These "LEAGUE Learning Links” provide ten quick and easy 5-minute mini-lessons to help promote The LEAGUE’s vision and scheduled events in your classroom. You can choose from among these mini-lessons and use as many of them as you would like 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 ones, time, talents, and treasures for the common good) and to promote those philanthropic acts that have been identified as supporting The LEAGUE events. These mini-lessons will also help ensure a deeper understanding of character traits, civic engagement, and promote student leadership. It is recommended that students be encouraged to play as much of a role as possible and appropriate in presenting these lessons to their classmates.

1. Read: When ask by adults “What are you doing?”, it seems that most kids our age respond by saying, “Nothing.” But is that really true or just a way of avoiding a lengthy conversation when we don’t feel like talking? It’s possible we feel that what we are doing is not important or wouldn’t be of interest to other people. But there will come a time when sharing with others what you are doing does become important. Such times might include putting together a resume and interviewing for a job, applying for college and/ or college loans to mention just few. Civic engagement (working for the common good of all) is often something employers and colleges look for when considering candidates for work and/or school and by those who make grant and scholarship decisions. Student involvement in their communities indicates a certain level of maturity unquestionably highly regarded by those who hire and make school entrance and funding decisions.
   
   Discuss: From a practical standpoint, how might our being involved in our Drive event be looked at by a potential employer and/or a college entrance board? Is the motivation for being civically engaged so that one can place it on a resume and/or application a good reason to participate in League events, like our Drive? Why or why not? What are some of other benefits for participating in this event and others like it?
   
    
2. Read: According to a 1995 U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service report, if 5% of consumer, retail, and food-service food thrown away were recovered, the savings from landfill costs alone would be about $50 million dollars annually. This 5% recovery would also provide a day’s supply of food for each of 4 million people. Food thrown away comprises 6.7% by weight of the total U.S. municipal solid waste stream. Today, many companies are eager to participate in waste reduction programs that realize both environmental and economic benefits. One of the strategies used in their efforts to reduce food waste is to donate unused food items to local food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters. To encourage these types of food donations, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted Good Samaritan laws that protect from liability those company donors who take adequate measures to prevent food spoilage or contamination. Additionally, studies show that employees are more likely to involve themselves and their families in donating when they see their employers and their companies giving food and unused items to charitable organizations. One company spokesperson in a recent interview stated, “It’s important that we model the type of behavior we want to see. We need to take the lead in being the change we are hoping to make. Then everyone wins including our environment!”
   
   Discuss: In what ways do you think the passage of the Good Samaritan laws has helped to promote giving in the for-profit business sector? Why is it important that companies model “giving” behavior? How might we model for others, “giving” behavior during our Drive event? Why might doing so be important to the success of our Drive event? Who stands to “win” as a result of our efforts?
   
    
3. Read: The "speed of change" in technology is almost overwhelming. If you bought a new personal computer this past year, chances are it's already obsolete and its newer, faster replacement probably costs several hundred dollars less than the one you purchased just a year ago. The cycle continues as personal computer ownership and Internet usage increase and the "speed of change" accelerates even more. It seems that it's all we can do just to keep up with it let alone understand all of its implications. As one technician put it, “There are no speed limit signs on the highways of technology. “ This creates a problem, especially in major corporations where hundreds of computers have to be replaced every year or so. What’s to become of all the monitors, wires, keyboards, power stations, and mice of the outdated stuff? One major computer manufacturer has teamed up with a major non-profit organization to provide job training and employment services to people with disabilities to answer at least part of this question. The program is called RECONNECT. RECONNECT is a comprehensive electronics recovery, reuse and environmentally responsible recycling opportunity for consumers in participating communities. This program offers free drop-off recycling and reuse-options for unwanted electronics. Proceeds from the resale of these donations are used to support the mission of the non-profit organization to create job opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment.
   
   Discuss: How does the “speed of change” in our world affect our need to “reconnect” to people? What about our Drive event is similar to programs like RECONNECT?  As a result of our Drive event, what impact and/or opportunities are we hoping to provide those who will be the recipients of our collections?
   
