These Learning Links provide ten quick-and-easy, five-minute mini-lessons to promote student thought and dialogue about service and civic engagement. You may use as many of them as you wish, and in whatever order best meets your needs and the interest of your students. The purpose of these mini-lessons is to provide a deeper understanding of philanthropy (the giving of time, talent, and treasure for the common good) and to reinforce the lesson focus. These Learning Links also promote the development of character traits, civic engagement, and student leadership. As appropriate to your grade level, it is recommended that students play an active leadership role in presenting these mini-lessons to their classmates.

1. Read: Did you know that the first metal detector was actually hurriedly invented and assembled by Alexander Graham Bell. It was used to locate a bullet lodged in U.S. President James Garfield. It did not work as planned. It seems that the metal bedsprings created too much interference. But because of Mr. Bell’s initial efforts, it is now possible, for those who chose to do so, to live a life of a treasure hunter. Since most of us were really young our imaginations have been stirred by tales of buried treasure. We think about all the lost treasure we have read or heard about and some of us might even imagine ourselves finding it. Most people admit having had dreams of finding treasure at one time or another. Some people still dream of finding treasure. They look for it in lotteries and casinos, Bingo games and raffles. It is possible to find treasure wherever one looks for it. While it may not always be “big money” or valuable artifacts, finding treasure even if it is buried in the pockets of an old pair of slacks you’ve not worn for some time, always brings a smile. Finding it is one thing. What you do with it is another. The fate of many who have “found” money has proven the truth of the saying  that “money can’t buy everything”. Evelyn Adams, two time winner of the New Jersey lottery totaling $5.4 million, says, "Winning the lottery isn't always what it's cracked up to be." Today her money is all gone.
   
   Discuss: I sure if anyone of us were to “find treasure”, we would handle it better than Evelyn Adams did. So what would you do if you found treasure? Are your first thoughts of buying things that you think would make you feel happy? Things that you think would make you appear important and wealthy. Things that could make others envy you?  Where does giving some of our new found wealth to others fall on the list of things you would do? Another famous scientist and inventor, Albert Einstein once said.  “It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” How might our Penny Drive reflect our use of the treasures we already have?
   
    
2. Read:  Here is an experiment we can do right here in class. But it’s pretty weird so if you’d prefer to do it when no one is looking that’s OK too. While sitting, lift you right foot off the floor and move it in clockwise circles. Once you’ve got that going pretty well keep it moving. Now lift your left hand into the air and with index finger draw the number “6” in the air. Watch what happens to your foot motion. According to orthopedic doctors and surgeons, who address musculoskeletal interactions, there’s nothing you can do about it. It seems that the mind won’t allow the feet, and the arms/hands to move in different directions at the same time. On a related note however, it is often said of big organizations, that the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. This usually implies that communication in these big organizations is poor. It means that one part of the organization or business does not know what is happening in another part of that same organization.  One top CEO put it this way, “In order for any group to be successful, every member of that group needs to be on the “same page”. There needs to be an agreement on what is to be done, why it is to be done, and everyone’s role in getting it done. Success comes only when minds, hands and legs are all moving in the same direction; otherwise we just look plain silly.”
   
   Discuss: Why do you think it is so difficult to do these two things at the same time?  Why might it be important that everyone be allowed to participate in the decision-making phase of our Penny Drive event? The planning phase? The implementation phase? What are some things we could do to ensure that our minds, arms, and legs are all moving in the same direction? Why might that be important?
   
    
3. Read: Zach Bonner was eight years ole when he, with the help of his mom, started the Little Red Wagon Foundation. Zach wanted to help kids in bad situations. For his first project, he collected food and water from his neighbors and over the Internet for Hurricane victims. Twenty-seven (27) truckloads in fact! Right now he is working on a holiday party for Hurricane Katrina Kids still living in temporary trailer parks in Baker, Louisiana.  He is collecting presents and goody bags hoping to be able to give these to help 250 kids. “I just really want them to know that I care and that everyone else still cares and we have not forgotten them. I just think if everyone in America helps we can have a really great party for them. Maybe for at least one day they can forget their problems.”
   
