grades 5/6 lesson 7

Grades 5/6 Lesson 7.1

©Hidden Heroes Education Society

Purpose: Is there anything more powerful or rewarding than showing each other that we care; that there is love, hope and magic all around us? Hidden Heroes know that there is tremendous power and positive energy in giving. We call this the “Ripple Effect.” It is about all people, from all walks of life, giving to someone else and observing and/or trusting that their kind act will take on a life of its own as it ripples outward, touching an innumerable number of people in its path. The purpose of this lesson is to enable our students to consider the effects of their actions and teach them that unselfish giving can offer many more rewards than they could ever imagine. In addition, we want our students to understand that by both their deeds and words, they can make a difference not only in their own lives but also in the lives of others.

Mother Teresa Duration: 2 classes of 45 - 60 minutes Social Responsibility Strands Addressed: Contributing to the Classroom and School Community Exercising Democratic Rights and Responsibilities Objectives: The students will: Be able to demonstrate and explain what a ‘Ripple Effect’ is

and how it grows Be able to practice random acts of kindness Materials: Paper Pencils Small bucket or small doll pool filled with enough water to

allow for ripples to appear on the surface Some heavy object to drop in the bucket of water to cause the

ripples. Book “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed” by Emily

Pearson Book “Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo” by Rosetta Stone “Ripple Effect” Record Sheet - 1 for each student – see

Learning Resource 7.A.

Hidden Heroes

Quote:

“When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life

of another.”

Helen Keller

Lesson 7 This lesson will have the students learning that every action they take affects both themselves and the recipients of the action. We call this the “Ripple Effect.” In this lesson, students will be given the opportunity to put into practice daily random acts of kindness for an entire week and then reflect on both their feelings and the effect of the action. In addition, students will write letters of appreciation to adults that have had a positive influence on their lives, pointing out how the adult unknowingly started a “ripple effect”.

Lesson 7.2 Grades 5/6

Hidden Heroes Education Society

“Bill Pineo” stories: One about him and one from his grand-daughter, Darcie Pineo – see Appendices7.B(i) & (ii)

Hidden Heroes Founder’s original “Ripple Effect” story – see Learning Resource 7.C

“Brenda Aubin” story – see Learning Resource 7.D. “Your Influence Begins With You and Ripples Outward” – 1

for each student – see Learning Resource 7.E Quote by John Heider, “The Ripple Effect” – see Learning

Resource 7.F

Suggested Assessment Tools: Ripple Effect Record Sheet Written assignment – appreciation letter to family member or a

positive influence Setting the Stage: Just like stones thrown into a pond, simple actions create ripples in the lives of all the people you touch and sometimes people you have never even met. There are hundreds of ways we can positively affect others. When our students are being friendly, sensitive and responsive to others’ needs they are, in essence, putting into practice random acts of kindness and behaving like Hidden Heroes. It is important for the students to learn more about the effects of positive actions, and understand that reaching out to just one person will have immeasurable results. For example, an innocent smile, a friendly glance, or even a pat on the back are all simple gestures that can make someone’s day and begin the “Ripple Effect”. Day 1 Activities Procedure: Teacher poses the question, “What is a Ripple Effect”? Allow

the students to give their ideas and comments. Teacher informs the students that they will be observing a

procedure and taking part in an activity that has a common thread. They create a “ripple effect”, and they start one way and finish in a completely different way.

Teacher places the bucket or pool in an area where all of the students can witness the results. Talk about the simple act and the effects of tossing an object into the water:

Hidden Heroes

Quote:


of another.”

Helen Keller




How long did it take until the ripples reached the edges? What happened once the ripples did reach the edge? Did

they stop? How long did it take for the water to return to its calm state

again? Teacher now has the class sit in a circle, and they will play the

“telephone game”, where the teacher shares a brief comment into the ear of the student next to him/her and then the message is passed along until it reaches the end.

