Lesson 5: I Belong

Materials

My Best Me textbook, journal, paper, pencil, access to the internet *Book Suggestion: Community Needs: Meeting Needs and Wants in Communities by Jake Miller.

Resources

Student Worksheet: 4yu.info/?i=V598526 Family Engagement: 4yu.info/?i=V598576

Glossary

material, enhance, non-material, compliment, essential, embedded, gratefulness, wealthy, sufficiently, appreciate

Motivation

We want our students to live like Francis of Assisi or Gandhi and “be the change they wish to see…” It takes time, however, to find meaningful ways for kids to practice sharing who they are and what they have with those around them. Students should develop altruistic traits grounded in their concern for helping others. The first step is to encourage them to acknowledge the abundance in their own lives. From a place of gratitude and contentment, when their eyes are looking outward, students can begin to help others in need. Students should realize that, regardless of their socio-economic status, everyone has some type of need, whether at home, at school or in their neighborhood. Students have a wealth of gifts that can help meet some of those needs. The key is to be aware of the people around them and to be sensitive to what is going on in their lives. This is quite a challenge when children are immersed in their “screens”. How can we pay attention to others if we are constantly focused on our devices? When we encourage students to become “helping agents” who fulfill the needs of those they are close to, they will start to experience the great satisfaction of giving out of what they have, (Assisi and Gandhi lived very humble lives, sharing what they had with others), and discover the joy that sharing can bring to their lives.

Goal

The students will be able to identify and meet the needs of individuals in their community by using their unique gifts and talents.

Observe: Students will observe the pictures and discuss with each other what needs the people have in each photo. The purpose of this introduction is for students to see that all people have needs. Many times we think needy people only have financial needs, but this lesson shows the wide variety of needs people have (some of which we experience in our own lives). Comment: Students will comment on the needs in their own lives as well as the needs of others. You can do this with the entire class or in smaller groups. The idea is to stimulate discussion among

Pathways

the students and create awareness that close to them are individuals who need help, which might not be noticeable at first sight. Understand: Please read this section with the students. Make a list of ways students currently fulfill the needs of others at home or at school. Another idea is to use this time to discuss possible needs in your own school (new students, students by themselves, etc.) and community (the elderly, people with special needs, etc.) and brainstorm ways the class can help meet those needs. Have students identify what skills are required to accomplish this. If possible, have students individually, in small groups, or as a class, plan and execute one of their service learning ideas. Another idea is to have students focus on what they have experienced personally when they share of themselves and how they have helped others around them. Let them describe the emotions they felt in this process. Comment: Students will think about the needs they perceive in the people surrounding them. Act: Students will identify individual(s) around them who they perceive have needs. Give them time to brainstorm the various types of needs they think the individual(s) mentioned might have. Are these needs related to food, health, drug abuse, education, emotional issues, or something else? They may work with a partner or in a group to create a poster that highlights the important details of the needs they encounter. Reflect: To conclude the lesson, have students use the workbook questions to summarize their thoughts. The subject matter may be personal to each student, so a journal entry may be more appropriate than a discussion. Allow students to share their thoughts and help the class to recognize the moments in their lives when they were able to share what they had. Students will discover that they are capable just as they are, and equipped with whatever they have, to share what they have with others. In other words, it’s not the amount that counts, but the act and attitude of giving selflessly.

Willpower

An important part of being an active member of a community is to help others with their needs.