These "LEAGUE Learning Links” provide ten quick and easy 5-minute mini-lessons to help promote The LEAGUE’s vision and scheduled events in your classroom. You can choose from among these mini-lessons and use as many of them as you would like and in whatever order best meets your needs and the interest of your students. The purpose of these mini-lessons is to provide a deeper understanding of philanthropy (the giving of ones, time, talents, and treasures for the common good) and to promote those philanthropic acts that have been identified as supporting The LEAGUE events. These mini-lessons will also help ensure a deeper understanding of character traits, civic engagement, and promote student leadership. It is recommended that students be encouraged to play as much of a role as possible and appropriate in presenting these lessons to their classmates.

1. Read:  Who wears a red nose? You might suggest a clown. Maybe even Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. But in various parts of the world the foam rubber red nose is worn by many people on a special day. This special day is called the Red Nose Day. It began in England. It has spread to other parts of the world. It is usually held in early spring. On that day, in exchange for a donation, people are given a foam rubber red nose to wear. It helps remind everyone of those in need. All the money raised from the sale of the red noses goes for identified relief efforts like: famine relief, hurricane relief, animal relief, etc…
   
   In the movie Patch Adams, Robin Williams plays the role of an actual doctor named Patch Adams, who is both a medical doctor and a clown. The real Patch Adams would often dress up like a clown and wear a red nose to cheer up the children who were patients in his hospital. Patch is devoting his life to the study of what makes people happy. He firmly believes that laughter, joy, and creativity are an integral part of the healing process.
   
   Discuss: Red Nose Day is a day set aside to “remind” people to laugh. It is also a day to raise money for people in need. Patch Adams uses his red nose to “remind” children to laugh even though they are not well. How can we use our talents during our Art from the Heart event to help people be happy?  In what ways can laughter and creativity be combined to heal people and situations? How can we encourage having fun during our Art from the Heart event?
   
   
2. Read: February 14 is a special day. It is Valentine’s Day. On this day special cards are often exchanged between friends. These cards usually express nice thoughts and the importance of friendship. The largest greeting card business in the United States reports that about one billion Valentine Cards are sent each year worldwide. This makes this day the second largest card-sending special day of the year. It is second only to the number of cards sent during the winter holiday season.
   
   Discuss: Why do you think it is important to have a special day that reminds people of the importance of friendships? How might our planned Art-from-the-Heart event be like our sending a Valentine’s Day card?
   
   
3. Read: Samantha was quite shy. She did not consider herself to be very athletic. When it came to gym class she held back and showed disinterest when teams were chosen. Usually she was the last one to be picked anyway. That just reinforced her belief in her inability to play any sports well. Fortunately her Physical Education teacher knew this about Samantha. He always looked for ways to support and encourage her participation. In PE there was a class-ending softball game scheduled. As usual the sides were picked and play began with Samantha feeling inadequate and disinterested. She hoped that the bell would ring signally the end of the class period before she had to bat. But time seemed to move more slowly today. It wasn’t long before she heard her name being called to bat. Hesitantly she grabbed a bat and slowly moved in the direction of home plate. She stood outside the batter’s box faking practice swings for what seemed like an eternity. Then she heard the voice of her teacher call out to her, “Just step up to the plate, Samantha. You can do this!” Trembling inside and feeling like she would fail, Samantha stepped up to the plate. She eyed the pitcher. When she saw the pitcher release the ball, she closed her eyes and swung with all her might. She heard the ball hit the bat with a mighty force, and….
   
   Discuss: This story ends here, but in what ways might it just be the beginning for Samantha? Each of us has to decide how we would like our story to end when it comes to our Art from the Heart event. Will we “step up to the plate” or hang back feeling inadequate? Will we try to disappear or act disinterested?  Most of us probably were hoping that Samantha made a hit somehow. Why is that? Is it because we like “happy endings”? What do you think has to happen in order for our Art from the Heart event story to have a “happy ending”?
   
