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: October 4 may or may not be an important date that you recognize but many people throughout the world do celebrate on this day. October 4 is designated as Reconciliation Day.  This is a day set aside to recognize the importance of healing wounded relationships. It is a day when people are encouraged to begin to reconcile differences, to re-establish broken or lost relationships, dissolve disputes, and live a more peaceful life. It is a day when people are asked to reconcile; to make amends, to show appreciation for others, to build bridges, to do away with the ignorance and hatred that separate people from each other; to forgive. It is a day to do something, to get the ball rolling, to take the initiative, to reach out, to open the door, to make the first move.
   
   St. Frances of Assisi once said, “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible”.
   
   Discuss: In what ways might our planned service event be a day of reconciliation? How is our service event an attempt to do something, to get the ball rolling, to take the initiative, to reach out, to open the door, to make the first move? What do you think St. Francis of Assisi meant when he said “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible”? What do you think St. Francis of Assisi would say about our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event efforts?
2. Read: “La Adelita” is a song about a woman of strength and courage. It was one of many songs written during and about the Mexican Revolution of 1910: a war in which Mexico fought for and gained its independence from Spain. Dolores Huerta, the first Hispanic American to be inducted into the United States Women’s Hall of Fame, is often referred to as a modern-day “La Adelita. She, along with César Chévez, co-founded the United Farm Workers union in 1962.. As an advocate for farm workers' rights, Ms. Huerta has been arrested twenty-two times for participating in non-violent civil disobedience activities and strikes. Concerning her history of arrests, Ms. Huerta says, “Democracy is when people get involved and they are able to make their voices heard at the political level. If people do not get involved, then the politicians don’t know what’s going on at the people level. That’s the way changes are made.”
   
   Today she heads her own non-profit foundation. Its mission is to build active communication working for fair and equal access to health care, housing, education, and jobs with an emphasis on women and children. She is convinced that …”every one of us has the power. We need to use it and not be afraid to use it…We have to go beyond our fears. If we don’t come out of our comfort zone we can’t do anything.”
   
   Discuss: How might our service event be one way of “making our voices heard”? What changes might be made as a result of our coming out of our comfort zones? What fears might we have to overcome in order to use our power during our service event and every day thereafter?
3. Read: She was born Mildred Lisette Norman, in 1908. At 45 years of age, on the 1st of January, in Pasadena, California she began her walk. She walked all across the United States for the next 28 years. Expressing her ideas about peace and ending war, she referred to herself only as Peace Pilgrim. Records show that she walked more than 25,000 miles spreading her message. “This is the way of Peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love." Carrying in her tunic pockets her only possessions, she vowed, "I shall remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food." She talked with people on dusty roads and city streets. She spoke at churches, colleges, civic groups, and on TV and radio, discussing peace within and without. Her pilgrimage covered the entire peace picture: peace among nations, groups, individuals, and the very important inner peace - because that is where she believed peace begins. She believed that world peace would come when enough people reach inner peace. Her life and work showed that one person with inner peace can make a significant contribution to world peace.
   
   Seven years after the Peace Pilgrim’s death, Peace Pilgrim II left Eugene, Oregon on October 2, 1989, to follow the large footsteps of the original Peace Pilgrim. Like his predecessor, he divested himself of all his possessions including his name and, without a penny in his pocket, relied upon people to accommodate and feed him along the way. If not, he'd sleep out-of-doors or fast. Peace Pilgrim II also felt strongly about peace. He admitted, “Globally we seem to come together for the tragedies of floods, earthquakes or bombing how much better it would be if we would come together for celebrations! Peace begins with each one of us.” Walking and later driving due worn out hips, Peace Pilgrim II covered a total of well over 100,000 miles spreading the need for and the way of peace until his death in 2004.
   
   Discuss: Why do you think Peace Pilgrim and Peace Pilgrim II felt so strongly about peace that they would dedicate their entire lives to its cause? In what ways do you agree or disagree with their effort? Why? As we anticipate our service event, what are we doing to “walk our talk” in our school, our community? In what ways might our efforts be seen as Pilgrim III? How could we go about celebrating our service accomplishments? Why is it important that what we do during our service event becomes a natural everyday way of walking on this Earth?
4. Read: Honesty is the best policy is a line that appears in the story of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, but are people really very honest? To find out, the Research Department at Reader’s Digest decided to conduct an “honesty test”. They "lost" 30 cell phones in each of 32 cities in heavily used public areas around the world. When someone bent over to pick up the “lost” phone, the researchers then called that cell phone while observing from a distance. When someone answered a phone, reporters asked whether he or she would be willing to return it. If the person picked up the phone without answering it, the reporters waited for a call on one of the phone's preprogrammed numbers, or watched as the finder simply pocketed the phone and walked away. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the “lost” phones were returned. The report concluded with this statement, “It truly is encouraging to know that no matter where you are in the world there are honest people that will do the right thing.
   
