Objectives
Students will:
- Understand why volunteering their services is a good way to meet people
- Identify school projects and community organizations for which they would be qualified as volunteers
- Identify the negative consequences of not volunteering
- Identify personal benefits of volunteering
- Model successfully accepting volunteer assignments
- Develop strategies for getting the most out of volunteer efforts
Step 1: Lesson Introduction
Last time, we found out why it’s important to introduce yourself if you want to meet someone. We learned that if you don’t introduce yourself, you probably won’t meet many people. There are other ways to make sure you don’t meet people. One of these ways is by not volunteering your services. Ask students to discuss instances when they’ve volunteered: for school projects, for charity work, for community organizations, etc. Did they meet any people during those experiences? Have students share positive experiences they had with these people that made them glad they volunteered. Tell students that in today’s video, we’re going to see why not volunteering is a good way not to meet people.
▶️ Show the video.
⏸️ Stop the video when the “Pause for Discussion” title appears on the screen.
Step 2: Guided Discussion, Part 1
What did Leah do that was NotSmart?
She got off to a good start by asking Helen how she can make friends. But when Helen invited Leah to join her in volunteering at the zoo, Leah:
- Didn’t respond
- Frowned
- Changed the subject
What happened because Leah was NotSmart?
Leah has made Helen feel awkward and confused with the mixed signals she is sending. Leah said she wanted to meet people, but when Helen made a sincere suggestion, Leah rejected it without saying why. Helen may feel that Leah has rejected not only her invitation but her personally. As a result, Leah is not only missing out on the opportunity to meet other volunteers at the zoo; she may have damaged her relationship with Helen.
How could Leah have been PeopleSmart?
Have students discuss how Leah could have been PeopleSmart in the same situation. Then tell students to watch the next part of the video to see one way Leah could have been PeopleSmart.
▶️ Start the video again.
⏸️ Stop the video when the “Pause for Discussion” title appears on the screen.
Step 3: Guided Discussion, Part 2
How was Leah PeopleSmart this time?
- Leah responded immediately and positively to Helen’s invitation.
- Her whole face lit up.
- She smiled.
- Her voice was enthusiastic.
- She agreed to join Helen as a volunteer starting today.
What happened because Leah was PeopleSmart?
Leah is having a terrific time at the zoo. She tells Helen how much more fun this is than watching TV all day. She enjoys being out in the fresh air with the animals she loves. She’s getting closer to Helen by spending time with her and discovering that they share similar interests. She’s even meeting some guys her age. She no longer feels like such a stranger and an outsider in her new school and community. She’s beginning to feel that she really belongs here, and she’s having a ball!
What can we learn from this?
- Volunteering is a terrific way to meet people. By volunteering, we’re making a contribution and being of service to the community. By doing this, we naturally feel worthwhile and good about ourselves. With our self-esteem and confidence getting a boost in this way, we’re bound to make a positive impression on our co-volunteers and other people we meet.
- Once again, it’s always easy to come up with reasons to say no to volunteer opportunities, just as it’s easy to say no to any activities involving people. Also, there’s always a risk that you’ll feel that volunteering is a waste of time, or that you won’t like the people you meet. But there’s a good chance you’ll find your time is well spent and you’ll enjoy the people you meet. And you’ll never know until you try!
Step 4: Activities
Have students:
- Research a) school projects and b) community organizations for which they would be qualified as volunteers.
- Create a “Volunteers” bulletin board where they can post all information related to their volunteer efforts current projects, upcoming needs, achievements and success stories, etc.
Have students create a Volunteers Club which will meet regularly for students to discuss and compare their volunteer experiences. By sharing ideas and discussing their experiences meeting people, students can help each other develop strategies for getting the most out of their volunteer efforts.
Have students roleplay the NotSmart and PeopleSmart vignettes from the video. After each roleplay, have students discuss how they feel.
Have students create a wall chart listing reasons for saying no to a volunteer opportunity. Then have students create a separate wall chart listing reasons for saying yes to a volunteer opportunity.
Give students opportunities to volunteer in different ways. Praise them and find other ways to reward students who volunteer. Have periodic discussions about the rewards of volunteering.
Have students keep a journal of their volunteer experiences. Have them share with the class the rewards they’ve enjoyed from these experiences, including people they’ve met.
Have students identify the negative consequences of never volunteering and the personal benefits of volunteering their services. Then have them create separate wall charts listing these consequences.