Our Community, Our Call! Script

Warm Up: What's My Role? (5 minutes)

(Teacher): "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important: our community! I want you to close your eyes for a moment and think about all the different communities you belong to. Maybe it's your family, your neighborhood, our school, or a sports team or club. Got it?

Now, open your eyes. On your desks, you have a small piece of paper. I want you to quickly jot down two things: what does the word 'community' mean to you, and what do you think your role is within one of those communities? Just a few words or a quick sentence.

(Allow 1-2 minutes for students to write.)

(Teacher): "Great! Who would like to share one idea?" (Call on a few students. Use Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slides 1-2 to guide.)

Introduction: Our Community, Our Call! (10 minutes)

(Teacher): "Fantastic ideas! Today, we're going to explore what it means to be a responsible member of our community. This isn't just about rules; it's about how we can all work together to make our shared spaces and lives better for everyone. Take a look at these slides with me." (Display Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slides 3-5.)

(Teacher): "As you can see, community responsibility is about everyone helping to make our shared spaces and lives better. Why do you think this is important? What happens if no one takes responsibility?" (Pause for student responses.)

(Teacher): "Exactly! It makes our community stronger, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone. Now, I have a short reading for you called Community Contribution Reading. Please read it carefully and think about how the examples relate to our discussion." *(Distribute Community Contribution Reading.)

Activity: Community Impact (15 minutes)

(Teacher): "Now that we have a better understanding, let's put our brains together! We're going to do an activity called Community Impact Activity. I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will get a My Community Action Worksheet with a hypothetical community problem. Your job is to discuss and brainstorm solutions, then write down your plan. Be creative and think about how you could make a difference!" (Use Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slides 6-7. Divide students into groups and distribute worksheets. Circulate to assist.)

(Teacher): "Alright, groups! Let's hear some of your amazing ideas! Who wants to go first?" (Facilitate group presentations and brief discussions.)

Game: Community Care Challenge (10 minutes)

(Teacher): "You all had fantastic solutions! Now, let's play a game called Community Care Game to reinforce what we've learned. This game will challenge you to make good choices for our community and earn points for your team! Listen closely for the rules." (Lead the Community Care Game. Use Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slide 8.)

Reflection & Discussion: Community Solutions (10 minutes)

(Teacher): "Excellent work, everyone! You showed great teamwork and understanding during the game. Now, let's come back together for our Community Solutions Discussion. What did you learn today about your role in the community? What are some real-life ways you can show community responsibility starting today, or this week?" (Use Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slide 9. Encourage students to share personal commitments.)

Assessment: Responsibility Check Quiz (5 minutes)

(Teacher): "To wrap up our main activity for today, let's see what you've learned. Please take out the Responsibility Check Quiz that I'm handing out. Complete it individually and quietly. When you're done, please turn it over and wait for further instructions." (Distribute Responsibility Check Quiz. Use Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slide 10. Collect quizzes when students are finished.)

Cool Down: My Community Pledge (5 minutes)

(Teacher): "Great job on the quiz! For our cool-down, I want each of you to think about one commitment you will make to help your community, however big or small. On your cool-down sheet, the My Community Pledge Cool Down, write a personal pledge about how you will contribute to your community. This is your promise to yourself and to those around you." *(Use Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slide 11. Distribute My Community Pledge Cool Down.)

(Teacher): "Finally, for those of you who want to dive deeper and make an even bigger impact, I have a special challenge! I'm handing out the Our Community Project Guide and Community Project Rubric. This is an optional project you can work on at home or during free time, to put your new understanding into action. We'll talk more about it another time if you're interested!" (Use Our Community, Our Call! Slide Deck Slide 12. Distribute project materials.)

(Teacher): "Thank you all for an amazing discussion and for thinking so deeply about our community! You all have the power to make a real difference!"

What's My Role? Warm Up

Instructions: Think about the different communities you belong to (your family, your school, your neighborhood, a team, or a club). On the lines below, write down:

1. What does the word "community" mean to you?
   
   
   

2. What is one way you contribute, or could contribute, to one of your communities?
   
   
   

Our Community, Our Superpower!

