What Should You Expect From This Lesson?

Lesson Objective:
• To introduce the moral principles of rightness, obligation, and right (to play) into the children’s vocabulary and thinking.
• To explore the values of: loyalty, betrayal, affection, sharing together, solidarity, acting together, supporting others, falling out, forgiveness, making-up, caring for, respecting difference, empathising.

How To Carry Out This Lesson At Home:

Step 1: Think!
This lesson continues from lesson 13.
Watch the story about Little Mole again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG0KzxVoTI8

Step 2:
Little Mole feels he has to pay back the unpleasantness he has suffered. One might call it retaliation or revenge. In the story, Mole’s revenge is amusing partly because, although it feels equal and satisfying to Mole, it is also unequal in effect. Basil hardly seems to notice Mole’s tiny poo on his head.
Answer these questions:
When should one pay back good and bad things?
And are there alternatives to paying back?
What about in this story?
What are the alternative things Mole could have done once he got to the point of believing the poo on his head ‘belonged’ to Basil?
What would be the pros and cons of each course of action?

Step 3:
Make a list of the possible alternative actions Mole could have taken at the end.
Rank the suggestions according to two considerations WISE ACTION/NOT A WISE ACTION and A GOOD STORY ENDING/NOT A GOOD STORY ENDING.
Note for supervising adult: The ‘wisdom’ consideration may lead to dialogues about practicalities, principles and possible consequences of actions. The ‘story’ consideration may lead to dialogues about sources of satisfaction in stories and the nature of humour.

Step 4:

Which do you think are the best stories — those in which characters act wisely or unwisely?
Let us look at some possible actions Mole could have taken:
1. Do nothing and return home
2. Poo on Basil’s Head
3. Go to Basil and tell him to be more careful with his poo
4. Tell all the animals to be careful where they poo
5. Build a poo shelter over his hole.
6. Go home but remember to be careful when he comes out of his hole
What do you think about these options. Which one would you have chosen and why?
Concluding activity

‘What are some of the things to think about in situations when something unpleasant happens to you because of something another person has done?’ You can make a list and then use it when you need it.