Category 1: Local Leaders
A: Task:
Design a website and/or create a video story that identifies famous or important people in your community (e.g. politicians, authors, artists, musicians, sports figures).
The theme for
CyberFair 2024 is COLLABORATE & Unite!
Let's unite to protect our communities, our environment, our
culture, our health, our animals, and our future.
"In collaboration we find strength, support, and the power to overcome any
challenge. Magic happens when we collaborate with an open heart and a shared
vision."
~Unknown
B: Learning Objectives:
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Students will understand the
qualities and individual responsibilities required of citizens in their country.
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Students will be able to list their
local community leaders and describe their contributions.
C: Discussion Questions:
- How can students find out who their local leaders are?
- Who are the local leaders?
- What path did they take to become leaders?
- Who were leaders from the past?
- Do the students personally know any local leaders?
- What are the qualities of a leader?
- What makes a person want to become a leader?
- What does the term "Civic Leadership" mean?
- What's the difference between being a "leader" and being famous?
D: Suggested Starter Activities:
The commitment of students to community service and civic
responsibility is enhanced when they learn about inspirational role models from the past
but particularly when the leaders come from their own community. Students can gain
insights into how they personally can make a difference in the lives of other people
through civic participation. Through these activities and processes, students gain a sense
of self-worth that connects them to their community.
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View past projects
produced by students in this category.
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Develop a questionnaire/survey to help
determine who their local leaders are. Students should list any people they personally
know whom they consider to be local leaders.
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Use the local newspaper to locate
prominent people. What are they doing for their community? (To understand what motivates
civic leaders students must see what values and assumptions they hold, what they honor and
what they seek.)
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Listen to the local TV stations and/or
read the newspaper for "quality of life issues." Identify and convey the main
items cited as important to people living in your community according to these leaders.
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Look for similarities and differences
between a neighboring community in terms of "quality of life issues."
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List several former leaders from the
area. What did they do for the community? List or describe the changes they made in
community. Describe any changes that have taken place since they were leaders.
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Interview parents, grandparents or
neighbors who have lived in the community for many years and invite guest speakers who can
relate details of the history of the community firsthand.
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Create a "Hall of Fame" of
school alumni who have made contributions to the community, the nation and/or the world
which can be established in the school to identify role models and enhance school pride.
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Students and their parents attend
meetings of the school board and city council as part of the leadership process. Students
can report on issues discussed at meetings, research and take positions on those issues.
Students can simulate meetings of the city council or school board, debate issues, vote
and compare their outcomes with those of the board or council.
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Discuss the term "civic
leadership." Have students, working individually or in cooperative groups, select an
article which demonstrates a citizen doing something for the good of others, as in being
"civic minded."
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Create and distribute copies of a
"Leader" award certificate and have students fill out the recipient's name and
tell why they have selected that person to receive the award.
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Identify specific careers that center
around public service.
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Identify "quiet leaders" who
do important things for others with very little recognition.
E: Examples of Projects
- Australian Community Leaders
Andersen Creek Primary School
(Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia, 2003)
- A Gardener Who Spread the Seed of Art
Dayu Elementary School
(Hualien, Taiwan, 2003)
- Words by Which We Live
Floresville Elementary
(Floresville, Texas, USA, 2001)
- Carpinteria Valley Leaders
Main School
(Carpinteria, California, USA, 2000)
- Sailing to the World
Pan-Chiao Senior High School
(TaipeiCounty, Taiwan, 1999)
- Leading the Way
North County Union High School
(North Port, Vermont,USA, 1999)
- Rules for Leaders
Alpha Omega Christian School of Leonard
(Leonard, Texas,USA, 1999)
- Leader's Edge
CHIJ St. Nicholas School
(Singapore,Singapore, 1998)
- Leadershipin the City of Miramichi
Croft Elementary School
(NewBrunswick, Canada, 1997)
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Mazon-Verona-Kinsman Local Leaders
Mazon-Verona-Kinsman Elementary District 2C
(Illinois, USA, 1997)
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Austin's Local Leaders
Kirby Hall Elementary
(Austin, Texas, USA, 1996)
- Paterson's Local Leaders
Paterson High School
(Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 1996)
- 30th Anniversary of the Poll Tax Abolishment
James Monroe Elementary
(Norfolk, Virginia, USA, 1996)