lesson 5: Social Responsibility

Sand playground (15 minutes)

Game and questions (15 minutes):
On whiteboard, ask what are Needs and Wants: kids are separated into two groups on the whiteboard. One is on Needs and the other is on the Wants side. Then they change places and write on the opposite side.

Everyone sits down in a big circle and the leaders (us) ask the following questions:

  1. Who in your life has helped you meet your needs? 
  2. Why do some people have their needs met while others don’t?
  3. Who is responsible for meeting peoples’ needs? Everyone, the government or their family?
  4. Do you think that those who have more, have also more responsibility for helping others?
  5. How do you think we could help those in need?
  6. What are some ways that you have helped out those in need?

Tell them this time we are going to talk about our responsibility towards meeting the needs of others and its relation to social justice.

Podcast and Questions (10 minutes):
Listen to Little Giant

  1. What did you think of the podcast?
  2. What did you think of the Little Giant’s action?

Overview: 
- a person could benefit greatly when someone steps up to help
- he said he felt like an animal but when he was treated like a human being, with kindness and respect, he was able to overcome poverty.

Small group discussion and skits (20 minutes): In groups, discuss:

  1. What needs were not met for him?
  2.  Do you think that a society where there is a lot of poor people is a just society?
  3. Did the Little Giant treat him in a just way? Why?
  4. Was it the Little Giant’s responsibility to help the man? Why? 
  5. Do we need to have courage in order to help others? Why?
  6. Do we need to cooperate in order to meet everyone’s needs? 

Work on a skit showing: “how someone’s needs are being met through cooperation or through an act of courage.”

Social Responsibility: Doing our part in society, according to our capacities and resources, to help everyone meet their basic needs.