Rotary District 5160

 

The following is a sample format used by some Rotary Clubs in presenting dictionaries to children in the classroom. It is derived from elements used by various clubs. Hopefully, it will provide ideas to make your club's presentation even more effective and fun. Presentations typically involve teams of Rotarians that range from three to 10 persons. The following kinds of people have also participated, and should be considered: (1) Inbound Youth Exchange students (in jacket with pins and regalia), visiting ambassadorial scholars or GSE team members to provide interest to the children and to personify the international nature of Rotary; (2) the school principal, teachers or superintendent of schools to talk about the value of dictionaries, and (3) local public officials, honored guests.

First Person: "Good morning. We are from the Rotary Club of [_______]. Rotary is a worldwide organization that has clubs all over the world and in almost every town in the United States. We are here this morning to give to each one of you your very own dictionary. This dictionary is from the Rotary Club to you." [Members pass out the dictionaries to the students].

Second Person: "Rotary is a service club. Do you know what the definition of 'service' is? I want you to open your dictionary and find the word 'service'." [The children will race each other to find the word as they leaf through their book.] "Raise your hand when you have found the word 'service'." [If some children cannot find the word quickly, have one of the others give the page number so all of the children are quickly on the same page, and can read the definition. This is a "hands on" activity that gets them into the dictionary, has them using it, and makes the presentation process an active one rather than a passive one.]

"Now, what is the definition of 'service'?" [Give them a couple of seconds to read it... then one is called on to read: "The act or work of helping others."] "Right. As a service club, Rotary tries to help others. But all of you can provide service too."

"Can you give me an example of how you can provide service right here in the school?" [Typically, kids will say "helping our teacher" which invariably pleases the teacher.] "What other service can you provide here in the school?" [Helping the principal, helping the librarian etc. etc.]

"Can you give me an example of service in your family?" [Kids may mention helping their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters etc.—in one presentation just before Mother's day, the class suggested ways of helping their mothers.]

"Can you give me an example of service in the community?" [Kids often mention helping in community clean ups, park projects, and other things that may have been publicized in the school or newspapers. This exercise causes them to focus on the fact that they can provide service and to focus on certain community activities in which they might be able to help.]

"So you see, just like Rotary, you and your family can provide service to families, and to the schools, and to the community."

Third Person: "Service is not just in your school, community or country, it is also all over the world." [Very briefly mention an international project in which the club is involved, or in which other clubs may be involved, or even Polio Plus, to show that Rotary and people in general can provide service to people in need in other countries around the world.]

Fourth Person: "Now I want all of you to open your books and look at the label inside the front cover. That is the Rotary Wheel... the symbol of Rotary. Rotary clubs are in almost every town you visit. So every time you and your family drive into a town, look for the Rotary wheel and see if you can tell when and where Rotary meets in that town." [It is hard to imagine any of those families driving into a town for the next 10 years without the kids excitedly looking for the Rotary wheel, and exclaiming when they find it.]

Fifth Person: "In your dictionary, there is a letter from our Rotary Club to your parents. Do you see it?" [Give them just a second to find it.] "When you go home today and show your dictionary to your family, be sure to give this letter to your parents and tell them it is from the Rotary Club that gave you this dictionary."

Sixth Person: "Open your dictionary to the Rotary wheel again. Now you get to do something that you normally don't get to do in school. Take your pen, and write your name in the dictionary. This is your very own dictionary, so you can put your name in it." [This is like signing a contract, it seals the deal with the kids, and it really personalizes the gift of the dictionary by really driving home the fact that it is their very own, personal dictionary. Fact: For many, it will be the first book of their very own... a significant percentage of children are so affected that they carry their book to and from school in their back packs every single day.]