   As one way to raise money to make this happen, Zach wanted to have a big dinner and charge people $200 to come. “I knew I had to get someone famous,” he said.  “The first famous person I asked is really, really famous and they said they only did dinners if it would raise a million dollars. I said I could raise a million dollars and they laughed at me and told me I couldn't if I tried; to go play and quit worrying about helping other people. I cried at first and then I got mad and then I got determined. I went home and sent 100 letters out to famous people telling them about my dinner. I asked if they couldn't come if they would send me something really good to auction off. Nobody ever came but I ended up with a bunch of neat stuff. Then I went to a BackStreet Boys concert. Before it started I met their manager. He told me to come to the show the next day and he would get me backstage to meet the boys. They promised to even have the group take a picture with me and sign it. It was so cool. They were all really nice to me. They also signed a CD for me. Then I got the idea to start asking all performers that come to Tampa, Florida if they would take a picture with me and donate something for my auction. So far almost everyone has. Since I never could do my dinner I figured I would have my mom help me sell the stuff on eBay… one day I will have raised a million dollars for charity and it will be because of all the great people like you that I have met along the way.”
   
   Discuss: During our Penny Drive we are trying to raise money to donate to a worthy cause. What could we say to someone who might tell us to go play and quit worrying about helping other people? When Zack said “I got determined” what do you think he meant? While we may not be able to raise a million dollars, why is it important that we raise what we can during our Penny Drive?
   www.ebaychatter.com/the_
   chatter/2006/10/a_few_weeks_bac.html
   
    
4. Read: What can $3.65 buy in today’s world? Perhaps a sub sandwich, if you’re lucky. Two pairs of socks, maybe. A can of dog food, if you own a dog. One and a third gallons of gas, if you drive. A small espresso coffee, if you’re into coffee. An ink pen or notebook if you’re inclined to take notes or do homework. When this question was asked in person-on-the-street interviews the typical response was “not much”. And yet the challenge millions of Americans face each day is feeding themselves and their families on just $3.00 per person, per day. If they are able to do this at all, it usually means sacrificing nutritional foods for hollow carbs. Not a good thing according to medical and health food experts.
   
   Discuss: Our Penny Drive is asking us to consider donating some of our loose change to a worthy cause. Opportunity Cost is what we give up when we make a decision to do one thing rather than another thing. What impact would our Drive have if everyone would forgo purchasing one item costing around $3.65 (equal to one penny a day for a year) and donating it to our Penny Drive? Having decided who is to receive our Penny Drive donations, what other opportunities did we have to pass up? Even though we can’t do it all, why is it important that we still do something?
   
    
5. Read: There are several variations of the fable involving a conversation between a chicken and a pig. One variation goes like this: One day, as co-owners of a restaurant, the pig and his partner, the chicken, were arguing about the breakfast menu entrée of ham and eggs. The chicken could not understand why the pig was unwilling to have such a listing. Asked to explain his reasons, the pig replied. “Yeah, it’s easy for you. You only have to make a contribution, for me it’s a total commitment!” The pig was obviously pointing out the fact that a chicken can simply lay an egg and then resume normal activities, while for the pig in order to make ham or bacon…well you get the picture, I’m sure.
   
   Discuss: This fable is often used in business seminars to explain the role of consultants and advisers compared to that of the owners and workers. For the consultants and advisers it’s a contribution, but to the owners and workers it’s a commitment.  A successful project needs both chickens and pigs. Both those who make the contributions, as well as those who make sure that those contributions are carried out. To stretch this fable just a bit, in our Penny Drive how is our role like that of the chicken? How is the role of the recipients of our contributions like that of the pig? Some would say that in this respect it’s easier to be a “chicken” than a “pig”. Do you agree? Why or why not?
   
    
6. Read: Ask any tennis player, like Roger Federer and Justine Henin, and he or she will tell you that being able to “serve” is the name of the game. While we may not be able to compete with the likes of Roger Federer and Justine Henin on the tennis courts, we certainly are on a par with them when it comes to our “own back yards.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., once said, “Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
   
   Discuss: What do you think Dr. King meant when he said to serve “You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love”? It’s probably true that most tennis players when referencing their “serve” typically are not referring to “serving” in the same way that Dr. King did in his quote. However, how would you interpret this quote from Arthur Ashe (former tennis standout and a winner of the US Open, Wimbledon, two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australia, etc) "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic? It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost"? In what ways will our Penny Drive “serve” those in our own “backyard”? As our event becomes a reality, how can we serve up an “ace”?
   
