big abc champion year lesson #3 (november) project cornerstone

BIGABC CHAMPION YEAR

LESSON #3 (November)

PROJECT CORNERSTONE

Intentional Acts of Caring and Kindness

2 | BIG| ©2014 PROJECT CORNERSTONE

Goals• Empower students to think about being the best big you

can be.

• Take small steps to achieve BIG outcomes at home, school and community.

• Internalize intrinsic reward of doing things for the right reasons-Being an UPstander.

• Use personal power to create change in the world.

• Perform intentional acts of caring for others.

• Understand that everyone can be BIG in their own way.


Getting Started

• You are a Caring Adult in the lives of youth!

• Smile, say “Hi” and use names to make each child feel valued, respected and known…

• Have all students put on nametags or memorize the names

Ask for student feedback on last month’s lesson - Giraffes Can’t DanceCan anyone explain what the “white space” was about?

Did anyone have a “white moment”?

Did anyone try a new activity this month? How did it go?

(Tell them a personal story about something new you tried in the last month to get the conversation going.)


Conversation Starter K-2nd

For Students K-2nd

Materials Needed: 2 boxes wrapped as presents -1 big and 1 small, attach tag on each box that says, “Brand New Day”, 1 piece of paper or a calendar labeled,“365 brand New days”.

Put the book in the big box. Ask students what they think is inside and what does the tag mean?

Ask one volunteer to open up the box. Show the cover and read the title of the book to the students. Ask students to tell you what they think the title means? Are there any clues on the cover?

(Most students will talk about big as defined by size of objects)

Turn to smaller box and ask what could be in this box? Have another volunteer open it and remove the calendar or paper. What could this mean?


Conversation Starter 3rd-5thFor Students 3rd-Middle School

Materials: poster

Prewrite the word BIG on the poster. Make it big with room to write inside the letters.

1. Ask the students to tell you what big means. Don’t write anything down that defines it as size.

2. If someone mentions big as a big action, thought, or making a difference, simply write that on the poster.


Introducing and Reading the BookFor Students K-2nd

Ask students to listen and see if they can figure out what BIG means here.

Explain that sometimes words can have more than the simple meaning.

Encourage the students to read the text with you in places that are easy such as Big is being __________. Or the phrase, BIG is being the biggest YOU that YOU can be.

For Students 3rd--Middle School

Explain that the words in the book are simple, but the meaning is deep. After reading, go back to your poster and ask them to explain BIG now.


Reiterate at the end of reading


BIG opportunities!

BIG ACTIONSBIG THOUGHTS

BIG DEEDSBIG IMPACTSBIG EFFORTS

BIG RISKSBIG

DISCOVERIES

Discussing the Book

“BIG is being the biggest YOU that YOU can be” …

What can you do to be BIG for yourself? For others?

How are you a BIG member of your family, school and neighborhood?

What can an BIG citizen of the world do?

How can you be a BIG friend to the earth?


Discussing the Book

Extending the conversation (Grade 3 and up)

How will you know when you are BIG? • How will you feel?

How are being a bucket filler and being BIG similar?

For deeper discussion…How can we tap into the power of the digital world to

be BIG?What does the phrase “The reward for being BIG is

invisible” mean? 10 | BIG| ©2014 PROJECT CORNERSTONE

Discussing the Book: Digital CitizenshipBeing BIG Online

5 Tips to be BIG online1. Think before you post or text -- a bad reputation could be just a click away

2. What goes around comes around.

3. Spread heart, not hurt.

4. Give and get credit.

5. Make this a world you want to live in.


Asset Building

Empowerment-#7 Community Values Youth, #8 Youth as Resources, #9 Service to Others;

Positive Values-#26 Caring, #27 Equality and Social Justice ;

Social Competencies-#32, Planning and Decision Making, #33 Interpersonal competence

Positive Identity-#37 Personal Power, #38 Self-Esteem, #39 Positive View of Personal Future

Support-#1 Family Support, #4 Caring Neighborhood, and #5 Caring School Climate


Big Ideas for Being the Biggest YOU 365 days

Smile at people

Donate used books to a library

Hold the door open for someone

Be nice to someone you dislike

Encourage someone

Let someone in line go before you for free

Clean up graffiti

Make care packs for the homeless

Gather sleeping bags, blankets, clothes

Plant trees or flowers

Recycle.