Debrief this activity as well. How did it start and end? What caused it to begin, to change and, to take on a life of its

own? Teacher asks – was there any way to predict how the

“telephone activity” would end? Is there anyway of knowing how many ripples are created in a real pond, lake or ocean or how many of those ripples meet and create new ripples of their own? (Mathematically minded people may answer “yes” to this question, but in reality, there are so many variables that unless the experiment was completely controlled the answer would be “no”. There is no way of knowing or predicting all possible outcomes. Teacher now goes back to the original question and asks the class: What is a “Ripple Effect” and how do they think a Ripple

Effect and Hidden Heroes are related? Have the students take a few moments to record their own thoughts of how these two ideas are related. If possible have the students give some ideas or personal examples of “ripple effects” they have witnessed, or been a part of, to further support their understanding. Time permitting, allow the students to share their thoughts and ideas with partners and class.

Teacher will read the stories “Ordinary Mary’s Extra Ordinary Deed” and/or the Hidden Heroes Story “Brenda Aubin”.

After reading the story(ies), brainstorm with the class some random acts of kindness that each student could put into practice immediately at school, home, or in their community.

Inform the students that for the next week they are going to practice random acts of kindness. They are going to start their own “ripple effects”. Unlike the water example, where the students could physically see the effects of the object hitting the water, the students (in most cases) will not be able to see the effects of their actions. However, they will know how they felt while performing the action and afterwards.

Hidden Heroes

Quote:

“When we do the best

we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.”

Helen Keller


Lesson 7.4 Grades 5/6


The students will choose to do a random act of kindness each

day for one whole week. They will then record what they did, how they felt and if they witnessed any ramifications because of their actions. For example, in the story “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed,” Mary’s simple act of picking blueberries and giving them to her neighbour would have made her feel happy, helpful, and proud to share with such a kind neighbour. Of course she had no way of knowing exactly how the ripple effect was about to work, but her good deed came back to her just a few weeks later after it had touched millions of other lives in the process.

The students can record their daily actions and reflections on the sheet provided, entitled “Ripple Effect”.

Closure: Daily Reflections & Check Ins. Have the students reflect on this quote by Mother Teresa: “It is

not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters.”

Extensions: Have the students create their own “Ripple Effect” story. It

can be true or fictitious (not unlike “Ordinary Mary…”or “One Smile” or “Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo”.)

Day 2 Activities: Teacher reads one or more of the Hidden Hero stories “Story

from the Founder” and/or both “Bill Pineo/Darcie Pineo” stories

Ask the students to reiterate what they already know about a “Ripple Effect” and how this story demonstrates what they already know. Did they learn any new aspects of the “Ripple Effect” from the story(ies)?

Have students arrange themselves in small groups in which they will spend a few moments reflecting and discussing how an adult in each of their lives has had a positive influence, and caused some type of “Ripple Effect”. For example, it might be a grandmother who has taught them how to bake cookies, and now that student bakes cookies for his/her class on special days. It might be a coach or teacher who taught them how to increase their ability at some sport/activity whether it be dance, swimming, karate, etc and how the discipline learned has helped them in other ways. Or, it might be a mother or father who has taught them to be responsible and kind by insisting on using manners and keeping a tidy room.

Hidden Heroes

Quote:


of another.”

Helen Keller




Have the each of the students discuss their adult story example and make notes including: who the adult is; why they chose that adult; and what they have done to make the student feel proud, special, thankful, appreciative, etc.

Then review “Your influence begins with you.” See Learning Resource 7.E and 7.F

Finally have the students write a letter of appreciation to their chosen adult using the notes they have created. The letter should be a “thank you” letter that mentions how the adult has influenced their life and thus begun a type of “Ripple Effect” that they will carry on.

Closure: Daily Reflections & Check Ins Read “The Ripple Effect” by John Heider. Have the students

summarize the overall message in their journals. Extensions: Encourage your students to create an Acrostic Poem using the

words “Ripple Effect”.

Hidden Heroes

Quote:


of another.”

Helen Keller


Learning Resource 7.A Grades 5/6


Date:

Random Act of Kindness

Describe the act you performed and a brief

description of how & why you chose to do this act.

Ripple Effects: Describe how you felt and or your thoughts about the positive action you did.