Every day, we are part of many communities. You have your family community, your school community, your neighborhood community, and maybe even a sports team or a book club community! Think about it: a community is a group of people who share something in common, like a place, an interest, or a goal.

What is Community Responsibility?

Just like superheroes have special powers and responsibilities, we also have a superpower called community responsibility. This means actively caring for the places and people around us. It’s about doing your part to make sure your community is a great place to live, learn, and play for everyone. It’s not just about avoiding trouble; it’s about making things better!

Big or Small, Every Action Counts!

Sometimes we think that only grown-ups or people in charge can make a difference. But that's not true! Even small actions from kids like you can have a huge impact. Imagine if every student in our school picked up one piece of litter they saw each day. Our schoolyard would be spotless in no time!

Here are some examples of community responsibility:

• At School: Keeping our classrooms tidy, helping a classmate who is struggling, reporting bullying, taking care of school supplies, and being kind to everyone.
• In Your Neighborhood: Picking up trash, being polite to your neighbors, keeping noise down, helping a neighbor carry groceries, or even just saying hello and smiling when you see someone.
• At Home: Helping with chores, being respectful to your family members, taking care of your pets, and making sure your space is clean.

Why Does It Matter?

When everyone takes responsibility, amazing things happen! Our communities become cleaner, safer, friendlier, and more fun. People feel supported, and everyone benefits. When you show community responsibility, you are building a better world, one action at a time. You are showing that you are a valuable and caring member of your team, your class, your family, and your neighborhood.

So, what's your superpower? It's your ability to make a positive difference in all your communities!

My Community Action Worksheet

Instructions: Read the scenario below with your group. Discuss the questions, then brainstorm and write down your solutions. Be prepared to share your ideas with the class!

Scenario:

Imagine your local park, where many children play, has become very messy. There is litter everywhere, some of the swings are broken, and the paint on the benches is peeling. People are starting to avoid the park because it doesn't feel safe or fun anymore.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the problems in the park?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Who is affected by these problems?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Whose responsibility is it to fix these problems?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Brainstorm Solutions:

As a group, come up with at least three specific actions you and your classmates could take to help improve the park. Think about how you can involve others in your community too!

Action 1:

Action 2:

Action 3:

Our Team's Community Impact Plan:

Describe your overall plan and what you hope to achieve. How will your actions make a positive difference?

Community Solutions Discussion

Instructions: Let's discuss what we've learned and how we can apply it to our own lives and communities.

Opening Questions:

1. What was the most surprising thing you learned about community responsibility today?
   
   
   

2. Can you think of a time when someone showed great community responsibility in your own life or in our school? Describe what they did.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Deeper Dive:

3. We talked about how even small actions matter. What is one small thing you could do this week to show more community responsibility, either at home, at school, or in your neighborhood?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Why might it sometimes be hard to show community responsibility? What are some challenges you might face, and how could you overcome them?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. If you could make one positive change in our school community right now, what would it be and why? How would you get others to help?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Connecting to the Future:

6. How do you think being a responsible community member now can help you in the future, when you are older?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Community Impact Activity: Solving Real-World Problems

Goal: To work as a team to identify community problems and brainstorm practical, positive solutions.

Instructions:

1. Form Groups: Your teacher will divide you into small groups.
2. Receive Your Scenario: Each group will receive a My Community Action Worksheet with a specific community challenge.
3. Read and Discuss (5 minutes): As a group, carefully read the scenario. Discuss the following questions:
   • What are the main problems presented in the scenario?
   • Who is affected by these problems?
   • Whose responsibility is it to address these issues?
4. Brainstorm Solutions (7 minutes): Now, get creative! Brainstorm at least three specific, actionable solutions your group could implement to help solve the problem. Think about:
   • What can students your age do?
   • How can you involve other people in the community (e.g., parents, other classes, local organizations)?
   • What materials or resources might you need?
5. Develop Your Plan (3 minutes): On your My Community Action Worksheet, write down your three solutions and briefly describe your overall community impact plan. Make sure it's clear and concise.
6. Prepare to Share: Choose one person from your group to present your scenario and proposed solutions to the class.

