Teaching the Discovering the Real Me Series

1. Teaching the Discovering the Real Me Series Student Textbook and Teacher’s Manual 1

2. Discovering the Real Me:Student Textbook and Teacher’s Manual 1: Learning To Be Good • For children ages 6-7 years old, but appealing to all ages • Most stories are based on Aesop’s Fables • In Books 1 and 2, the Teachers’ Manuals are inside the books

3. The Discovering the Real Me Series—Book 1 • 17 stories • Two lesson plans per story, 30-45 minutes each • Story is read to the children • Activities bring out story’s theme

4. Universal Stories • Aesop told these stories over 2000 years ago! • Timeless themes of human nature and morality • Animal characters, appealing to children

5. Character Education’s Goals: • To know the good — head • To care about the good — heart • To do the good — hands

6. Each Story has Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Goals Educating the Head, Heart, and Hands

7. Sample StoryChapter 7: “The Dog and His Reflection ”

8. The Story • This story is about a dog that is given a bone • The dog carries the bone to the pond and sees his reflection • Thinking it is another dog with another bone, he tries to grab the other bone • The dog drops his own bone into the water and loses it

9. “The Dog and His Reflection”: Cognitive Objectives • It is important to be grateful for what we have • When we are greedy and try to grab what is not ours, we can get into trouble

10. “The Dog and His Reflection”: Affective Objectives • Students will feel sad for the dog, but will also laugh at the dog’s greediness and misfortune • They will feel grateful for what they already have

11. “The Dog and His Reflection”: Behavioral Objectives • Students will tell themselves to be grateful for what they have when they are tempted to be greedy

12. Lesson Plan—Activity • Students act out the story, using a real mirror • Students initiate a service project to practice kindness

13. Lesson Plan—Activity Dad Pet • Students trace their hands on paper • Students name five things they are grateful for • When they feel greedy, they look at their own hands and remember gratitude Mom Friend Sunshine

14. Sample StoryChapter 11: “The Ant and the Dove”

15. The Story • This story is about a dove that rescues an ant from drowning • Later on the ant rescues the dove from a rock-throwing child by biting the boy on the toe • The ant and the dove express their gratitude and promise to always watch out for each other

16. “The Ant and the Dove”: Cognitive Objectives • Students will understand the value of kindness and cooperation • They will understand that when they are kind, others will be kind to them

17. “The Ant and the Dove”: Affective Objectives • Students will feel relieved that both the ant and the dove escaped danger, understanding that it was because of kindness that they survived

18. “The Ant and the Dove”: Behavioral Objectives • Seeing how kindness can benefit them and others, students will choose to be kind to others and help others when they need it

19. Lesson Plan—Discussion • Students will learn to recite the Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you • What you give comes back to you

20. Lesson Plan—Activity • The teacher explains that ants work together very well, helping each other—this is “cooperation” • Students draw and color ants—guard ants, queen ants, nurse ants

21. Sample StoryChapter 13: “The Ants and the Grasshopper”

22. The Story • Ants are working hard to prepare for the winter season • A grasshopper fiddles and plays as the ants work • Cold winds blow, the grasshopper has no shelter or food • Should the ants help him?

23. “The Ants and the Grasshopper”: Cognitive Objectives • Students will understand what it means to be responsible and hard-working • Laziness can get you into trouble!

24. “The Ants and the Grasshopper”: Affective Objectives • Students will feel inspired to be like the ants, not the grasshopper—responsible and hard-working

25. “The Ants and the Grasshopper”: Behavioral Objectives • Students will identify their responsibilities at home and school and will be more conscientious about fulfilling them

26. Lesson Plan—Discussion and Activity • After reading the story to the children, the teacher checks for comprehension • We all like to have fun, but we have to do some work too • The teacher and students make a chart naming chores at home, and what happens when they don’t get done • It’s fun to exaggerate here!

27. Parents’ ChoresChores Not Done Wash dishes Dirty, germy dishes Job No money, no home, no food, no fun! Laundry Smelly yucky clothes

28. Kids’ Chores Chores Not Done Put away toys Toys broken, toys lost Brush Teeth Cavities, smelly breath, pain Shower or bathe Dirty, smelly, may get sick Get dressed Go to school in pajamas!

29. Lesson Plan—Activities • Students learn and sing a camp song about ants and responsibility • Students learn about balancing work and play by balancing objects

30. Discovering the Real Me, Book 1: Learning to Be Good • Teamwork, cooperation, responsibility, honesty, diligence, respect, gratitude, self-confidence, kindness, peacefulness, anger management, and conflict resolution are the main themes of the stories in Book 1. • Explore and enjoy!

31. Discovering the Real Me—An Easy and Enjoyable Teaching Tool • For classroom teachers • Homeschooling parents • Sunday school teachers • Cub Scout or Brownie leaders • Youth club leaders