Start a community garden

Give the gift of music to seniors

Help someone with homework for free


Write notes of appreciation to people who have helped you or made a difference in your life

Be nice to animals

Set up a free pet wash day

Buy a cup of coffee or lunch for a stranger

Pay the tab for a person behind you

Read to the elderly or to the young

Run an errand for a friend or a neighbor

Contact friends or family via email to share experiences

At Dinner table, express gratitude for something that happened that day. Do this regularly

Rake leaves as a surprise for a neighbor you know well.

Big Ideas for Being the Biggest YOU 365 days

Help with yard work. Offer to pull weeds or mow the lawn.

Wash the car

Care for a child for your friend or your family

Set up a charity concert or open mic at school

Organize a sports tournament to raise awareness for a charity

Start a community mural

Join a peer counseling group

Take public transportation instead of car

Ride your bike to school or walk.

Switch out old light bulbs for energy efficient ones.

Use less plastic.

Send flowers or bring flowers to someone.

Create school supply packages for students.

Advocate for change with a letter writing campaign to local, county or

state government official.

Write a letter or send a thank you card to tell others what you think or how you feel about an issue.

Pick up your toys.

Clean up after yourself.

Adopt a soldier.

Start a community newsletter that promotes community ideas.

Help someone who is dealing with a hardship in their life.

Find a pen pal in a developing country and write notes or interact over the internet.

Share talents with friends, family and your community.

Activity Idea 1: What Does BIG Stand For? (Gr 3-5), 5 mins

Materials: 11 x 14 construction paper or index cards, markers, crayons, colored pencils

Directions: Students will design a poster campaign that defines the concept of being a BIG person.

1. Using the letters in B-I-G, have students think of what they could stand for.

2. Divide students into small groups and have them create a poster or index card that illustrates what BIG is to them.

Debrief: Ask each group to share their creation! What does each letter stand for? They can use single words, phrases or sentences.

Challenge: Display the posters or cards in a visible place.


Activity Idea 2: BIG Buckets Come from the Heart (Gr 2-3), 10 minsMaterials:

• Construction paper or pre-cut hearts for each student • One large white heart for classroom or a bucket labeled “Bucket Filling”

Activity:

• Show the students the page in the middle of the book that asks “How will you know when you have succeeded?”

• Reread the questions and have students think about a question that feels right for them (i.e. How can I be big in my family today?”

• Have the students choose one of the questions or one of their own and write it on one side of the heart.

• Have students think about bucket filling actions. Brainstorm as a group or in small groups.

• On the other side, write the small steps that they will take to be BIG and answer the question.

• Remind them that small steps can add up to the BIG idea or action.

• Students can share their heart in pairs, small groups, or to the whole class.

• Pin their hearts to the large heart or put in them in the bucket.


Activity Idea 3: BIG is __(Gr K-1), 10 mins

Materials: “BIG is” handout for each student from the website or lined school paper with half blank to draw on.

Activity:

Use the Resource list of ideas to help facilitate the activity.

Write the sentence on the board: BIG is ____________. Brainstorm different words to fill in the blank.

Write the words on the board to create a word bank. Tell students they can fill in the blank and draw a picture that goes with the word they choose.

Students can share their drawings in pairs, small groups, or to the whole class.


Activity Idea 4: Wish on a Star for a Better World (Gr 2-5), 10 minsMaterials: Wish on a Star Handout (from website) or construction paper, string

Preparation: Cut out star shapes from construction paper or let students do it in class

Activity: As a group, talk about the world and how each person can make personal changes to make the world wonderful.

Discuss how giving time, talent or treasures can make a difference.

Here are some suggestions for discussion: world peace, make the world cleaner and less polluted, help people who are sick, teach people to read and write, help others who need medicine, food or clothing etc.

Divide the class into small groups and give them a star or a few stars.

On each star, write their wishes about making other people happy and healthy and the world more wonderful.

