What Would You Do?

Consider the effects of your actions on other people.  How do you act responsibly as a member of your community? Read the following situations; identify what being ‘helpful’ means to you.

A classmate needs help getting and carrying her hot lunch.  She has a broken arm.  Check the boxes you would do or say.

•   I would tell her, “Sorry, I’m busy getting my own lunch.”
•   I would help her for one lunch period only.
•   I would help only if the teacher told me to.
•   I would carry her lunch only for a reward of some sort.
•   I would help her out because it is the responsible thing to do.
•   I would carry her lunch if she were one of the cool kids.

An elderly neighbor asks you to help pick up his yard after a storm.  Which of the following would you do to be helpful?

•   I would tell him, “I would help, but I have to clean up my yard.”
•   I would go help him.
•   I would help him if there were not anything better to do.
•   I would help so I could get a good reputation in my neighborhood.
•   I would help him if he offered to pay me by the hour.
•   I would help if no one else in the neighborhood would.

There is a summer water conservation warning.  How would you respond to the water shortage?

•   It is really hot out.  I turn on my sprinkler to run through it as it waters the lawn.
•   I’m just one person; it doesn’t matter what I do.
•   I would conserve only if authorities were watching my water meter.
•   I would cut back on watering, taking long showers, and anything else that would help.

Discussion
As a class, discuss the choices you made about being helpful. Imagine yourself in each scenario, how would you feel?  If you are not satisfied with your choices, what changes could you make?  What are some qualities of helpful citizens?