Teaching Sequence

20 minutes	Part A: What is Volunteering and Community Service?
30 minutes	Part B: Introduction to a Connection with Like-Minded Volunteers: La Trobe Aspire Generation
10 minutes	Reflection

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

Part A: Hexagonal Thinking: What is Volunteering and Community Service?

Step 1.

Introduce the lesson by letting students know that they will be exploring what both volunteering and community service are, as well as their benefits. The video below will prompt students to think about the topic. It features the volunteers of Orange Sky Laundry, the world's first free mobile laundry service for people experiencing homelessness, and the positive impact that volunteer contributions can make to the people they connect with.

The Volunteers of Orange Sky Laundry (https://youtu.be/-eAzZLnc3No)

Direct students to this website if they would like to find out more: https://www.orangeskylaundry.com.au/getinvolved. The link is also provided on the student worksheet.

Step 2.

Facilitate further exploration around the topic in a Hexagonal Thinking session. Hexagonal thinking is a visual thinking tool to help students make connections and organise ideas on a topic.

Invite students to form pairs, and distribute one copy of the Hexagonal Thinking template to each pair. Ask students to view the template. They will notice that ‘volunteering’ and ‘community service’ are already written in two of the hexagons.Invite students to discuss and note down their definition of each in the hexagon (they could conduct a quick online search if required).

Challenge students to fill in as many of the remaining hexagons with words and phrases that they know and associate with volunteering and community service. Explain to students they are not required to be experts - they only need to share their prior knowledge and experience around the topic.

Provide students enough time to think about, discuss and write down as many different ideas as they can. They should aim to fill in all of the remaining hexagons. If required, prompt student thinking with the following questions:

Who does volunteering/community service benefit?
What does volunteering/community service look like?
Who can engage in volunteering/community service?
What are some of the ongoing effects of volunteering/community service?
What can be changed through volunteering/community service?

Step 3.

Invite students to cut out the hexagons. While they are doing so, give each pair a piece of blank A4 paper to stick their hexagons onto (and some glue with which to do so if required).

Step 4.

Challenge students to arrange the hexagons around to link each concept they have written in different ways. The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to think differently about the concepts and the links that can be made between them. This will help students to scrutinise and extend their understanding of the topic. Invite the class to explore he different combinations of hexagon links and have critical discussions around how each of the concepts link. Their first attempt at creating links should not be their only attempt!

Step 5.

Once students are happy with how they have placed their hexagons, invite them to glue them in that formation to their A4 paper.

Step 6.

Invite students pairs to join to create a group of four, and take turns to explain their thinking around the concepts of volunteering and community service.

Step 7.

Summarise the activity and extend individual understanding of the concepts by asking for volunteers to share their Hexagonal Thinking. Encourage class members to ask questions and seek clarification around what their peers are contributing.

Part B: Introduction to a Connection with Like-Minded Volunteers: La Trobe Aspire Generation

Step 1.

Introduce this part of the lesson by reminding students that volunteering and community service is a really valuable and positive thing to do. The contribution made by individuals can benefit the community in so many ways. In addition to this, school-age volunteers who make an ongoing and meaningful contribution to their community are highly valued by the Aspire Program at La Trobe University.

Step 2.

Invite students to watch the video below and respond to the questions on the Student Worksheet.

Aspire Generation (https://youtu.be/inK1lgRMZBQ)

Students are asked:

In your own words summarise what the Aspire Generation program is about.
How does the Aspire Generation program connect people to university entry opportunities?
What skills and attributes do you think you could build being part of the Aspire Generation?

Step 3.

Complete this part of the lesson by reflecting on students' responses to the questions on the Student Worksheet. Explain to students that La Trobe University values volunteerism and community service in secondary school-age students, and seeks to support them during their schooling through the Aspire Generation - an initiative that students can be part of when they are still in school. Students in Years 9-12 who are, or want to volunteer and/or contribute to their community are encouraged to join Aspire Generation. Once students are in Year 12 they can then apply for entry to La Trobe University via the Aspire Program based on their volunteer/leadership experience.

Reflection

Invite students to complete the Colour-Symbol-Image chart on the Student Worksheet. They are asked to illustrate their understanding of the lesson content by choosing a colour, a symbol and an image that represents their understanding of ‘Volunteering and Community Service”. There is also space for students to write a short explanation for each of their choices.

Assessment

Students will reflect on the skills and knowledge developed throughout this lesson in a Career Portfolio that showcases their learning and skill development. This assessment task can be introduced at either the beginning or during the unit. Alternatively, it could be set as summative assessment at the end of the unit.

Considering Social Action

The Aspire Generation is a community of young people connected by their aspiration to make a difference through community service and leadership. They are the givers, the dreamers, the doers and the leaders who passionately pursue opportunities to address the big issues of their time. They think boldly and act responsibly and strive to leave a lasting impact on the world.

Students currently in Year 9, 10, 11 or 12 and have a passion for giving back, are eligible to be part of the Aspire Generation. Encourage students to give back by working in groups to plan and deliver an action project to make positive change in their community. The Aspire Generation: Work Studies Year 9 & 10 - Social Action lesson facilitates students to drive change through community engagement, volunteerism and leadership opportunities.

Aspire Generation - Aspire to Make a Difference

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