MAXIMize the Moment Junior Volume 2, Issue 30

Story

"Dad, you shouldn't be putting that in with the regular trash. You can recycle it. In fact, you can recycle a lot of that stuff," I say, proudly showing off what we learned at the Earth Day assembly at school.

"Casey, we're not a big family. Whether or not we recycle doesn't matter much-not compared to all of the other stuff people do to the environment," he says.

"Okay, Dad, so I can't stop everyone from cutting down the rainforests or polluting the water or whatever. Still, that doesn't mean I should totally give up. I should do what I can. Like they say, 'Think globally, act locally.' Maybe I can't change the whole world, but I can at least do something about my little part of it." I finish my speech feeling proud of my newfound passion for the environment.

"'Think globally, act locally,' huh? I like that. Now, after you finish sorting the trash and the recycling, why don't you and I think of some other things we can do to make a difference?"

Although I'm not excited about having to go through the nasty trash-from now on, we really should recycle as things get thrown away-I'm glad that I'm doing something good for the planet. And I got to teach my dad a lesson. When looking at the world's problems -not even just environmental issues-it's best to "Think globally, act locally."

This week's maxim is "Think globally, act locally."

Maxim

• "Think globally, act locally."
  Political slogan, German Green Party

Character points

• Stewardship - I share my time and talents.
• Community-I recognize that I am part of a bigger whole; I respect and care about the needs of others.
• Citizenship-I keep in mind the needs of my community; I do what I can to help my neighbors.
• Responsibility - I do my part.
• Aspiration - I work today because I hope for and believe in a better tomorrow.

Homeroom Discussion Information

• What do you think it means to "think globally, act locally?"
• Do you agree with this week's maxim?
• Before you start on any project or try to make a change, it's important to have a "big picture" vision. Do you think that's true? Why? How could it help you to improve your community? The larger world?
• "Think globally, act locally" is often used for environmental causes, like in this week's story. What other situations does it relate to?
• What other problems might be solved or helped by big picture thinking leading to hands-on action?
• How can you move from just having a vision to making that vision a reality?
• Think of a time that you wanted to make a change, but were unable to follow through. What stopped you from carrying out your vision? Do you think that having a clearer vision would have helped? What if you had broken your vision into a plan mad up of lots of smaller steps?
• If you could change one thing about the world, what would you choose? Why?
  What can you do at this point in your life to help with that situation?

Home-Use Information

Five tips for maxim-izing your family time

• Talk about the idea of "seeing" positive outcomes and how a clear, "big picture" plan can be helpful in many areas of life.
• Discuss what makes it challenging to do the right thing. Discuss why it's so important to balance big picture ideals with reasonable, manageable actions.
• Encourage each person to talk about how it feels to make a difference. Be willing to talk about impediments to stewardship (like laziness, forgetfulness, or sheer lack of direction) and how to overcome them.
• Share the story of a time that you had to look beyond the immediate and have a sense of vision. What were the effects of your decision to share/not share that vision? If you were able to realize that vision, what were the results?
• Identify groups and organizations to which you and your family members already belong through which you and the others in the group can help to envision and work towards positive change.

Discussion starters

• This quote talks about having the courage to see a better world. Making that vision a reality also working to make it happen. List examples of people who were able to make a difference because of their courageous vision and consistent effort. Explain your choices.
• Is it harder to have the clear vision of a better world or to do the work to actually build it?
• List some aspects of the larger community or world that you would like to see changed. How would you like them to be?
• How can you help move things towards your vision? Try to think of real steps you can take and real things you can do at this point in your life.
• What are some ways that we could work together (as a family) to bring about those changes?
• Does it ever get discouraging to think of a better world? Why is wishing different than envisioning?
• What's one issue that concerns us all? What can we, as a family, do to help? Let's try to think of some ways we could donate our time and talents to make a difference.

Be sure to acknowledge the courage your children show in talking with you about these issues.

Related Links

• Earth Day 2003: Teachers Lounge
  http://earthday.wilderness.org/teachers/
• Earth Day Worksheets, Activities & Lesson Plans
  http://www.edhelper.com/EarthDay.htm
• The Lesson Plans Page-Earth Day Lesson Plans
  http://www.lessonplanspage.com/EarthDay.htm
• Earth Day Lesson Plans
  http://k-6educators.about.com/library/blearthday.htm
• Best Lessons on Earth Day
  http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson260.shtml