    
4. Read: Both American Airlines pilot Trevor Slavick and Denver Radio news anchor Steffan Tubbs discovered what they thought was a simple but powerful truth: a soccer ball could unify the world. Each man in his own way came to this realization. Both agree that there are not too many things everyone in almost every part of the world shares or understands, but soccer is one of those things. Witnessing first-hand the powerful impact that a shiny new soccerball can have, especially for children in poor and war torn countries was enough to motivate these two men. Little Feet is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization committed to getting soccer balls to underprivileged children throughout the world. In 2006, Little Feet sent over 40,000 soccer balls to US servicemen and women to give away to the children living in the war-torn country. Another 10,000 balls were sent to children living in extreme poverty in over 20 different countries around the world.
   
   Discuss: Our Drive is a resolve on our part to do something for someone else. Fortunately, some innovative, efficient non-profit organizations exist to help us help others. What agencies could we contact to join us in our Drive? What difference are we hoping to make in our world? What we give may not seem like much to us, so why shouldn’t we assume that it won’t mean much to those who are the recipients of our efforts either? 
   www.littlefeet.com
   
    
5. Read: More and more professional athletes are being encouraged to establish Foundations, and/or organize and participate in charities to address a wide range of issues from AIDS to hunger, from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) to disaster relief. This indoctrination begins almost as soon as a player turns pro and signs a big league contract. In baseball, for instance, players’ union chief, Don Fehr toured spring training camps this year to encourage rookies to get involved in their communities. At least 22 players from the NBA and 37 from the NFL now have personal foundations. One might wonder with nonprofit organizations (like the Salvation Army, Red Cross, local faith based institutions); with government-assistance programs that by legislation are designed to alleviate human suffering; with established charities and Foundations like those of pro athletes; with philanthropic for-profit organizations, and with private individuals, just what sort of an impact can we hope that our bringing a nonperishable food item for our Drive will have?
   
   Discuss: How would you respond to the comment, “Hey, let the rich people and the government do it, after all I’m only one person. What good can I possibly do?” What strategies might we use with our peers to dismiss this type of an excuse used not to participate in our Drive event?
   http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117771735737385480-HNCNX9jVa7txdWLof_xbwmiNJKo_20080429.html
   (Article: Big Players in Charity By G. Bruce Knecht. April 28, 2007)
   
    
6. Read: Six Degrees of Separation is the theory that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries. Six Degrees of Separation answers the question “If you choose any two people in the world at random, how many acquaintances are needed to create a connection between them?”  Hence, the Six Degrees of Separation phenomenon is synonymous with the idea that “It’s a small world, after all”. While there are some who question the experimental process used to test this phenomenon, Columbia University in New York, is currently conducting an email-based version of the same experiment, and has actually found average path lengths of about five on a worldwide scale.
   
   There is a Chinese proverb that states, “Do a good deed and it will return.” In the world of giving, people will often return a favor, meaning that they will give or do something nice for someone who has given or done something nice for them. In the world of giving there is also something called serial reciprocity. This occurs when a person who has been the recipient of a kind act repays the benefits they have received by giving or doing something for someone else thus moving the giving process out of a circular path and into a linear one. So the question one teacher posed to his advanced theories class was this, “According to the Six Degrees of Separation phenomena, is it possible that performing a kind deed for someone could ultimately result in someone, five or six people removed from the original deed, performing a kind deed for the person who initially started the process?”
   
   Discuss: Even though we are not an advanced theories class, what do you think? Could it be possible or not? How is our Drive event an example of serial reciprocity? Even though we may never really know if our original contribution will someday result in someone making a connection with us, how might we experience an immediate return of the favor as referenced in the Chinese Proverb, “Do a good deed and it will return”?  Is it okay to feel good about our giving?
   