    
7. Read: Acts of Random Kindness don't require a lot of time or effort. Yet they can significantly improve another person's day. To be blunt, acts of kindness shock people. That’s what those involved in a project called ArkAlmighty, a good deeds program that matches up needs with available talents, found to be true. Recently, when the price of a postage stamp increased by two cents, a group of young people found a very inexpensive way to meet a real need. Standing in front of their local Post Office wearing signs that read "Help is Here-Free 2 cent Stamps”. They offered a free sheet of two cent stamps to people as they entered the Post Office. “It is remarkable how 40 cents worth of stamps makes people respond like they just won the lottery!” they reported. The experience proved valuable to all concerned. Those who participated felt the true joy of giving to others. And those who received felt that love. The Postmaster and the Post Office staff were transformed by the genuine act of kindness to help them, help those needing stamps. It changed grumpy people waiting in line to smiling and talkative people. People began sharing how kindness is lacking in our world and shouldn't be. They were most positive and sometimes just plain shocked that somebody would actually give away stamps. Of course, many were skeptical of the “catch,” but when it was explained that there were no strings attached, they relaxed.
   
   Discuss: How is it that such a little thing as a two cent stamp could have such a big impact on everyone? Why might people be suspicious of “no strings attached” giving at first? How might our Penny Drive event have a similar “shocking” effect on everyone involved?
   www.arkalmighty.com/stories/
   displayStory.cfm?storyID=209&start=1
   
    
8. Read: Winston Churchill twice served as Prime minister of The United Kingdom. He also served as First Lord of the Admiralty during WWII. He led the British war effort and inspired the battling Allied forces with his great speeches. He once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Meanwhile, Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl, was writing in her diary about life. She was hiding with her family and four friends from the German armies in Amsterdam, Netherlands during that same war. Even under these terrible conditions she wrote in her diary, “No one ever became poor by giving.”
   
   Discuss: In what ways are these two quotes saying similar things? In what ways might they differ? In light of all the problems these two people faced, why do you think they could still say what they said? What message can we take from each of these quotes as we think about becoming involved in our Penny Drive event?
   
    
9. Read: Some people have a hard time getting started while others don’t know when to quit. The August 29-September 4, 2007 edition of USA Today Sports Weekly carried the story of 59 year old Mike Flynt. Mr. Flynt discovered he had one more year of football eligibility at his Division III college in Alpine, Texas. Thirty-seven years after he had left that college, he re-enrolled. He tried out for and made the Sul Ross State’s football team roster. Mr. Flynt’s own two children are older than any of his teammates. Not to mention that he is eight years older than his coach! While his coach, Jerry Larned, tried to discourage him, Jerry admits, “He just has a burning desire to play.”
   
   Said Mike, “If I can help anyone out by doing what I am doing, then it’s all worth it.”
   
   Discuss: What do you think might motivate someone like Mike to risk serious injury “at his age” to play football with teammates so much younger? His coach referred to Mike’s “burning desire”. How does “burning desire” differ from “just wanting to do something”?  As our Penny Drive event approaches, how might we be able to help elevate our school’s motivation from “just wanting to do something” to a “burning desire? What do you think Mr. Flynt meant when he said “If I can help anyone…. then it’s worth it”? How can we help others understand that even if they contribute just a little bit, it will “all be worth it”?
   
    
10. Read: Have you ever heard the phrase, “When pigs fly!”? It usually refers to something that is nearly impossible. For example, if a classmate tells you that he or she is strong enough to lift a 4,200 pound truck, “When pigs fly!” might be a reasonable response. It implies that one might be capable of lifting the truck, but only when pigs are able to fly. Both of these seemingly improbable possibilities. Recently, a local newspaper reported that pigs do fly!  As the story goes, Dave grew up loving airplanes. He dreamed of being a pilot, but his health would not allow him to join the Air Force so he gave up his dream. Thirty years later, he now is one of nearly 200 volunteer pilots for Wings of Mercy. This is a charity organization. It provides free air transportation to medical facilities for patients who cannot afford to get where they need to go to get help. Volunteers keep the organization running. They do this using the proceeds from donations and fundraisers. One of the organization’s annual fundraisers is a pig roast. This is an event where an entire pig is roasted. People pay or donate money to come and eat. So in a sense, pigs do fly making it possible to keep this charity and people like Dave in the air!
    
