#204 Jonas the Actor
Graziella invites
the neighbors over to see how family child care works. The
children plan "a show" but Jonas is struck with fictional
ailments that will keep him from performing. He confides
to Wimzie that his cousin called him a "klutz" and he is
afraid the neighbors will do the same. He gets Wimzie to
promise not to tell anyone. At night Wimzie and Graziella
discuss the importance of keeping promises. The next day,
Wimzie keeps her promise but with Yaya tries to persuade
Jonas not to be afraid. In a breakthrough, Yaya gets Jonas
to pretend that the neighbors are "his friends," to master
his fear. Jonas pretends and performs enthusiastically to
a warm audience.
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- Children will learn that saying
something unkind to a person can have lasting effects.
- Children will learn that what
other people say about them may not be true.
- Children will learn that keeping
promises is important.
- Children will learn that pretending
something positive can get you through a tough time.
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Vocabulary: |
pretend
promise
klutz |
Suggested Activities: |
| Before you view:
Jonas is really afraid of something. Watch to see what he is
afraid of. |
| While you view:
See suggestions in "How to use this guide" |
| After you view:
Go back to your pre-viewing activity and have the children respond
to the question. (Answer: Afraid of looking like a klutz to
people he didn't know.) Talk about what you have seen and take
some time to discuss it. |
Extended Learning Activities |
Option 1: Music Making (Performance
and Teamwork Activity)
Materials required: Kitchen utensils, pots, pans, grater, plastic
tubs |
| Tell
children you are going to do a little show together and ask
what song they'd like to sing, such as "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
Let children choose a couple of items to make sounds with. Sing
and play and clap. Try the activity in front of a mirror if
possible. Change "instruments" and try again, maybe with a different
song. |
Option 2: Being Careful with our Words (Discussion Activity)
Materials required: None |
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Ask the children if they remember
someone saying something nice about them. How did it make
him/her feel? Something mean - how did that feel? What are
some of the nice things we can say to people?
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Option 3: Putting on a Play (Teamwork, Imagination, Performance
Activity)
Materials required: Various props such as hats and scarves |
| Suggest
that the children might like to put on a play like the Wimzie
gang. How about "Three Billy Goats Gruff," "Three Bears," "Three
Little Pigs"? Or a made-up story. Retell the story, let the
children choose parts. If everyone wants to be the Baby Bear,
you can do all the other parts - it's okay to change the story.
Just have fun! |
Option 4: Shadow Play (Imagination, Observation Activity)
Material required: None but a sunny day. |
| On
a sidewalk or parking lot, encourage children to observe their
shadows. Experiment with sitting down and stretching high. Hold
"shadow hands" and "shadow feet." |
Theme Related Books: |
Frog and Toad Together,
Arnold Lobel. Harper/Collins, 1971.
Ira Sleeps Over, Bernard Waber. Houghton Mifflin, 1972.
I Can Do It By Myself, Lessie Jones Little and Eloise
Greenfield. Thomas Y. Crowell, 1978.
My Shadow, Robert Louis Stevenson. G.P. Putnam's Sons,
1990. |
Notes |
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