    
7. Read: The Titanic was a British ocean liner that became famous as the largest ocean liner built in her day and also for its sinking on her maiden voyage in 1912 resulting in a tremendous loss of life.  An 1894 law stipulated that a minimum of 16 lifeboats and enough places for 962 occupants were required for a ship that weighed more than 10,000 tons.  The law had not been updated for 18 years even though ships had increased rapidly in size. Thus, the Titanic was only legally required to carry enough lifeboats for 962 occupants despite its capacity for 3,547 passengers. While the Titanic exceeded the regulations by including four collapsible lifeboats, bringing the total lifeboat capacity to 1,178, history bares proof to the fact that it was not enough. Survivors of the sinking Titanic recall horrible heart-wrenching sights of over 1,500 people begging to board the life boats but having to be turned away lest those already in the lifeboats, too should parish.
   
   Some people, when talking about “rescuing” the hungry and needy people of our world, cite the plight of the Titanic rescue boats on that fateful day when according to the United States Senate investigation 1,517 people were reported as having perished in the accident. They maintain, “We can’t rescue everyone.”
   
   Discuss: Do you see parallels between the rescue efforts of the Titanic lifeboats and the “rescue” efforts underway to eradicate world hunger? If so, how? If not, why not?  In what ways is it worth doing what you can even though you cannot do it all? How might we approach our Drive event in such a way as to “rescue” as many hungry and needy people as we can?
   
    
8. Read Have you ever heard of the Glastonbury Festival held annually in Pilton, England? It is a three day festival held during the last week in June. It is the largest green field (open field) music and performing arts festival in the world. It is best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other arts. Heavily influenced by hippy ethics and the free festival movement of the 1970s, it is particularly attractive to New Agers as well as the alternative culture.
   
   But did you know that the world’s largest single day music concert was held on July 13, 1985? It was called the Live Aid Concert where 60 of the world's biggest rock stars performed for free. This concert was held simultaneously over a 16 hour period in two different countries in front of a live audience of 162,000 people (90,000 in Philadelphia and 72,000 in London) and broadcast to an estimated 1.9 billion additional TV viewers in 150 countries across the world. When this concert ended over 70 million dollars had been raised for famine relief and the record, “We Are the World,” produced by 45 popular musicians and used to promote this event, raised an additional 50 million for famine relief.
   
   Discuss: Why might a popular rock star take his or her time to participate in an event like Live Aid or the making of a record like “We Are the World” all for free? How is our Drive event a way for our school to come together to heed a call and lend a helping hand?
   www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/ 
   www.nostalgiacentral.com/pop/liveaid.htm
   
    
9. Read: Perhaps you’ve seen a FOR SALE sign in the windshield of an automobile that lists an asking price and then the letters “or B.O”. For example Mr. Clayton put his 1999 family car curbside with a For Sale sign that read “$2,500 or B.O.”. The initials B.O. stand for Best Offer. Best Offer encourages people to make an offer to buy an item at a price they select knowing what the initial asking price is. The seller usually waits to hear all the “best offers” and then takes the one that most closely approximates the initial asking price.
   Sometimes a For Sale sign might read slightly different. For example, Mrs. Houseman had a garage sale in her front yard. She decided it was time to try to sell her old kitchen table and chairs set. The sign she placed on the set read “For Sale M.O.”. The initials M.O. stand for “Make an Offer”. It is much like B.O. but in the case of M.O., the seller usually does not list an initial asking price. This leaves the buyer to come up with an offered amount and the seller can then accept, decline, or counteroffer.
   
   Discuss: Most volunteer work and donations are on a B.O. or M.O. basis. This means that even though most volunteer organizations have recommended work schedules and/or donation amounts they will gladly “take what you are willing to offer”. Often people will shy away from volunteer work or making donation because they can’t provide the “recommended” amount of time or money. During our Drive event, how can we help others understand that their Best Offer or Make an Offer is so much better than nothing at all?
   
