#221 I Don't Like Chores
Yaya and Graziella
remind Wimzie of her chores (bed-making, taking dirty clothes
downstairs) but Wimzie rebels: "Chores! Blechh." Conflicts
continue throughout the morning for Wimzie over chores versus
exciting projects with the gang. Wimzie decides that if
she doesn't live in the house she won't have to do chores
in the house and enthusiastically supported by the others,
moves into a tent in the backyard. "Chores! Blechh," is
repeated by all, even Bo. But all the activity makes the
children hungry, and Wimzie needs a clean vest. But when
Yaya and Graziella are asked for snacks and clean clothes,
they say "Chores! Blechh." The children are very surprised
that shopping, cooking, and washing are chores, and begin
to see that chores keep their world going. Horace, Jonas,
and Loulou worry that their parents will find out that Wimzie's
adults have learned to say "Chores! Blechh!" Wimzie confesses
that she doesn't like the no-chores situation and agrees
with Yaya and Graziella that doing chores is fair and helps
keep a family happy. With the help of the other children,
she moves "back home," eager to do her part in family life.
Yaya has prepared a favorite snack and peace is restored.
|
|
|
- Children will learn that chores
are a necessary - but maybe not fun - part of life.
- Children will learn that everyone
needs to do their part in a family.
- Children will learn that doing
chores can be an act of love.
|
Vocabulary: |
chores
hunky-dory |
Suggested Activities: |
| Before
you view: Wimzie has a
big problem with Yaya and Graziella here. What is it? |
| 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: Wimzie doesn't want to do her chores and Yaya and Graziella
want her to.) Talk about what you have seen and take some time
to discuss it. |
Extended Learning Activities |
Option
1: Thinking About Chores (Discussion Activity)
Materials required: Paper, marker |
| Discuss
what chores children do at child care (such as clean up, or
whatever you ask them to do regularly for the good of all).
Write a list, perhaps with children's names by the different
chores. Tell them how much you value their contributions. Tell
them when they do something extra, then you feel like doing
something extra too! Discuss what chores children do at home.
If they are not doing any, talk about that. What do parents
do for chores? Children may be quite surprised (as Wimzie and
her friends were) that parents have chores. |
Option 2: Thanking Families for All Their Work (Craft and Feeling
Activity)
Materials required: Construction paper, markers, envelopes (optional),
cutout hearts (optional), glue |
|
If children seem to be thinking
about parents, this would be a good time to make love letters
or thank-you cards to parents or other special adults. Children
can draw; you can help them express a feeling in writing such
as "Thank you, Mommy, for...", "I love you, Daddy, because
you...", or "Thank You, Friend..."
|
Theme Related Books: |
A
Clean House for Mole and Mouse,
Harriet Ziefert. NY: Scholastic.
Don't Forget the Bacon, Pat Hutchins. NY: Scholastic.
Everybody Cooks Rice, Norah Dooley. NY: Scholastic.
Frederick, Leo Lionni. NY: Pantheon, 1967.
Five Minutes' Peace, Jill Murphy. New York: G.P. Putnam,
1986. |
Notes |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
| v |
| _________________________________________________________________ |
|