   
4. Read:  The story, All the Good Things circulates every now and then through the internet and elsewhere. It’s a story told by Sister Helen P. Mrosla. She was a third grade teacher in Morris, Minnesota. It’s a story about Mark Eklund, an occasional mischievousness delightful young boy, who talked endlessly. As Sister Helen tells the story, there were more than just a handful of reprimands of Mark. Yet he always was polite and thanked Sister Helen for correcting him.  As time progressed, Mark and Sister Helen’s paths crossed in the 9th grade, when once again she was his teacher. On one particular day, Sister Helen recalls that things in her class just didn't feel right. Work was frustrating many of the students. She decided to stop their work. She asked each student to list the names of the other students in the room on a sheet of paper, leaving a space between each name.  She told the class to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. Sister Helen collected the papers. Later she wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper. Next to each name, she wrote what everyone else had said about that individual and gave it to them. She recalls that no one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were once again happy with themselves and with one another. That group of students moved on and so did time.
   
   Several years passed and one day, Sister Helen was informed that Mark had been killed in the war. His parents had asked her if she could attend his funeral. The church was packed with Mark's friends. Following the simple service, Sister Helen recalls that she was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who had acted as pallbearer came up to her and asked her if she had been one of Mark’s teachers. He then told her that Mark talked about her a lot. After the funeral, Mark's mother and father waited for Sister Helen. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it." Opening the wallet, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. Sister Helen knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
   
   "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
   
   As Mark's former classmates started to gather around, Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."
   
   Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."
   
   "I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."
   
   Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said without batting an eyelash. "I think we all saved our lists."
   
   Discuss: Do you think Sister Helen had any idea how much of a “treasure” this little activity would be for her students? Do we really know what impact our Art from the Heart event will have on those who are the recipients of what we do?
   All the Good Things: www.greatguy.com/insperat.htm
   
   
5. Read: A story about the “friendly waver” appeared recently in a local newspaper.  It was a story about, Paul Holmes. He is a 66 year old resident of Heartland Nursing Home. Twice a day (7-8 a.m. and 4-5 p.m.), for the past seven years, Paul would wheel his wheelchair to the curb in front of the Home. From there, he would brightened the lives of those who passed by. He would wave and smile at anyone who walked, biked, or drove past him on their way to and from work, school, or play. On many occasions, people would stop their cars. They would offer him cookies, candy, and even a blanket on one particularly cold winter’s day. Some would even grab a chair and sit next to him for awhile. They would wave right along with him.
   
   Recently however, Paul had to move to another facility, which he admits is too far from the road for him to use his wheelchair. Apparently, he is deeply missed by all those who received his warm and friendly greeting. A newspaper reporter tells of a very large box that holds the cards and letters Paul has received from people who miss him. Paul keeps that box right next to another box that holds all the “Thank You” notes, stuffed animals, and handmade Afghans he’s received over the years. “It makes me feel real good.” Paul admits.
   
   Discuss:  What do you think would motivate someone like Mr. Holmes to do this day after day? Why do you think that such a simple little thing, like a friendly wave and smile, brought so much joy to those who passed by? Why might people feel a need to send him cards, stuffed animals, and handmade Afghans? How might our Art from the Heart event express our recognition of or appreciation for someone?
   
   
6. Read: He is known as the “painter of light. His name is Thomas Kinkade. His prints and paintings are distinguished by their glowing highlights and vibrant almost dream-like colors. They beckon us to join him in a more peaceful world; one of serenity and wonder. His prints and paintings lead us down winding paths and through flower-draped gateways welcoming us into quaint old homes with warm-glowing windows. An inspired idealist, Mr. Kinkade believes art has the power to touch people’s hearts and change their lives for the better. Some criticize his work, but each year millions of people are inspired by his talent and his contribution to a less stressful life. At the bottom of most of Mr. Kinkade's paintings, near his signed name, is a number. That number refers to the number of hidden "N's" in the painting. The letter “N” is a tribute to his wife, Nanette.
   
   Discuss: In what ways might our Art from the Heart event be used to touch the hearts and lives of people? Like Mr. Kinkade, we too may have to face some criticism about our talent. How can we encourage and be encouraged to persevere? Mr. Kinkade was inspired by his wife and paid her tribute in his paintings. Is there someone who we would want to recognize and pay tribute to during this event? If so what are some ways we could do that?
   
