#224 Identical Cousins
Horace is struggling
with the thought that nobody notices him, that he is invisible,
and indeed he is casually ignored by the other children
several times today. Yaya advises him to "Stand Up and Speak
Out," which he does try but, receiving no encouragement
from the others, shrinks back to invisibility. The next
day, his cousin Morris visits the child care. Morris looks
like Horace but is a total extrovert and charms the children
with his jokes, confidence, and man-of-the-worldliness.
Horace tries to assert his rights -it's "Horace's Day" after
all - but it's no use. Yaya and he consult all day long
about how to be more assertive and successful. Finally,
Loulou decides she doesn't want to take part in a cowboy
game and when she is pressured to join, Horace defends her
stoutly and is noticed. Yaya points out that if he could
stand up for Loulou, he can do it for himself. He returns
to the others, announces he is now going to play his harmonica
because it's His Day. Loulou now defends Horace. The others
agree and stop to listen, as he plays a cowboy tune.
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- Children will learn that you
have to stand up for yourself.
- Children will learn that friends
stick up for each other.
- Children will learn that if
you ignore other people, you might hurt their feelings.
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Vocabulary: |
invisible
identical
ignore |
Suggested Activities: |
| Before
you view: Horace has a
big problem 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: Horace wants people to notice him and pay attention
to him.) Talk about what you have seen and take some time to
discuss it. |
Extended Learning Activities |
Option
1: Affirming Other People (Social Skills Activity)
Materials required: None |
| Say
that Horace would not have felt so bad if his friends had said
nice things to him. "Let's practice noticing each other and
saying something kind to a person." Notice something about a
child and comment positively about it - a hair ribbon, something
the child did. Have each child try to come up with a positive
comment about another child there. If one child doesn't get
mentioned, for some reason, then give an affirming statement
to that child. Talk about how it makes us feel to be noticed
by someone else. |
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Option 2: Choosing Puzzles We Like (Craft Activity)
Materials required: Wallpaper samples, calendar pictures
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Each child can choose a picture
or wallpaper sample. The child can cut his/her choice into
three or more pieces depending on the age of the child. All
the pieces can be put in the middle of the table and then
children can pick out their pieces and put them together.
Note: If calendar or other pictures are too thin, glue onto
stiff paper before cutting. Store the puzzles away to be used
another day.
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Option 3: Planning
Children's "Days" (Social Skills Activity)
Materials required: Calendar or paper to make one |
| Ask
children if they too would like to have special days the way
Horace and Wimzie have had? If yes, then make a calendar with
each child's day written on it. Ask what plans we should make-what
does it mean to have Your Day? Choose the snacks? Choose a TV
program? Choose the games? Whatever the children agree will
work can be written on a chart and posted so the families too
will know what is going on. |
Theme Related Books: |
I
Like Me, Nancy Carlson.
NY: Viking Kestrel, 1988.
Silly Fred, Karen Wagner. NY: Macmillan, 1989.
Quick as a Cricket, Audrey Wood. NY: Scholastic.
Noisy Nora, Rosemary Wells. NY: Scholastic.
Owl at Home, Arnold Lobel. NY: Scholastic.
Something Special, David McPhail. Boston: Little Brown,
1988. |
Notes |
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