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Refusing to Budge

Grades: 
6, 7, 8
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Character Education: Fairness

Learners reflect on a role-play scenario demonstrating fair and unfair decision-making techniques. They identify behaviors that promote or create barriers to making decisions. A Dr. Seuss book provides a discussion starter.

Duration 
PrintOne 20-minute lesson
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • participate in a role-play or discuss the behaviors in a role-play.
  • compare and contrast fair and not-fair behaviors.
  • brainstorm behaviors that promote fair decision-making.
  • respond to a read-aloud of "The Zax" (See Bibliographical References).
Materials 

Read-aloud copy of the short story "The Zax" in the book The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss 

Bibliography 
  • Seuss, Dr. The Sneetches and Other Stories. Random House, 1961. ISBN: 978-0394800899

 

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set

    Four learners role-play a scenario of friends trying to decide on a movie, time, and how to get there together. They each take an assigned role, trying to be as real as possible in that role: One person takes the role of letting others have their way. Another insists on their own way. Another's role is to not play fair. The fourth tries to be fair.

    After they act this out for five minutes in front of the group, discuss the examples of fairness and unfairness in behavior and language. Brainstorm words that describe different behaviors (compromise, barriers, listening, open-minded, closed, intolerant, respect, manipulative, weak, rude).

  2. Read aloud the story "The Zax," which is the second story in the Dr. Seuss book The Sneetches.

  3. Before reading, tell them to listen for ways the behavior of the Zax is like how the role-players were unfair in movie scenario. After reading, have them describe the Zax's behavior after they bumped into each other. Ask them how not budging in a conflict harmed the Zax themselves. Encourage the listeners to think of real-life examples of people not budging and discuss what resulted from the conflict.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark MS.4 Give examples of how individuals have helped others.
  2. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 02. Diverse Cultures
      1. Benchmark MS.2 Describe the importance of hearing all voices in a community and respecting their right to be heard.
  3. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark MS.9 Identify pro-social behavior in different cultures and traditions.