing the need by taking action without
   expecting a reward or recognition in return

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Reward

• In short, individuals who are sincerely
  concerned for the well-being of others are
  content with an internal, gratifying reward,
  other than a material reward or even verbal
  recognition.

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Quick-Write 5

• Discuss a time when you or someone else has
  demonstrated an altruistic behavior, and HAS NOT
  expected anything in return (material or verbal).

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Altruism as a Unit

• Obviously we will be serving and trying to better
  the community and world.
• We will also be working on ourselves and how we
  can better this world that we live in.

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Connecting Resistance and Altruism

• Resistance and altruism are intertwined when it
  comes to doing good.
• Thus, in this unit we will demonstrate both by
  focusing on the current genocide in Darfur.

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What exactly will we be doing?

• - Perfecting our letters to Barack Obama and
  sending them (awareness and trying to make a
  change)
• - Learn even more about the genocide in Darfur.
• - Fundraising for The Education Project in
  Darfur so that children can go to school
  (individual and as a team)!
• During the fundraising event we will be spreading
  awareness so that students of I.H.S. become
  familiar with the atrocities in Darfur.
• And more

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How will we be graded?

• - Weekly and Nightly Logs
• - Letter(s)
• - Daily effort
• - Weekly journals
• - End of the unit portfolio and presentation
• - Fundraiser
• -Darfur assignments
• - Other

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All of this combined

• - All of this combined is a service learning
  project.
• - Service-learning is a method of teaching,
  learning and reflecting that combines academic
  classroom curriculum with meaningful service,
  frequently youth service, throughout the
  community.
• - Thus, we will be using our Darfur curriculum
  and knowledge and using it to raise money and
  spread awareness!

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Service Learning in Creative World

• In service learning projects, students will have
  a lot of say in what goes on. There will be a
  lot of compromise, voting and cooperation that
  goes into our project (s). I will simply serve
  as the facilitator. In other words, I will not
  say, this is the event and this is how it will
  be organized.
• HOWEVER, I encourage you to work hard because
  this unit can be very beneficial to you. On the
  other hand, it can do the opposite.

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Team

• You and your class will be a team! Yes you are
  working together, but this is also a competition.
• You will be competing against the other Creative
  World class. The class that raises the most
  money, will earn a pizza party. There will also
  be a prize given to the individual who raises the
  most money.

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Quick Write 6

• What are some types of things that you would
  like to do during this unit? What ideas do you
  have?

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• Getting Started

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Plan of Action

• Learn more about the genocide in Darfur and The
  Education Project, which is the organization
  which we will be fundraising for. This is so we
  will be able to spread awareness to the best of
  our ability.
• Be placed in a group to brainstorm ideas to
  fundraise money AND spread awareness.

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Plan of Action cont.

• Vote on one community fundraiser and/or one
  school fundraiser (or two school)
• Also decide on little fundraisers.
• - can drives, penny wars, donation jars, etc.
• Get to work!
• Vote on one or two class representatives
• Write letters to other organizations, parents
  place of employment, churches, family, etc
  asking for monetary donations. You will do this
  individually.

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Plan of Action cont.

• Prepare for our event (s)!
• Sell Save Darfur t-shirts at lunch (possibly
  order more)
• Set a monetary goal of _______
• Watch the money roll in and inspire others within
  our Ionia Community and abroad!
• Send money to our organization and feel great
  about doing it!

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Group Work

• Groups of 3-4 students will come up with
  fundraising ideas for 1 of the following
• 1) Think of a way to fundraise money from
  other students and staff at IHS
• AND
• 2) Think of a way to fundraise money from an
  event that will take place in our community

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Ideas

• These are simply ideas to get your minds working
• At IHS Make some sort of food and sell it, have
  a dance, sell a product, gatorball tournament
• Within community spaghetti dinner (or other
  food), cook-off, car wash, snow shoveling, eating
  contest, bowling event, fun fair

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Your Ideas

• Once you brainstorm several ideas, take a vote
  within your group to see which ideas is best.
• Then come up with specific ways as to how you are
  going to execute this fundraiser. Where will you
  get the supplies, money, word of mouth and
  advertising? You must think of all of this and
  more so that we can make an educated decision
  when we all vote.
• Present your fundraiser!
• Make your idea the one that we use!

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• Be the change that you want to see in the
  world.Gandhi
• Get fired up and creative!