   
7. Read: Jingles have been an enormously popular marketing and branding tool for decades. They have also been stuck in our brains for years!  Not yours? Really? How about It’s the Real Thing (Coke)?  I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Wiener (Oscar Meyer)? What about M’m, M’m good (Campbell’s Soup)? Zoom-Zoom-Zoom (Mazda)?  Some of these Jingles haven’t run in years yet most of us can still sing or hum along to them.  Why?  Because they work!  Nothing seems to work better than a well written and well produced jingle for name awareness and recognition. Jingles are what make up commercials. We all know that commercials are used to encourage and remind us to purchase certain products or experiences. Some commercial jingles appeal to our sense of deservedness, like: You deserve a break today (McDonalds); Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t (Almond Joy Candy Bar); Have it your way (Burger King); and Can you hear me now? (Verizon). Sometimes they appeal to our sense of adventure, like: Fly the friendly skies. (United Airlines); Calgon, take me away (Calgon); Sometimes they appeal to our self-image, like: You’re worth it! (L’Oreal); For that whiter smile (Crest Whitestrips); Do something good for yourself (Lean Cuisine). And, sometimes they appeal to our sense of making good decisions- doing the right thing, like: When you care enough to send the very best (Hallmark); Reach out and touch someone (AT&T); I’d like to buy the world a coke (Coca-Cola), etc.
   
   Discuss: As we approach our Art from the Heart event, in what ways might what we have planned, be a “commercial” for making good decisions and doing the right thing? How might what we do, serve to encourage others and perhaps “remind” them of the importance of reaching out to the world and giving the world our very best? How might we make what we do on this day even more memorable? If you were asked what popular jingle could we use to help promote our Art from the Heart event, which one would you suggest? Why?
   
   
8. Read: Legendary car-maker executive, Lee Iacocca says of his father, “He was an optimist and it drew people to him. It was hard to feel gloomy when you were around him. He loved life and he hated to see anyone down in the dumps.” One could say that Mr. Iacocca’s father lived the song sung in the Broadway play, Annie …you can bet your bottom dollar the sun will come out tomorrow. Mr. Iacocca recalls his father telling him, “If when you die you’ve got five real friends, you’ve made a great life.” He took that to mean that his father wanted him to see that people were more important than anything else.
   
   Discuss: How might our Art from the Heart event show people that they are really important? How might our event result in developing friendships? Do you think being optimistic is a good thing? Why or why not?  In what ways might sending a card or letter be like having the sun come up for someone who is feeling badly or lonely, etc?
   
   
9. Read: Alex tried out for middle school band. He wanted to play a wind instrument, but he was told that his lip structure was not conducive to playing such instruments. Then Alex thought about trying out for the drum corps. It required the ability to sustain a beat and Alex seemed to have natural rhythm. He knew that the drummers had already been selected during last year’s try outs. His options narrowed down to one possibility, the cymbals. Alex wasn’t sure. This wasn’t what he had in mind. After all, the cymbals were just a couple of ugly, clunky old bronze plates that periodically banged together. He had all but decided to give up his dream of playing in the band, when the band director, asked to speak to him. He told Alex that the cymbals were among the oldest of instruments dating back to ancient times. And while they didn’t offer a specific note, they usually marked the high point in a piece of orchestral or band music. “Every instrument in the band is important, any one without the other is just plain boring,” he told Alex.
   
   Discuss: Sometimes we do lack the skills to do what we’ve always dreamed of doing. However, because we can’t always play a game like a pro athlete, draw like an artist, or make music like a recording star, doesn’t mean that we lack talent. Why is it important that everyone do what they can to make our Art from the Heart event a success?  How can we convince everyone that they are important to the success of our event? How can we share with others that it’s not all about perfection, or A+ performance, but about working together as a group that makes beautiful music happen?
   
   
10. Read: “Bloom where you are planted!”  This phrase is the name of a florist company in Newport California and perhaps elsewhere. One might also find such a phrase in a gardening magazine. For our purposes today it comes to us from a different place. TV, radio, billboards, magazines and newspapers ads all are quick and eager to remind us that we’re not happy. They would suggest that we lack many things and to be happy we need these things. They say that having these things bring real happiness. They tell us if only we had this type of transportation or used that type of product life would be so much better. If only we had this particular skill or that ability or talent, we would be more powerful, attractive, and popular. But most of us don’t have these things, so we tend to grow unhappy with who and what we are. We become less and less involved using what we think we lack in our lives as our excuse. The phrase “bloom where you are planted” comes from the belief that no matter who or what we are; we are where we are to make a difference.
    
    Discuss: Does a flower have any say over where it wants to be planted? And yet we know, if properly nourished, a flower can blossom almost anywhere. Talk about these two approaches to living one’s life: I’m not enough and I’m enough for right now. Why might it be more difficult for someone who is feeling I’m not enough to take an active role in our Art from the Heart event? What are some things we could do to encourage our peers to bloom where they are planted”?