Or, predict how you think your action will grow.

Grades 5/6 Learning Resource 7.B(i)


Bill Pineo

(See DVD Feature)

At the age of 81, Bill Pineo is doing everything he can to help students get the kind of education he was unable to get.

Chances are would have got a great education had penicillin been discovered in 1926, the year his father, a Port Alberni druggist, caught pneumonia. But penicillin wasn't discovered until 1928 and his father died in 1926 leaving his wife, a nurse, to raise the family on her own.

During the late 1920's, nurses made just forty-five cents an hour, definitely not enough to support a family and also provide a post-secondary education for the children. Feeling the need to help his mother, Pineo left school in Grade 8.

A few years later, during the Second World War, he joined the army and when he returned, managed to get three years of high school before supporting his own family had to became his number one priority.

To look at him now, you'd never know that Pineo has gone through rough times. He stands tall, looks much younger than his 81 years and you can't help but notice the sparkle in his eye from half a block away. This is a man who is very much alive, a man who is making a contribution to society each day, a man who is obviously enjoying each moment of his life. But that wasn't always the case. Pineo has known rough times.

Back in the fifties, he gave up "one of the best jobs in Port Alberni" to move to Nanaimo and open a service station. Things went well at first but then, all too often, he was giving his labour away for free and extending credit to people who had no intention of ever paying their bills.

Eight years later, he found himself sitting on the edge of a bed in a Nanaimo motel room, shaking his head and wondering how he had lost his business, his house and even his car.

"But what goes around comes around," Pineo smiled. At that terrible moment, a friend called from Hawaii and offered him and his family a place to stay.

Nine years later, Pineo was back on his feet and returned to Nanaimo where he drove a school bus for the rest of his career. After he retired, Pineo and his wife spent a winter in Yuma, Arizona where he volunteered to work one-on-one with children as part of the HOSTS program (Help One Student to Succeed).

When he returned to Nanaimo, Pineo visited Tom Krall, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools at the time - he knew Tom from his bus driving days - and suggested that they develop a similar program here in Nanaimo.

Tom referred him to Linda Low, principal of Princess Royal School and with her help, Pineo soon found himself coordinating the BEARS (Be Enthusiastic About Reading Success) and BEAMS (Be Enthusiastic About Math Success) programs and managing 140 volunteers who were working in 26 different schools.

Eventually, Literacy Nanaimo took over the administration of the programs.

Pineo, however, continues to volunteer one to two hours a day, five days a week at Seaview School helping kids with their math.

"I just love it," he says. "It gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning, it helps many kids succeed and it also helps build their self-esteem ... and mine too."

Editor’s note: Since this story was written, Bill Pineo was named Citizen of the Year in Nanaimo.

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Learning Resource 7.B(ii) Grades 5/6


Darcie Pineo

In a way this story is about Hidden Hero, Bill Pineo, but mainly, it's about his great granddaughter, Darcie Pineo, who took the time to write the letter that fills most of this column. I know Bill was deeply touched when he received this letter and it's my hope that, by printing it here, it just might motivate other young, and not so young, people to write a letter, or at least make a phone call, to tell special people in their lives how they feel about them. I, for one, know how it feels to have regrets. I grew up in a family that was extremely loving in its actions but not in its words - We seldom, if ever, paid each other compliments because the person complimented would have felt embarrassed, we didn't hug one another, and we definitely didn't say the "I love you" words. It took my daughter to teach me how to do those things but it was too late for my parents. I never got to tell them how much I loved them and how I thought, and still think, they were the best parents ever. Perhaps reading Darcie's letter can do for you what my daughter's influence did for me. Here's the letter. "To the BEST great grandfather a girl could ever have!!! “Congratulations on your terrific award (Citizen of the Year 2001). It couldn't have gone to a more deserving person. I'm so happy that you got it and so proud of you. You do so much for others and you deserve everything you get even though I know you do what you do because you love it. “It must be such a great honor to receive something such as Citizen of the Year for all of Nanaimo. And I thought getting a silver medal for citizenship in grade 8 was good. But you, out of all of Nanaimo, got picked for this. That is so awesome. “I just wanted to tell you grandpa, how much you really mean to me and how I'm always so impressed with everything that you do. It amazes me how you can go to school and help all these children with their math when you never even finished school yourself. And to have all that patience for children who can't seem to understand it. It's hard to find teachers like that and I know you're one of them. “I can tell that you are so admired by all the kids you teach by everything they have given to you and all the stories you tell me of them. I really wish that we still lived in Campbell River so that we would be able to see you and grandma more often. I really enjoy spending time with you listening to all that you have to say. I love it when you tell me all your stories and when I get the chance to read the ones that you have written. “Someday, when my first book is published or I win my first (out of many) academy awards I am going to dedicate it to you. You really mean a lot to me and I know you do to so many other people as well. You've helped so many people along the way and even still you continue to do so.