    
10. Read: Storing food for the winter months or months of draught is built into the gene structure of many animals and birds. In others, there is the strong pull of migration that occurs at such times beckoning many animals and birds to move in the direction of more readily available food supplies. Still others decide that the way to stave off hunger is to take a long nap and they choose to go into hibernation. Throughout the history, people have experienced all three of these methods of coping with hunger in times of low food supply. Fortunately humans now have grocery stores, corner fruit stands, gas station marts, and restaurants most of which are well within “walking or driving distance” from their homes. Hoarding food or storing it up in anticipation of it being needed, pretty much only occurs now when impending weather patterns are such that forecasters “warn” of the possible need for certain items until the threatening weather pattern passes. Fortunately, the need for food during and after major disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, tornados, draughts, fires, etc. is readily met through the generous contributions made to food banks by people and charitable organizations. “Unfortunately,” one food bank employee laments,” people often don’t see the needs that exist right in their own community because those needs do not get the publicity that the major events get. Helping people to see the needs in their ‘own back yard’ is our biggest challenge.”
    
    Discuss: As we work to promote our Drive event what are some things we should keep in mind? How could we go about identifying the needs in “our own back yard”? How can we help others see these needs and the importance of addressing them?
     

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:
Tell the students that they have been asked to write a newspaper article that will tell the story of their involvement in this recent League Event. Since newspaper articles are usually brief and inform their readers by answering the questions Who? What? When? Where? Why? Their article also should be brief and include answers to these five questions. When completed have the students place a symbol on their article that they will recognize as their own when the articles are returned to them. Collect the articles and randomly redistribute them so students will be able to read other student’s work. Depending on time, continue this process until each student has been able to read at least three other articles. Conclude with a brief sharing of students’ thoughts and ideas.
 

ACTIVITY TWO:
Review the recent League Event and have students share their impressions of what took place. Assign students to groups of two and provide each group with a variety of old newspapers. Ask the groups to scan the newspapers looking specifically for articles that speak to a social/societal problem and how this problem was addressed by an individual or a group of individuals.  Have them cut out as many of these types of articles from the newspapers as the designated time permits.  Have them then select one article from among those they have identified, which they feel most closely represents the intent of this recent League Event. Collect these articles, one from each group, and randomly reassign them to other groups so that no one group has its original article.  Each group is to look for the similarities and differences they see between the article they have been given and the intent of this recent League Event and share these similarities and differences with rest of the groups.

ACTIVITY THREE:
Provide each student with a variety of magazines and/or newspapers and instruct the class that they are to locate at least three company logos or slogans. Give each student a copy of the worksheet (below) and instruct them to cut out and attach the three logos or slogans that they have identified to their worksheet.  After a discussion as to why companies might develop and use logos and/or slogans, have the students complete the worksheet. Then have each student briefly share the logo or slogan he/she has selected and why? Distribute a piece of white construction paper to each student. Tell the class that now the challenge is for each of them to come up with their own logo or slogan to be used in promoting this same League Event next year and draw/write it on the white construction paper. Once completed, collect and display all of the logos or slogans, without student names.  (NOTE: If the actual intent is to come up with a logo or slogan for use to promote this League Event next year, voting for a classroom favorite might be appropriate.)
 

Name__________________

My three logos and/or slogans:

The logo or slogan I selected as having the most public appeal (from among the three logos I have identified) is circled above.

I think this logo or slogan would have more public appeal because….

ACTIVITY FOUR:
Have students consider this scenario. During this LEAGUE Event, if you had been given a digital camera with which to take three pictures for a motivational presentation, which three pictures would you have taken, and why?

 

Photo #1 (Describe the photo)

Why would you choose this photo to include in a motivational presentation?

 

Photo #2 (Describe the photo)

Why would you choose this photo to include in a motivational presentation?

Photo #3 (Describe the photo)

Why would you choose this photo to include in a motivational presentation?
 

Now have each student select their one photo from among the three taken “that will be added to the class album.” Have them share that photo with the class along with the reason for why they selected it as their favorite.  After everyone has an opportunity to share, engage the students in a discussion about similarities and difference in the photos selected as favorites and the reasons for selecting it.