Group Presentation Guidelines:

• Clearly state the problem your group addressed.
• Explain your three proposed solutions.
• Briefly describe the positive impact you believe your plan would have.
• Be ready to answer questions from your classmates and teacher.

(Teacher Note: Circulate among groups, offering guidance and prompting deeper thinking. Encourage students to think about the practicalities and potential challenges of their solutions.)

Community Care Challenge: Choose Your Impact!

Goal: To quickly identify actions that demonstrate community responsibility and understand their positive impact.

Players: Small groups (3-4 students per group)

Materials:

• One set of Community Care Game Scenario Cards per group.
• Scoreboard or tally sheet for each group.

How to Play:

1. Form Teams: Divide the class into 4-5 small teams.
2. Scenario Cards: Each team gets a shuffled stack of Community Care Game Scenario Cards. One student in the group will be the "card reader."
3. Read and Discuss: The card reader draws the top card and reads the scenario aloud to their team.
4. Team Decision (30 seconds): As a team, quickly discuss whether the action described in the scenario shows good community responsibility or not. You must explain your reasoning.
5. Score Points:
   • If the team correctly identifies whether the action is responsible AND provides a clear, logical reason why, they earn 1 point.
   • If they only identify it correctly but don't explain, or their explanation is weak, they earn 0 points.
6. Next Card: The next student in the group becomes the card reader, and the game continues. Set a timer for 5-7 minutes.
7. Winning: The team with the most points at the end of the time wins!

Teacher Facilitation:

• Circulate among groups to ensure discussions are productive and students are explaining their reasoning.
• Clarify any misunderstandings about the scenarios or the concept of community responsibility.
• At the end of the game, briefly review one or two challenging scenarios as a whole class.

Community Care Game Scenario Cards

Instructions: Cut out these cards. For each card, discuss as a team and decide if the action shows good community responsibility. Explain why or why not. If it does, your team earns a point!

Scenario Card 1: You see a classmate struggling to carry a stack of books to the library. Do you offer to help?

Scenario Card 2: You finish your snack and there isn't a trash can nearby. Do you drop the wrapper on the ground or put it in your pocket until you find a trash can?

Scenario Card 3: Your teacher asks for volunteers to help clean up the classroom after a messy art project. Do you pretend not to hear, or do you raise your hand?

Scenario Card 4: You notice a younger student looking lost in the hallway. Do you ignore them, or do you ask if they need help finding their way?

Scenario Card 5: A new student joins your class. Do you only play with your old friends, or do you invite the new student to join your game at recess?

Scenario Card 6: You see a poster for a school fundraiser to buy new playground equipment. Do you think it's someone else's problem, or do you tell your parents about it and suggest ways your family could help?

Scenario Card 7: You accidentally spill water in the classroom. Do you leave it for someone else to clean, or do you grab a paper towel and wipe it up?

Scenario Card 8: You hear some friends making fun of another student. Do you join in, walk away, or tell them to stop because it's not kind?

Scenario Card 9: You see a bicycle left in the middle of the sidewalk, blocking the path. Do you walk around it, or do you move it to the side so others can pass safely?

Scenario Card 10: Your neighborhood is organizing a park cleanup day. Do you stay home and play video games, or do you ask if you can help for an hour?

Responsibility Check Quiz Answer Key

1. Which of these is the BEST example of community responsibility?
* A. Ignoring a classmate who drops their books.
* B. Leaving your trash on the playground.
* C. Helping a neighbor carry their groceries.
* D. Drawing on school walls.

Correct Answer: C. Helping a neighbor carry their groceries.

Thought Process: Community responsibility involves actively contributing positively to the well-being of others and shared spaces. Options A, B, and D are examples of irresponsible or harmful actions. Option C directly shows helpfulness and care for a member of the community.