Have them include action items on their wishes.

Have each group share their ideas and what they will do to implement them.

Attach stars to different length string and hang them from the ceiling or bulletin board.


Activity Idea 5: World Citizen (Gr 4-5), 15 minsMaterials: (1)Small sticky notes in 4 different colors. Each child will need one

of each color. (2) Four life size gingerbread shape humans cut out of poster paper that matches the color of the sticky notes. (3) Name the humans: Kind Karen, Helpful Henry, Environmental Eric, Tolerant Terry. (Avoid student names.)

Activity: Pass out 4 sticky notes (one of each color) to each student. Have students individually write what could do to be kind, helpful, environmental, and tolerant. (For example, tolerant may be listening to other points of view or being respectful of people dressing in different styles.)

Have students initial their sticky and then place on the posters.

Divide the students into 4 groups. Assign each group one of the humans.

In their group have them read the sticky notes, discuss the suggestions, and then summarize the ideas for various actions. Have each group make a report to the whole group on one suggestion for future action.

As a large group discuss and choose one or more action item to work on. Have the groups write up a goal with individual steps to achieving the action. (This may be done at a second meeting or by the teacher.)


3 Minute Huddle: BIG


Ask for a recap of ideas for being BIG.

Have students close their eyes and think about: “Being the biggest YOU that YOU can be…”

Ask, “Name 2 things you will do to be BIG today?” Remind them that being BIG is a journey of small steps.

Have them pair share their ideas or share in small groups.

Next Steps: School Wide Extension Ideas

Caring ZonesPromote intentional acts of caring!

Recruit volunteers (both adults and youth) to “adopt” a playground zone- at recess, lunch,

before or after school- where adults can “coach” youth on inviting, sharing, caring, etc.

Ask youth for their ideas on Caring Zones. Mondays might be 4-square, Tuesdays might be the lunch line, etc.


Service Opportunities1. Hands on Bay Area www.Handsonbayarea.org

• One time tax deductible fee of $25 fee waiver available• No long term commitment, registration online, brief online orientation • Can volunteer as a community, family or school group

2. Volunteer Info www.Volunteerinfo.org• Provides information of service opportunities in the Bay Area

3.United Way of the Bay Area www.uwba.org/get-involved/volunteer• Volunteer opportunities online.

4. Volunteer Match www.volunteermatch.org• Connects volunteers to nonprofits by area of interest.

5. Doing Good Together www.doinggoodtogether.org• Empowering families to raise caring, engaged children by offering unique programs and events,

valuable services, and fun activities that promote kindness & giving.

6.Furry Friends -furryfriends.org/getInvolved.html• Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services‘ mission is to consistently facilitate delivery of the love

and affection of our volunteers and their pets. • We enhance the lives and touch the hearts of people with special needs• Minimum age 12 years old


Service Opportunities7.YMCA-Leaders in Training

www.ymcasv.org/association/html/programs_educationleadership.html• Creates opportunities for youth to serve as leaders in the community. • 7th grade and up, small fee for training, volunteer at YMCA programs for summer• Many volunteer opportunities for adults as well throughout the YMCA

8.Random Acts of Kindness www.randomactsofkindness.org• Provides resources and tools to encourage and spread kindness

9.One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding - www.osctr.org• Offers therapeutic riding and other equine - related activities to individuals with physical and/or

emotional disabilities, as well as youth-at-risk.• Minimum Age 14, help guide horses and be a companion to disabled individuals

10.Town Cats of Morgan Hill -www.towncats.org• Provide care to cats. Minimum age 12. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

11.Sunnyvale FISH-sunnyvalefish.org• Provide basic needs: food, clothing, and household goods directly to those in need.

12.Go Voluntr-govoluntr.com/volunteer• After registering online (free), a database of volunteer opportunities will be made available to you

13. Books Aloud-booksaloud.org• Opportunities to serve individuals who are visually, physically, or learning disabled by assisting in the

Books Aloud section of the library.


