Connecting Feelings to Literature
OPTIONAL LESSON Taking Care of Ourselves Unit Grade 5 • Ages 10-12
Connecting Feelings to Literature
TIME FRAME Preparation: 5 minutes Instruction: 30 minutes
Students will read a piece of literature and look for examples of emotions, kindness and respect.
MATERIALS Create a list of books or short stories that focus on emotions or use the following website: http://www. edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-stwlouisville-sel-CARE-read-aloud-listgrade-k-5.pdf
Lesson Background for Teachers This lesson builds on previous lessons in this unit.
Key Terms for Students
Kindness Concept Posters for Respect, Self-Care
Consider writing key terms on the board before class to introduce vocabulary and increase understanding.
LEARNING STANDARDS
Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy. SL.5.1, 4; CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.5.1; CCSS.ELA- Literacy.RL.5.1, 2, 3; CCSS. ELA-Literacy.W.5.2 Colorado: Comprehensive Health S.3, GLE.1, EO.c; Reading, Writing and Communicating S.1, GLE.2, EO.a,b,c; S.2, GLE.1, EO.a,b:i-iii; S.3, GLE.2, EO.b Learning standards key
SELF-CARE
Taking care of yourself through kind words, actions and thoughts.
RESPECT Treating people, places, and things with kindness. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
How you understand, use and express your emotions in a productive way.
FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS
How we feel in our body and our heart when something is happening around us.
TIPS FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS Students might benefit from: • Folding the book report guide accordion style so that they can focus on one question at a time on the page. Have them unfold the page to reveal the next part of the assignment. • Reading the same book as a partner, answering the questions together, and working on the oral presentation together.
Resources Books or short stories with a theme of kindness.
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org 1
RAK lessons teach kindness skills through a step-by-step framework of Inspire, Empower, Act and Share. However, each lesson starts with the Share step to reinforce learning from previous lessons.
Share (3 mins) Share with a partner a day you were really feeling good and what you think made you feel that way.
Inspire Discussion (5 mins) Distribute the list of books or short stories that you created before class or have the books or stories available from which students can choose. We have talked about how we feel in certain situations, and how to manage our feelings. Now we are going to choose a book (or short story) and spend the next few weeks (days) reading that book. As you read, I want you to answer the questions on the Book Report Guide. After you finish, you will prepare a 3 to 5 minute oral presentation about what you learned. As you read, I want you to think about the role that the character’s emotions and feelings play in the story.
Empower Book Report (15 mins) Allow students to chose their book or short story. Take time to review these questions with students before they begin to read. Students may want to keep track of these on the activity sheet or in their RAK journals. • Keep track of the major events as you read. How do the characters react to these experiences or events? What emotions do they show? • Describe the characters. What kind of a person are they? How do the characters feel about each other? Do they like or dislike each other? • Do the characters change over time? Do they learn to handle the situations they face? • Do they show kindness to others? If so, did that make a difference in the story? • How would you have chosen to respond if you were in this situation? After they finish the book, have the students prepare a 3-5 minute oral presentation for the class on their literature selection. This presentation would include:
The RAK paradigm is the framework for teaching and building kindness skills.
• A two or three sentence plot summary. • Answers to the questions listed above. • Allow students to present their book to the class and answer questions about the book. Wrap Up (5 mins) To gauge understanding of the material, choose from either the evaluation or reflection questions as discussion, writing or journal prompts. Consider providing additional time for deeper evaluation and reflection as needed. Evaluation Questions • What were some of the emotions the characters in the book experienced? • Did you notice anyone in the book using self-care or respecting others? When? • Did anyone in your book learn to be kinder by the end of the book? Who and how?
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org
2
Reflection Questions • Were the emotions in the book the same emotions you have experienced? • How do you think the characters expressed respect or disrespect in your story? Summary Stories are a way we can see how other people handle problems or situations we might also experience. In noticing how the characters experience and show kindness and respect, we get to both feel good ourselves and feel good for the characters in the story.
Act (2 mins) Kindness Minute Show an act of kindness for the environment by treating nature with respect. That means helping nature achieve it’s full potential by not disturbing animals, plants or other natural beauty. Go to the window and admire something you see outside. Tell a friend what you’re looking at. Kindness in Action Call a friend and make an agreement on how each of you will respond if you are ever upset or angry. E.g., we agree to tell each other how we feel and ask to be alone for a little while, we agree to say why we’re angry and ask for the friend to listen to our problem, etc.
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org
3
Book Report Guide Keep track of the major events as you read: Event
Character’s Reactions
Characters Emotions
Answer questions about the characters below Character
What are they like?
How do they feel about others?
Do they change during the story?
Do the characters learn to handle the situations they face?
Do the characters show kindness to others? If so, did that make a difference in the story?