   Discuss: Were you surprised at the percentage of retuned cell phones? Do you think that the 68% of returned cell phones represented a “very good”, “average”, or a “poor” return? Why? As we prepare for our service event, what role might “honesty” play in it? In what ways might having it said (at the conclusion of our service event) that “It truly is encouraging to know that no matter where you are in the world there are honest people that will do the right thing” indicate that our service event was a success?
   www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle
   Molt/idUSN2338069520070723
5. Read: Do any of you recognize the name Wesley Autrey? On January 2, 2007, Mr. Autrey, a 50-year-old construction worker and Navy veteran just happened to be at the 137th Street subway station in New York when 18 year-old Cameron Hollopeter fell onto the tracks while suffering a seizure. In an attempt to rescue him, Mr. Autrey reportedly leaped onto the subway tracks. When he was unable remove Cameron in time to avoid the oncoming train, he pulled Cameron between the tracks and covered him with his own body, as the subway train rolled over them. Remarkably, they both survived without injury. The media dubbed Mr. Autrey "Subway Superman" and "The Hero of Harlem."
   
   Discuss: Why do you think that the world was so fascinated by this story? Do you think things like this happen every day? How is rescuing a classmate who is being ridiculed by fellow classmates like the rescue of Cameron? How might our service event be like a rescue effort?
6. Read: When Muhammad Ali, considered by many to be the best boxer in all of history, was new in his boxing career, he was known for his boastful off-the-cuff poems capped off by his famous claim, “I am the greatest!” As years past, Muhammad Ali, having grown a bit older and perhaps a bit wiser, when asked recently to provide his audience with yet another of his off-the-cuff poems, simply replied, “Me, We.”
   
   Discuss: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is quoted as saying "One of life's most important questions is “What are you doing for others?” How is Mr. Ali’s most recent off-the-cuff claim an echo of Dr. King’s quote? What might cause someone like Mr. Ali to change his attitude about what is important? How is our service event an effort to do for others? How might we be able to encourage our classmates and friends to see how important there help will be?
7. Read: The following is a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man's skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality.
   
   Discuss: In what ways might our planned service event contribute to the realization of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream for a just and equitable world? How are we being instruments of service for the rest of humanity? What might respecting the dignity and worth of others look like?
8. Read: A peace symbol is a picture or object that has come to symbolize peace. Several different symbols have been used throughout history, of which the dove, olive branch, and the disarmament or peace symbol (a circle with a straight line cutting the circle into equal halves and piercing an upside down Y) are the most popular. The two-fingered “V” hand gesture initially symbolizing “victory” but later used by protestors of war to symbolize “peace and love”, also is well known as a symbol of peace. Peace is a sought after condition for life. To be someone who lives as a “peacemaker” is highly regarded in almost all religions of the world. The simplest definition of a peacemaker is someone who lives in such a way that he or she does not cause harm to anyone or anything. While we all know, that peace between nations, people or families, or even peace within ourselves is rare and often more difficult to obtain much less maintain, it is still worth the effort. In combination even small gestures of peace make for unbelievably profound differences. After all, every millionaire will tell you that it all started with one penny.
   
   Discuss: Why do you think that peace is a such a highly sought after state of being in world religions? As we approach our service event, why is it important that if we cannot do something big, that we at least attempt something small? In what ways might our service event be seen as a way to become “peacemakers”?
9. Read: The building of large stone structures has always been a fascination with humankind. From the Egyptian pyramids to Stonehenge, from castles to skyscrapers humans have been all about building structures. The natives of Northern America were and are no different in this regard. But what does separate them from the rest is how non-intrusive their structures were.
   
   Unlike the usual towering stone monoliths, the natives of North America simply laid down lots of stones on the Earth in certain patterned arrangements that resemble the wheel of a bicycle. These structures became known as medicine wheels. According to Native American spirituality, the Medicine Wheel represents harmony and connections. It is considered a major symbol of peaceful interaction among all living beings on Earth. It is conjectured that the phrase walking in another person’s moccasins originated out of the walking the path of the medicine wheel where it was taught that until you have walked in others' moccasins, or stood on their spokes of the wheel, you will never truly know their hearts.
   
   Discuss: Why do you think that the Native American medicine wheels were built as they were and not like so many of humankind’s more intrusive structures? In what way might our service event be like walking the path of the medicine wheel? In what ways are we hoping to promote harmony and connections in what we have planned for our event?
10. Read: Perhaps we’ve all heard the often quoted saying, “Before we can truly understand another person, we must walk a mile in their moccasins.” But there is actually another sentence that is a part of this saying which is seldom quoted even though the original Native America texts from which this quote is taken records it. The full saying reads, “Before we can truly understand another person, we must walk a mile in their moccasins. Before we can walk in another person’s moccasins, we must first take off our own.”
    
