#217 Horace Goes Whammer
During "free time"
at the child care, Horace watches his favorite TV show,
"Bumper and Whammer." This is a slapstick, somewhat violent
show. He decides after the others tell him he does a good
imitation, to become Whammer, with all of his belly-bumping,
head "noogies," pow-bang, and other behaviors. Horace believes
he is funnier with his Whammer personality and carries on
until the other children have had enough. They plot to stop
his antics. Following Yaya's advice, they all decide to
just ignore him. Horace gets the message that they don't
want to play Whammer anymore but not before he breaks a
statue that Wimzie had carefully made for Yaya. Horace talks
to Yaya about how guilty he feels. Yaya recommends that
he be himself and assures him that his own personality is
funnier than a TV character. Horace becomes himself again,
apologizes to everyone for hurting them, repairs the statue,
and regains the friendship and approval of the other children.
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- Children will learn that behaviors
that seem funny on TV are not always funny in real life.
- Children will learn accidents
will happen, so just tell an adult.
- Children will learn it is best
to tell your friend how you feel about his/her behavior,
especially if you don't like it.
- Children will learn that your
own personality is better for you than one you copy off
TV.
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Vocabulary: |
| ignore |
Suggested Activities: |
| Before
you view: Who does Horace
try to be like? |
| 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: Horace tries to be like Whammer.) Talk about what you
have seen and take some time to discuss it. |
Extended Learning Activities |
Option 1:Copying
TV Characters (Discussion and Role Play Activity)
Materials required: None |
| Ask
the children what TV characters they like to imitate. Let them
demonstrate their favorite characters and talk about why they
choose the ones they choose. Sometimes the characters are very
violent in the name of "truth and justice." Encourage children
to think about the problem of being violent in the cause of
being good. Remind them that we don't hurt one another here
even when we are playing. |
Option 2: Playing Heroes (Role Play Activity)
Materials required: Props such as hoses, helmets, flashlights,
heavy jackets |
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Ask the children if they want
to play heroes. What do heroes do? Rescue people, put out
fires? Suggest that they use the props to make a hero play
and rescue someone - maybe you? Offer suggestions such as
"Who is going to drive the truck? Hold the hoses?" and so
on.
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Option 3: Making Statues (Craft Activity)
Materials required: Play dough or clay |
| Suggest
the children create presents for their families or one another.
Statues are one things to make. |
Theme Related Books: |
Where
the Wild Things Are, Maurice
Sendak. NY: Harper & Row, 1963.
The Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown. NY: Harper &
Row, 1942.
Arthur's TV Trouble, Marc Brown. NY: Little Brown, 1995.
The Bionic Bunny Show, M. Brown and L.K. Brown. NY; Little
Brown, 1984.
Mouse TV, M. Novak. NY: Scholastic, 1994.
Fix-It, David McPhail. NY: Dutton, 1984. |
Notes |
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