    Discuss: Why do organizations like Wings of Mercy have to rely on donations and fundraisers? In what ways might our Penny Drive be considered by some to be a “When Pigs Fly” effort? How could we talk to our classmates in a way that would convince them that even though this event may seem improbable, with their help we can make “pigs fly”?

 

 

Reflection plays a very important role in promoting student learning. The following suggested activities are ways to help students reflect on their learning after they have participated in a service event.  Choose one or more of the activities most appropriate to the service event and your students.

ACTIVITY ONE: Give each student four sticky notes. On one of the sticky notes have the students write their response, using one or two words, to the question, “How did you feel about participating in the event prior to actually being involved?” On the second sticky note have the students write their response to the question, “How did you feel while being involved in this Event?” On the third sticky note, have the students respond to this question, “How did you feel after the Event was over?” And on the fourth sticky note have the students respond to the question, “What could I do differently in the future?” 
Place the following headings on the display board: Before, During, After, Future. Have students come and place their sticky notes under the appropriate heading on the display board.  Allow time for them to walk around to view and read the comments of others. Encourage them to note similarities and differences.  Involve the class in a discussion using the prompt,”What did you learn from reading everyone’s comments?”

ACTIVITY TWO: Give each student three sheets of multi-colored construction paper, one sheet of white construction paper, a pair of scissors, and a black marker (assorted colored pens are optional).  Using one of the sheets of multi-colored construction paper for each shape, ask each student to draw and cut out the following shapes: 1) a head, with a “light bulb” drawn in it; 2) a body, with a “heart” drawn in it, and; 3) limbs-two arms and two legs.  Ask the students to think about what the “light bulb” and “heart” might represent. (NOTE: The ‘light bulb” is an icon often identified with “ideas”. The “heart” as an icon is often identified with “feelings.”) Ask the students what they think the “arms and legs” might represent. (NOTE: Arms and legs are often associated with going places and doing things.) Now have the students use their sheet of white construction paper to cut out three “word bubbles.” (See Example) Have them write words or phrases that represent how their head (mind), their body (heart) and their arms and legs were involved in the Event.

Said another way, one ‘bubble’ for the head (what they thought about the Event),
one “bubble” for the body (how they felt about the Event), and one ‘bubble’ for the limbs (what they did for the Event).  When completed, call the first student to the bulletin board-type display area entitled  “Join the Crowd” (or some similarly appropriate title).Have each student, in turn, pen his/her designed cutout head along with its “bubble” on the display board. Share some of the responses. Now have each student come and pen his/her cutout body beneath their head along with its bubble. Share some of the responses. Finally, have each student pen his/her designed cutout arms and legs on their body along with the “bubble.” Share some of the responses. Have students walk past the ‘crowd’ and read the “bubble”. Discuss findings, comparisons, and final thoughts.

ACTIVITY THREE: Assign the students to one of four groups and distribute a white sheet of square paper, preferably 21.5” x 21.5” (the official size of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base in Major League Baseball), a pair of scissors for each student, a glue stick/paste and a variety of magazines and newspapers.  Tell them that they are to go look through these magazines and newspapers to cut out pictures and /or words that could be used to describe their involvement in the recent service project. Once they have cut out as many pictures or words as they can, in the allotted time, as a group they are to decide which pictures and/or words will be included on their group base. Tell them to glue the pictures and/or words to their base.  When completed they are to offer their base for display in the area marked “Let’s Play Ball” or “Covering All the Bases,” etc (Note: You may wish to display the base in the traditional diamond shape to add more realism and invite interested students to complete the ballpark design. If time allows, ask the students how participating in this service project is like playing baseball/participating in sports.)

ACTIVITY FOUR: Using the name of the service project, have students brainstorm words or short phrases, the letters of which when properly placed, form some sort of crossword puzzle-like creation.  These words should ‘describe’ the activity, the feelings, and/or the impact of the Event for the individual student involved.   

When the students have each completed their own crossword puzzle, instruct them to draw an outline of the pattern around their words (See above), have them shade-in the interior of the form with a light color pencil or crayon, so as not to cover up the words, and then cut out the form along the outline. Display these crossword puzzles forms in an area entitled, “The Shape of Our Service” or “We’re in Great Shape”, “Join the Crowd” or etc.