How would you have responded if you were in this situation?
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org
4
Connecting Feelings to Literature
TIME FRAME Preparation: 5 minutes Instruction: 30 minutes
Students will read a piece of literature and look for examples of emotions, kindness and respect.
MATERIALS Create a list of books or short stories that focus on emotions or use the following website: http://www. edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-stwlouisville-sel-CARE-read-aloud-listgrade-k-5.pdf
Lesson Background for Teachers This lesson builds on previous lessons in this unit.
Key Terms for Students
Kindness Concept Posters for Respect, Self-Care
Consider writing key terms on the board before class to introduce vocabulary and increase understanding.
LEARNING STANDARDS
Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy. SL.5.1, 4; CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.5.1; CCSS.ELA- Literacy.RL.5.1, 2, 3; CCSS. ELA-Literacy.W.5.2 Colorado: Comprehensive Health S.3, GLE.1, EO.c; Reading, Writing and Communicating S.1, GLE.2, EO.a,b,c; S.2, GLE.1, EO.a,b:i-iii; S.3, GLE.2, EO.b Learning standards key
SELF-CARE
Taking care of yourself through kind words, actions and thoughts.
RESPECT Treating people, places, and things with kindness. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
How you understand, use and express your emotions in a productive way.
FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS
How we feel in our body and our heart when something is happening around us.
TIPS FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS Students might benefit from: • Folding the book report guide accordion style so that they can focus on one question at a time on the page. Have them unfold the page to reveal the next part of the assignment. • Reading the same book as a partner, answering the questions together, and working on the oral presentation together.
Resources Books or short stories with a theme of kindness.
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org 1
RAK lessons teach kindness skills through a step-by-step framework of Inspire, Empower, Act and Share. However, each lesson starts with the Share step to reinforce learning from previous lessons.
Share (3 mins) Share with a partner a day you were really feeling good and what you think made you feel that way.
Inspire Discussion (5 mins) Distribute the list of books or short stories that you created before class or have the books or stories available from which students can choose. We have talked about how we feel in certain situations, and how to manage our feelings. Now we are going to choose a book (or short story) and spend the next few weeks (days) reading that book. As you read, I want you to answer the questions on the Book Report Guide. After you finish, you will prepare a 3 to 5 minute oral presentation about what you learned. As you read, I want you to think about the role that the character’s emotions and feelings play in the story.
Empower Book Report (15 mins) Allow students to chose their book or short story. Take time to review these questions with students before they begin to read. Students may want to keep track of these on the activity sheet or in their RAK journals. • Keep track of the major events as you read. How do the characters react to these experiences or events? What emotions do they show? • Describe the characters. What kind of a person are they? How do the characters feel about each other? Do they like or dislike each other? • Do the characters change over time? Do they learn to handle the situations they face? • Do they show kindness to others? If so, did that make a difference in the story? • How would you have chosen to respond if you were in this situation? After they finish the book, have the students prepare a 3-5 minute oral presentation for the class on their literature selection. This presentation would include:
The RAK paradigm is the framework for teaching and building kindness skills.
• A two or three sentence plot summary. • Answers to the questions listed above. • Allow students to present their book to the class and answer questions about the book. Wrap Up (5 mins) To gauge understanding of the material, choose from either the evaluation or reflection questions as discussion, writing or journal prompts. Consider providing additional time for deeper evaluation and reflection as needed. Evaluation Questions • What were some of the emotions the characters in the book experienced? • Did you notice anyone in the book using self-care or respecting others? When? • Did anyone in your book learn to be kinder by the end of the book? Who and how?
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org
2
Reflection Questions • Were the emotions in the book the same emotions you have experienced? • How do you think the characters expressed respect or disrespect in your story? Summary Stories are a way we can see how other people handle problems or situations we might also experience. In noticing how the characters experience and show kindness and respect, we get to both feel good ourselves and feel good for the characters in the story.
Act (2 mins) Kindness Minute Show an act of kindness for the environment by treating nature with respect. That means helping nature achieve it’s full potential by not disturbing animals, plants or other natural beauty. Go to the window and admire something you see outside. Tell a friend what you’re looking at. Kindness in Action Call a friend and make an agreement on how each of you will respond if you are ever upset or angry. E.g., we agree to tell each other how we feel and ask to be alone for a little while, we agree to say why we’re angry and ask for the friend to listen to our problem, etc.
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org
3
Book Report Guide Keep track of the major events as you read: Event
Character’s Reactions
Characters Emotions
Answer questions about the characters below Character
What are they like?
How do they feel about others?
Do they change during the story?
Do the characters learn to handle the situations they face?
Do the characters show kindness to others? If so, did that make a difference in the story?
How would you have responded if you were in this situation?
© The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
www.randomactsofkindness.org
4
