Jan 13 2010
Equality
Children will understand the concept of respect and equality if they live in a world where their individuality and diversity is applauded. It is each teacher’s/parent’s responsibility to reinforce the belief that people be judged on merit rather than on superficial qualities like skin tone, ethnicity, income, and beauty. An age appropriate way to communicate this message can be achieved by sharing the following story with your boys and girls.
Before beginning the story, the teacher must have a cut-out of a circle, oval, rectangle, square, triangle, and heart. A face should be drawn on one side of each shape and a small heart on the reverse side. Gather the children and begin the story of, “The Good School” (unknown author).
The Good School
Once upon a time there was a school where the students were different shapes. (Have the boys and girls identify the shapes of the cut-outs) The teacher informs the children that some of their friends are curvy and others have lines and points (illustrate the difference). Sammy Circle, Tricia Triangle, Ricky Rectangle, Sally Square, and Ollie the Oval usually played cooperatively with one another. The teacher, Mrs. Heart was very proud of her loving students until the day she saw Sammy Circle and Ollie the Oval sitting and crying in a corner all by themselves. Mrs. Heart checked to see if the shapes were sick or if they were hurt, but, they were neither. So, she asked Ollie and Sammy what the problem was. Both of the shapes reported that the students with points were teasing them because they were curvy and thus, did not have any straight lines or points. After hearing this, Mrs. Heart called the children together. She began the discussion by asking the shape kids what things they do for fun. It seemed that all of the kids loved playing the same games. She continued the discussion by asking questions about what behaviors are kind and which are not lovely. Finally, after listening to her students, Mrs. Heart turned the shape cut- outs over to reveal their hearts. She explained that your appearance, what you look like, does not make you special; but rather, it is the beauty of your inner heart that makes you caring, kind, and wonderful. After the children acknowledged their loving hearts, they gathered together for a great big group hug, while Mrs. Heart looked proudly on. From the moment on, the students never teased each other because of their differences, but rather, loved each other because of their loving hearts.
The End
Magical Educating!
Donna Mavrides
Magical Moments
www.magicalms.com
