Definition:

Service is doing something nice or helpful for someone else.

Summary:
Ocho the Octopus spends his day helping his underwater friends: he guides a lost fish to school, removes sticky seaweed from a seastar, and pulls a red crab that was stuck between two rocks. After all that, Ocho is ready for a nap and his friends make a cozy place for him to settle down. The ocean friends get along well because they help each other. 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Students are motivated to lend a hand because they know it will make them feel good. The person they help will be grateful to them and more likely to return the favor. A win-win action! 
2. This story can lead into a science lesson about ocean animals, including examples of how they really do help one another. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. How many helping hands does Ocho have? 
2. What’s the first good deed Ocho did? 
3. Did you ever get lost? If so, what happened and who helped you? 
4. What did Ocho do for the seastar? 
5. How did Ocho help the red crab? 
6. Why was Ocho tired?
7. Why did Ocho’s friends want to help him? 
8. When someone helps you do you feel like helping them when they need it? 
9. One way to thank someone who’s helped you is to do something for them. Think about who you can help and do it. 
10. Is it hard for you to ask for help? Why or why not?