- 50 minutes
- Grades 2-5
Class Session #3: Glocal Ecological Generosity
OVERVIEW
01. Ecological Generosity - 10 MIN
- Highlight: Ecology is generous to humanity all around the world!
- Read: Thank You World by Alice B. McGinty and Wendy Anderson Halperin
- Discuss:
- What are similarities and differences that you observed in the images?
- What are similar and different ways ecology is generous in different world regions?
- How would you define generosity, based on how ecology is generous to humanity?
02. Explain: Defining Generosity - 10 MIN
- Explain: Generosity → Giving virtuously from the heart to benefit the other and inspire the other to be generous, as well!
- Inquire: Share Generosity in Science Definitions (from the University of Notre Dame): [Link]
- “Generosity is a learned character trait that involves both attitude and action.”
- “Generosity always intends to enhance the true well-being of those to whom it gives.”
- “What exactly generosity gives can be various things: money, possessions, time, attention, aid, encouragement, emotional availability, and more.”
- “Generosity is a virtue; to practice it for the good of others also necessarily means that doing so achieves one’s own true, long-term good, as well.”
- Discuss:
- Does generosity just mean giving money?
- We can be generous with money, time, talents, resources, friends, etc.
- What is the verb for generosity? “Generate” → Generosity generates a chain reaction for others to be generous!
02. Glocal Ecological Generosity - 15 MIN
- Highlight: Ecology is generous, like people and cultures!
- Engage–Ask: What is one way that ecology is generous? [Invite student examples]. Is ecological generosity seen in the Waiting for Wings story? [Nature gives butterflies flower nectar. Nature gives us a beautiful diversity of butterfly species.]
- Explain: Share the following examples of ecological generosity. As possible, share a picture from a book or the Internet.
- Redwood Trees – When one dies, a circle of new baby trees with the same DNA sprout around the stump. [Link]
- Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae) – the “friendly bacteria” in soil, increases brain serotonin, linked to happy moods!
- “Dolphin-assisted therapy” helps to improve moods in humans who swim with dolphins! [Link]
- Elaborate: Different animal moms give to their young in different ways, like human moms!
- Evaluate: What is one way your mom gives to you to take care of you? [Invite responses.] Consider: Each of our moms took care of us in the way that they learned from their moms and cultures, and that our different environments required them to care for us. Nutrition is one way that we can see moms care differently across cultures in ways that are equally meaningful. In one culture, meat may be very important to help children grow strong. In another it may be milk. In another, it may be spinach. In another, it may be chicken noodle soup. Moms show love in ways unique to their cultures!
- Read: I Love Mom by Camilla de la Bédoyère
- Connect: Invite students to ask questions and share their surprise during the story. It is a fun moment to connect with the class!
- Homework: Observe generosity in the ecology around you. Look for examples at school, in your neighborhood, at home, etc.