    Discuss: As we approach our service event in what ways might our understanding of others be as important, if not more so, in the 21st Century as it was back in the earlier days of country’s history? During our service event what are some of the things we are trying to do better to understand people and situations with which we are not familiar? Why do you think “taking off our own moccasins” before trying to “walk” in another’s is so important? In what ways might this be easy? Difficult?

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:
Have the students write down some of their thoughts and ideas about their involvement in this most recent service project.  Assign them to groups of three or four. Have each group listen to the thoughts and ideas of each of its members.  Using words and phrases representative of the individuals in the group, have each group create a rap, a poem, a song, or a skit that represents the combined thoughts and ideas of the group. Conclude the class with a performance of each composition and a brief discussion of what was learned as a result of these performances. (Note: Groups that perform their composition could be “rewarded/recognized” in some way. An “Oscar” Award could be given to the group whose performance receives the most votes from their classmates, and/or other categorical awards could be given etc.)

ACTIVITY TWO:
Review this service project with the students asking them to share their experiences: what they did, how they felt, and what impact they think they had. When everyone has had an opportunity to contribute to the discussion, share this scenario with the class: An Assistant Principal in another school district is experiencing some frustration over the lack of interest and involvement by the 9th graders in their service projects.  We are being asked, as a class, having been 9th graders last year, if we would discuss what might be done to involve more 9th grade students in upcoming service projects.

Assign students to groups of three and give them a number to represent their group. Have them complete the following work sheet:

GROUP #__________

1. Names of the students in our group
    
2. The problem as we see it.
    
3. Some solutions we have considered.
    
4. The solution that we think might work best and why we think so.

Collect each group’s worksheet. Read these worksheets to the class indicating only the group number. As the students listen to each group’s recommendation/suggestion, have them rank (See Below) each group’s recommendation/suggestion based on how effective their recommendation/suggestion might be in motivating more 9th graders to be involved in service projects.

Solution Ranking	No Way...It’s Possible ...This Will Work
Group 1	0        1       2        3        4        5
Group 2	0        1       2        3        4        5
Group 3	0        1       2        3        4        5
Group 4	0        1       2        3        4        5
Group 5	0        1       2        3        4        5
Group 6	0        1       2        3        4        5
Group 7	0        1       2        3        4        5
Group 8	0        1       2        3        4        5

Tally the results and conclude this reflection with a brief discussion as to why the recommendations/suggestions receiving the most points might be a good way to motivate 9th graders to become involved in service projects.

ACTIVITY THREE:
Ask the students if they have ever seen the TV reality program entitled Extreme Makeover  (A show that features groups of architects, designers, carpenters, decorators and painters selecting a house, usually too small or run down for the families who live in them, and completely remodeling them into wonderful places in which to live. The families who live in these homes are away so that they do not see what is going on.  After a specified period of time, the work is completed and the owners return to their home to discover an almost unbelievable transformation.)  For those who have seen the show, encourage them to share something about the show that impresses them.  Talk about what might be the motivations of the people who work on these houses.  Discuss why companies might be willing to donate thousands of dollars of free equipment and building materials. Consider how someone might react returning to their “new” home and why. Discuss any similarities and differences between this TV show and what they were thinking, feeling and doing during this service project. Talk about the motivations they felt as they became involved; how they donated “dollars” (time equals money); and how they might feel if they were the recipients/benefactors of this service activity. Discuss how this event could become the next “reality show.”

ACTIVITY FOUR:
Have students think about who, in their lives, has made the biggest impression on them so far.  Have them consider why they think this is so.  Encourage students to expand their thinking to consider whether this big impression was because of a one-time action or something that occurred over time and/or possibly is still occurring in their lives.  Challenge them to consider whether this “big impression” had more to do with time, talent, or treasure or a combination of these.  Ask them if this “big impression” came about as a result of something someone had done/is doing for them or did it have more to do with who that person is (personality and traits), or possibly a combination of both.  Open the discussion by asking the students to share some of the things they did during this service project. Have them consider the possibility that they too may have made a “big impression”. 

Conclude this reflection by giving students an option to:

1. Write a letter to the person identified as the one who has made the biggest impression in their lives to date, thanking them for what they did/are doing for them.  (Note: Students may not feel comfortable sharing names, so names need not be included.)  Encourage students to consider the impact of their letter if they were to send them and challenge them to do so.
2. Write a description of this service project and describe any ‘lasting impressions’ that it had on them as participants.