#218 Who's the Boss?
Rousso gives the
gang a large collection of boxes to build something. Jonas
suggests a spaceship. Rousso suggests they need a leader.
Jonas is the unanimous choice because he knows so much about
spaceships. Soon the children rebel against his leadership
because he is so bossy and has little sympathy for what
the others want to do (colorful painting, flowers, etc.).
They complain that they are not having any fun and go off
to build their own spaceship. Jonas' spaceship is very professional
and the other one is eccentric and inventive. However, putting
the antennae on makes both projects collapse. Rousso steps
into the chaos and resolves to find out what is happening.
After carefully listening to everyone's side of the story,
and getting exhausted himself, he instructs the children
that in order to work together you have to listen to the
leader but a good leader also has to listen. He invites
Jonas to be that sort of leader, and a new spaceship is
built with everyone's input (flowers, purple numbers, and
caramels for snacks). Everyone is happy.
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- Children will learn the importance
of being able to work together and helping one another do
things.
- Children will learn that a
good leader tells others what to do and also listens to
what they want to do.
- Children will learn that when
everyone works together, everyone has fun.
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Vocabulary: |
leader
squabbling
"all ears" |
Suggested Activities: |
| Before
you view: Who's the boss
here? Does the boss do a good job? |
| 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: Jonas is the boss and he has to learn to listen to
others so he can do a good job.) Talk about what you have seen
and take some time to discuss it. |
Extended Learning Activities |
Option 1: Building
with Boxes (Construction Activity)
Materials required: Assortment of boxes (pasta, cereal, tissue,
crackers, shoe, tea, milk cartons), markers, tape, construction
paper, glue, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, paper cups, and other
materials for construction |
| Ask
children if they would like to build something too? What could
we do with these boxes? If they all want to build the same thing,
talk about working together-remember Jonas and the children.
If they want to make separate projects, that is fine too. Encourage
talking about their ideas as they work. Write labels for different
parts. |
Option 2:Thinking About Bossy Friends (Role Play & Discussion
Activity)
Materials required: None |
|
"Let's pretend we are bosses today.
Who wants to start?" Children can take turns imitating all
the adults they know as well as some children. Discuss bossing
and getting jobs done. Children can also pretend they don't
want to follow the boss. How do you get people to do things,
anyway?
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Option 3: Playing Astronauts and Spaceship (Role Play Activity)
Materials required: Big box for spaceship; down jackets for
space suits, football or bike helmets, gallon-milk bottle helmets,
earphones. Ask children what would be good props, perhaps some
could come from their homes |
| The
first thing astronauts do is count down and blast off. Once
in space, they go in and out of the spaceship and fix things.
Children know a lot about astronauts. Maybe you can be "ground
control" and give ideas and ask questions. |
Theme Related Books: |
Franklin
is Bossy, Paulette Bourgeois.
NY: Scholastic.
Hello, Cat, You Need a Hat, Rita Golden Gelman. NY: Scholastic.
Arthur's Thanksgiving, Marc Brown. Boston: Joy Street,
1983.
Titch, Pat Hutchins. NY: Macmillan, 1971.
All About Things People Do, Melanie and Chris Rice. NY:
Scholastic. |
Notes |
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