Tag: self-esteem

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Identity and Individuality (Moral and Spiritual Development) SI

Topic: Identity and Individuality (Moral and Spiritual Development) SI

Learning Outcomes

  • To explore Identity and Individuality through story “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae,
  • To discuss the giraffe’s  individual talents as a dancer and talk about pupils’ own individual talents,
  • To discuss the giraffe’s feelings throughout the story (from feeling ashamed/embarrassed/sad at not dancing in the same style as the other animals to feeling proud/joyful/happy with his own dance).

 

Introduction
  • Begin the lesson with Circle Time, asking each child, while holding the Speaking Object, to name one thing that he/she is good at (if they wish to participate),
  • Tell the children we will listen to a story about a giraffe who feels sad because he thinks he cannot dance like the other animals,
  • Listen  the story “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae (teacher reads book or see animations/story being read aloud .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZjsLK5vwNU )

Development
  • Discuss the story through questioning – how did Gerald feel when his knees buckled?  how did Gerald feel about the Jungle Dance?, how would you feel if you were Gerald?Should the other animals have been laughing at Gerald? Do you think the cricket had good advice for Gerald? Can you remember what he said?
  • “Sometimes when you’re different, you just need a different song”- open up discussion on what this means (individuality) and associate it with children’s own lives (e.g., we all have different shoe sizes for different foot sizes, each of us has individual tastes like favourite colours, favourite TV programme etc.) – we are all different and unique.
  • Relate own discussion to Gerald – Gerald danced beautifully to different music but found the music of the Jungle Dance difficult to dance to.

Plenary
  • Encourage each pupil to choose his/her own favourite part of the story and illustrate it,
  • Discuss why it was your favourite part,
  • Recap on what Individuality means.

 

 

Other Resources for teaching this topic

See animation of story

Integration with Literacy (rhyming words)

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Celebrating Uniqueness

Topic: Celebrating Uniqueness

Learning Outcomes

This lesson is suitable for Junior/Senior infants and is a lovely lesson on celebrating and embracing our Uniqueness.

It includes a story filled with rhyme that helps students build self esteem while recognising difference in others.

 

Introduction

Get the children to draw a self portrait. Using coloured wool for hair and crayons to highlight the different eye colour etc. We then place the self portraits on the floor using headings of red hair, black hair etc.

Development

Then graph the results on the board for the children to see the results. Sit the children in a circle and read the story Hooray for You! A story that celebrates all the qualities that makes us unique.

Plenary

We conclude the lesson with all the children singing the song Im proud to be me.

 

Other Resources for teaching this topic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfVUEASWMw

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Recognising and Embracing Our Uniqueness

Topic: Recognising and Embracing Our Uniqueness

Learning Outcomes

  • That each child will gain an understanding that they are different from their peers.
  • That each child will celebrate difference.

 

Introduction

Teacher introduces the lesson by saying how we are all different.

She brings two children up in front of the class and shows how both have different coloured hair, height etc.

Think/ Pair/ Share activity: They describe their neighbour to their neighbour in a pair activity.

Development

Teacher then gives an oval template to each child and some coloured wool and gets them to draw themselves. The wool is used for hair.

The pictures are then put on a noticeboard.

Teacher then reads the story Horray for You, a story celebrating how unique we all are.

 

Plenary

To conclude the teacher gives each child a web and gets them to draw a picture that tells about your special talents or interests.

 

Other Resources for teaching this topic

A copy of the Hooray for You is available online.

This lesson can take place over two days as there is quite a bit involved.