2. Explain in your own words what 'community responsibility' means.

Expected Answer: Community responsibility means actively caring for the people and places around you, doing your part to make your community a better place for everyone.

Thought Process: Look for answers that capture the essence of active participation and care for the collective good, not just following rules. Key terms to listen for include "caring," "helping," "doing your part," "making things better," or similar sentiments related to the community.

3. Why is it important for everyone to show community responsibility?
* A. So only a few people have to do all the work.
* B. It makes communities cleaner, safer, and friendlier.
* C. It helps you get out of chores at home.
* D. It means you don't have to follow rules.

Correct Answer: B. It makes communities cleaner, safer, and friendlier.

Thought Process: The primary benefits of widespread community responsibility are positive impacts on the shared environment and social well-being. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they misrepresent the purpose or benefits of civic responsibility.

4. Name one specific action you can take this week to show community responsibility at school.

Expected Answer: Answers will vary but could include: picking up litter, helping a classmate, keeping the classroom tidy, being kind to others, reporting bullying, taking care of school property, volunteering to help the teacher.

Thought Process: Accept any reasonable, specific action that demonstrates a positive contribution to the school community. The action should be realistic for a 5th-6th grader.

5. I believe my actions can make a positive difference in my community.
* Strongly Disagree / Disagree / Neutral / Agree / Strongly Agree

No single correct answer. This is a Likert scale question to assess student self-efficacy and belief in their own impact. The goal is for students to feel empowered (Strongly Agree/Agree).

Our Community Project Guide: Make a Difference!

Goal: To apply your understanding of community responsibility by planning and/or carrying out a real-world project to benefit one of your communities.

Project Overview:

This project is your chance to be a community superhero! You will identify a need in one of your communities (school, home, neighborhood, club, etc.) and create a plan to address it. You can work individually or with a small group of classmates (with teacher permission).

Project Steps:

Step 1: Identify a Community Need (Suggested: 1-2 days)

• Think about the communities you belong to. What problems or areas for improvement do you see?
• Examples: litter in the park, classmates struggling with a subject, a messy common area at home, a need for more kindness at school.
• Brainstorm: List at least 3 potential community needs.
• Choose One: Select one need that you are passionate about and feel you can realistically address.

Step 2: Research and Plan Your Project (Suggested: 2-3 days)

• What is the problem? Clearly define the specific issue you want to solve.
• Why is it important? Explain how this problem negatively affects your community and why it needs to be fixed.
• Your Solution: Describe in detail what you plan to do. How will your actions address the need?
  • Example: If the problem is litter, your solution might be to organize a cleanup, create posters about recycling, or both.
• Who will help? Will you need family members, friends, or other community members?
• Materials/Resources: What supplies will you need (e.g., trash bags, markers, paper, permission forms)?
• Timeline: Create a simple timeline for your project. When will you start? What steps will you take? When do you hope to finish?
• Impact: How will your project make a positive difference in your community?

Step 3: Take Action (Optional, but highly encouraged!)

• If possible and safe, carry out your project! Even small steps like making posters or starting a conversation count.
• Document your process with photos, drawings, or notes.

Step 4: Present Your Project (In Class - Date TBD)

• Create a presentation (poster, short slideshow, or verbal report) to share your project with the class.
• Your presentation should include:
  • The community need you identified.
  • Your project plan (what you did/will do).
  • Any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
  • The impact your project had or will have.
  • What you learned from the experience.

Project Deliverables:

• Project Plan Document: A written document outlining Steps 1 and 2 (can be handwritten or typed).
• Presentation: A visual or verbal presentation to the class.
• Reflection: A short written reflection on your experience (what you learned, what was challenging, what you would do differently).

Remember to refer to the Community Project Rubric to understand how your project will be assessed!

Community Project Rubric

Project Name: ________________________

Student Name(s): ________________________

Teacher Comments:

Total Score: ________ / 24