“I love you lots Grandpa, and I give you many congratulations on your award.

“Love always, Darcie." Note: Darcie is a Hidden Hero because she chose to acknowledge her great grandfather by sending him a letter - a letter I can assure you that Bill Pineo treasures.

Grades 5/6 Learning Resource 7.C


One Call Can Make a Big Different

By Bill Robinson Founder, Our Hidden Heroes

The seed of the basic Hidden Heroes concept was planted in 1975 when I met with Dr. Hans Selye, the man who first began to study stress in human beings, in fact the man who coined the term “stress”. Dr. Selye had become a bit of a philosopher in his later years. He was in his mid 70s at the time. During that conversation, I learned that Dr. Selye enthusiastically agreed with me that in short, it’s not the one in a million heroes that make the biggest difference in this world, it’s the millions of ordinary people who consistently do small, positive things that improve life for themselves and the people around them. Today I call these people Hidden Heroes. We also talked about the “ripple effect”, the power of acknowledgement and the importance of persistence. Simply put, we discussed the wisdom of the ages. As I was leaving our meeting, Dr. Selye encouraged me to talk about these ideas on my CKFM weekend radio show in Toronto. I promised that I would. For years I had recognized that these ideas were as powerful as they were simple but because of their simplicity, I never talked about them on air even though I tried my best to live by them every day. The next weekend, I found myself on air playing a song called, “Loneliness Can Really Get You Down” by Gary and Dave and, with Dr. Selye’s silent support, I came off the back of the song and said, “If you are feeling lonely and depressed today and all you do is sit around listening to the radio feeling lonely and depressed, I’ll guarantee you that at midnight tonight, you’re going to feel REALLY lonely and REALLY depressed; however, if you get up and go for a walk, dig in the garden, go shopping, do almost anything, no guarantees, but your chances of feeling better at midnight go way up.” The phone rang almost immediately and a man with a flat, depressed, monotone voice said he wanted me to know he had heard me and that he was getting dressed and going out for a walk. He also mentioned that he had lost his job some months before, that he was being threatened with eviction, and that he had had very little to eat for several days. Times were tough, but he was going for a walk.

Learning Resource 7.C Grades 5/6


Twenty four hours later, I had pretty much forgotten the incident and, given that I had already met my commitment to Dr. Selye, I was moving on as usual with my show … but not for long. The following Saturday, the very first call to the studio came from a man with an upbeat voice who said, “Hi, remember me? I’m the guy that called you last week and I’m here to report a series of minor miracles.” It turns out that during his walk, when he was near the Royal York Hotel, the listener met a man who was in town for a conference. The visitor took him into the hotel and into a room where one wall was lined with tables full of food. Not only was he invited to eat his fill but he was given a doggy bag that fed him for the next several days. That initial meeting led to another and another and yet another so by the end of the week, the listener had found a job and therefore been able to borrow money to buy food and pay at least some of his rent. His life had taken a 180 degree turn because he heard some guy on the radio telling him a simple truth, something we all know to be true but something we don’t always act on. This story also teaches an even more important lesson about the power of acknowledgement. That simple phone call had a huge impact on both my career and my life. After that call, my constant and passionate on air commitment was to inspire my listeners to take small “doable” steps to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of people around them. I did that by telling stories about other ordinary people who had done, or were doing, small things that make a difference - small things any other ordinary person could do in similar circumstances. Off air I did my best to be aware of the lessons these everyday Canadians were teaching me and then to live by them. Of course that phone call also gave birth to my Mid Vancouver Island Hidden Heroes newspaper column, television feature and the various Our Hidden Heroes curricula we have developed. The truly fascinating part of this whole story is that my listener has no idea that his simple 60 second phone call dramatically changed my life and career. And, thanks to the power of acknowledgement, the ripple effect and the power of the media, I can only guess how many people he has touched through me and then, in turn, how many those people have touched and so on, and so on, and so on. Small things really can make a big difference.