Service Opportunities14. The Health Trust Food Basket www.healthtrust.org

• Many volunteer opportunities available, such as distributing or delivering food

15.Veggielution www.veggielution.org/volunteer• Volunteers help with various tasks such as planting, weeding, composting, and harvesting• Volunteers get to take home free produce• Youth under 13 must be accompanied by an adult

16.Re-building together www.rebuildingtogethersv.org• Long term volunteer opportunities available to create a safe housing environment • Must be at least 14 years old.

17. Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley www.wcsv.org• You are at least 16 years old and commit to 4 hours per week for two months. • You attend one orientation and one basic care class (for animal care volunteers)

18. Project Linus -www.sjlinus.org• Volunteers provide homemade/handmade, washable blankets and quilts to children who are seriously

ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.

19. Friends of Sunnyvale Library -www.fotsvl.org• Supports Sunnyvale Public Library• Preparing and donating books for sale


Service Opportunities20.Good Karma Bikes –www.goodkarmabikes.org

• Provide homeless and low income working people with a safe, reliable bicycle transportation• Minimum of 13 years old• Training provided, no skills necessary

21.Sacred Heart –www.sacredheart.org• Opportunities for families, children, classrooms, and individuals to volunteer in clothes closets, food

pantries, and holiday food pantry

22.Second Harvest Food Bank –www.shfb.org• Minimum age 14 and above, youth must be accompanied by an adult• Many opportunities available such as food sorting and food distribution in the community

23.10 Books at Home www.10booksahome.org• Youth can have book drives to support this organization.

24.Operations Shoebox – www.operationshoebox.org• Youth can support troops throughout the year by creating care packages

25.Youth Community Services –www.youthcommunityservices.org• Palo Alto based organization that engages youth in community


Other Service Opportunities

• Check with Lucille Packard Foundation for ways to volunteer.

• Rebekah Family Services-www.rcskids.org

• Sunday Friends- http://sundayfriends.org/

• Cecelia’s Closet-article from Morgan Hill Life: http://morganhilllife.com/cecelias-closet-means-dignity-for-the-needy/

• Bill Wilson Center-www.billwilsoncenter.org

• InnVision - needs blankets, teddy bears and books. www.projectnightnight.org

• Stop Hunger Now-packing meals- http://www.stophungernow.org/how-to-host

• Home First- http://www.homefirstscc.org/volunteer/opportunities/

• San Jose Family Shelter-http://familysupportivehousing.org/index.php/programs/san-jose-family-shelter/

• Family Giving Tree- http://www.familygivingtree.org/lead-a-drive.php

• Turning Wheels for Kids- http://turningwheelsforkids.org/

• Central YMCA is accepting donations for: Second Harvest Food Bank drive drop off from 11/3-11/21.


http://sundayfriends.org/

http://morganhilllife.com/cecelias-closet-means-dignity-for-the-needy/

http://www.projectnightnight.org/

http://www.stophungernow.org/how-to-host

http://www.homefirstscc.org/volunteer/opportunities/

http://www.familygivingtree.org/lead-a-drive.php

http://turningwheelsforkids.org/

Next Steps: Communication

Parent Letter- Strengthen the Home and School connection by sending the parent letter, every month.

Staff Letter and Resources- Strengthen your relationship with the teacher by offering ABC Resources and the staff letter, every month.


Closing Comments

• ABC Reader Holiday Party Dec 3/10

• Next Book training: Jan 7th 2015

• January Book: When Sophie gets angry

• Would you like to read in Title 1 Sunnyvale schools? “Reading Partners” – contact Principals of respective schools.


Empathy Skill Building: For youthTaking the lesson from the classroom to the playground

School Wide Friendship Plan: Intentional Acts

of Caring and Kindness1. Empathy

2. Feeling Connected

3. Kindness

4. Caring

5. Gratitude


Empathy Skill Building: For youthTaking the lesson from the classroom to the playground

Will YOU try it today?

Let someone take a turn, first

Listen Tell a joke!Fix a wrong BE FAIR

Be enthusiastic!Ask someone to join in and play!


Sit with someone new! Invite and include at the lunch tables!

Be patient

Offer to help

big abc champion year lesson #3 (november) project cornerstone

Documents

book big

big box

big means

big outcomes

word big

big member

big citizen

big action