Definition:

Service is doing acts of kindness or performing duties that contribute to the well-being of others.

Summary:
The setting of this story is Europe during the Nazi invasion of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. The hero is an Englishman named Nicholas Winton, who rescued many Jewish children from Czechoslovakia, including a young girl named Vera. After the war, Nicky kept his service a secret until he was invited to a special occasion organized by his wife who had found records with the names of the children he had rescued. At this special occasion, Nicky, now an old man, was honored for his service by the audience, who gave him a tearful, standing ovation. They were the children, all grown up now, that he had saved. How many children did he save?  669! 

Lesson Objectives:

Teacher’s note: True stories about historical events encourage us to learn from past mistakes and tragedies. Additionally, reading about real events involving heroic actions teach us to honor those who courageously risked their lives in service of others.  There is one more valuable lesson worth mentioning - writing about real events gives important insight about past events. We know the details of this story because of records kept and books written about it

1. This true account will inspire students to be more willing to help others who are in difficult circumstances. 
2. Students will demonstrate more interest in studying history with the intent of applying what they learn to their own lives. 
3. Teachers can guide students to keep a journal of important events in their lives, based on the example of Vera’s journal and book writing. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. Important life lessons can be learned when studying historical events. Share about what you learned from this true story. Is there a lesson in it that you can apply to your own life? 
2. Find Czechoslovakia on a map. What direction is this country from where you live - north, south, east, or west? 
3. Vera was 10 years old in 1938. What was her life like then? 
4. Germany invaded Czechoslovakia when Vera was a young Jewish girl. Jewish people were at risk of being taken prisoner and even killed. What did Vera’s parents do to protect their daughter? 
5. What did Nicky do to help Jewish children escape from the Nazis and how do we know about what he did? 
6. How do you think Vera felt about leaving her family behind when she escaped to London? What happened when she returned to her hometown after the war? 
7. Describe how Nicholas Winton was honored for his service.
8. Describe what you learned from this story about what it takes to be a hero.
9. When you see something wrong, do you try to do anything about it? Give an example if your answer is “yes.”
10. We know a lot about the real events of this story because of Vera’s journal and Nicky’s carefully kept records. Your life story is important! Try keeping a daily journal for two weeks or more. Then read it and consider keeping it up for a year or more.