Grades 5/6 Learning Resource 7.D

© Hidden Heroes Education Society

Brenda Aubin

My dad always said life can be more fun than a barrel full of monkeys, if you want it to be. It's always fun, he would tell me, to see what happens after you've taken that first small step in the right direction. A group I belong to asked each of us to take $15.00 out of our pockets and give $10.00 to our favourite charity and $5.00 anonymously. I choose to match the $10.00 given to me and donated $20.00 to the newly formed breakfast program at Princess Royal Primary School. A couple of others added their $10.00 too, so that first $10.00 grew into $40.00 and, after I mentioned the program at my next Rotary Club meeting, they decided to apply for a special district grant that could add a few thousand dollars to the kitty. And, now that you've heard about the project, who knows how many of you may choose to kick in a few bucks too. Fun eh? But I hadn't finished my assignment. I still had to make my anonymous donation. After some thought, I decided to leave my $5.00 with Brenda Aubin and the other cashiers at a store frequented by people like you and me, and also by many people who do not have a lot of money. Over a couple of years of shopping there, I've often noticed people counting their last pennies to buy food. A friend of mine added her $5.00 to my $5.00 and we left the money with Brenda. A little while later, a middle aged man found himself with not quite enough money to buy a soup bone and a package of split peas to make himself a basic soup – That’s all he would have to eat that day. $5.00 can buy a lot of fresh vegetables at that store. So let's just say he ended up with a fabulously healthy soup, enough for several days. Some time later, the remaining $5.00 helped a single mother in a similar situation. Wanna have some fun? Perhaps you could find a store where your $5.00 could make a difference. When I dropped by the Superette last weekend, Brenda mentioned a Christmas tradition she grew up with. It seems her parents gave each of their kids a weekly allowance of fifty cents and week after week, they would each drop ten cents into a special Christmas box while their parents added another $5.00. Then, a couple of weeks before Christmas, they would go to their church and ask for a family they could help anonymously. With a description of the family in hand, they'd hit the stores to buy special presents. Of course there would always be a fresh turkey, a Christmas cake and a lot of other food too. "And when we were making our weekly contribution, my parents wouldn't just hold back ten cents from our allowance," Brenda smiled thinking back in time. "They'd always give us our full fifty cents and then we'd each add our own ten cents to the box. So we always knew we were playing our part. And, every Christmas morning, before we opened our Christmas stockings, we'd say a silent prayer for the families we had helped." These stories are about planting good ideas... and this really is a good one.

Learning Resource 7.E Grades 5/6


Ripple Effect

You have influenced me and you are important to me because…

Who?

Why? (give 3-5 reasons)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

What they did/do? (3-5 points)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

How this person makes you feel?

Statements such as: a) I am thankful for you because.. b) I have learned ___from you. c) Learning this has made me ___.

Grades 5/6 Learning Resource 7.F


The Ripple Effect

Your behaviour influences others through a ripple effect.

A ripple effect works because everyone influences everyone else.

Powerful people are powerful influences.

If your life works, you influence your family.

If your family works, your family influences the community.

If your community works, your community influences the nation.

If your nation works, your nation influences the world.

If your world works, the ripple effect spreads throughout the cosmos.

Remember that your influence begins with you and ripples outward.

So be sure that your influence is both potent and wholesome.

Taken From: The Tao of Leadership

By John Heider, 1985, p. 107.

grades 5/6 lesson 7

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