Values for a Better Tomorrow
Learning Sequence 7
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Introduction With Gavin
Watch the video with your class and discuss the ideas explained. Talk about this week’s value and ask the children if they know what it means.
Ask questions around why it is important and how it can make our lives better.
The idea behind watching this video is to set the foundations of the weekly value and get the children talking and thinking about it as the week progresses.
This week we will read The Littlest Bird and learn all about the power of appreciation.
Appreciation means feeling really happy and thankful for something or someone. We may feel appreciation when your friend shares something with you or cares for you when you’re feeling sad. It’s a way to show that you are grateful and that you care about others. Appreciation is also about understanding and knowing how special and important something or someone is to you.
‘Gratitude’ and ‘appreciation’ are very similar indeed.
Quote of the week - Read and Discuss
Each week we will start by reading a quote, talking about what it means to further understand how we can use these words as lessons to learn from.
Read the following quote and discuss it with your class. You may even want to print it out and collate the quotes over the weeks to create a wall of discussion for future research projects.
Read this week’s quote and think about what it means and what we can learn from it to make the world a better place!
You may want to note it down in your notebook and draw a nice picture next to it!
Reading Activity
Read the book alongside your class and discuss the various lessons that we can learn from each of the pages and events within the text.
The text was curated by a primary-aged child, so there may be mistakes and this is expected, but the essence of the activity is to explain to your students that these books are about the message inside. The children who wrote these books did so with the intention to teach others about important values.
Have a discussion with your class about the values they spotted inside this book!
Read the book opposite and have a conversation about each of the pages and discuss what values you think are being taught during the story.
Remember that this book was created by a child and they are hoping that, by reading it, you are going to learn something about living your life to help others feel safe, happy and accepted.
Let’s see what you learn!
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Weekly Comprehension Activity
Read through the task card instructions with your students and make sure that they are aware of all the 4 activities expected of them during this activity.
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Fill in the missing words
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Answer the comprehension questions (in full sentences)
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Define the Keywords in their books
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Plan how they will complete the follow-up activity.
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After reading the book you will now be feeling more inspired and ready to learn more about the values mentioned in this book.
Take a look at the task card opposite and read the instructions carefully. Answer the questions, fill in the missing words and define the keywords before moving on to this week’s activity below.
Values Activity (Younger Students)
This week we are going to ask your children to create a wall of gratitude. To show gratitude and appreciate the things and the people in our lives is an important aspect of understanding just how lucky we are and what things really matter to us in our lives.
It is also a good exercise to allow children to say thank you for the things in their lives that they may take for granted. It also acts as a wonderful springboard into looking at perspective and can be followed up by looking at other cultures or countries to compare and contrast what other people are grateful for and what they might think about the things we have on our wall.
Creating a Wall of Gratitude
This week we are going to think about all of the things that we are grateful for. They might be things like family, friends, food, water or health and together, we are going to create a ‘Wall of Gratitude’
The wall will let everyone know what is important to us and how thankful we are to have these things.
Through this wall we are going to let everyone know what things we appreciate. You may even want to name specific people on the wall if you want, like your teacher or school principal.
Take a look at the example opposite and then get your friends to work together to create your very own
Values Activity (Older Students)
This week, we’re inviting your children to prepare a special speech on gratitude. This activity isn’t just about improving their writing and speaking skills, it’s also a chance for the class to come together and appreciate each other and the world around them.
It’s easy to get caught up in the everyday routine and forget how fortunate we are compared to others around the world. This week, we want to encourage everyone to take a step back and gain some perspective. By focusing on gratitude, we can develop a greater sense of appreciation for the little things that make life so special.
Remember, perspective is everything. When we take the time to appreciate what we have, it can help us realize how lucky we truly are. So let’s come together and share our gratitude with one another.
Writing a Speech – ‘I Am Thankful For ‘
This week, we’ll be asking you to prepare a 60-second speech that’s all about gratitude. This is your chance to express your thanks to the people who matter most to you, and to show appreciation for the many blessings in your life.
Your speech will be presented to the rest of the class and may even be shared in the school assembly. The main focus of your speech should be on the simple things in life that really matter, such as family, love, care, friends, and nature.
Your speech should also bring awareness to those in the world who may not have all that we have, and encourage your audience to think about being grateful for everything they have.
I’ve included an example speech for you to follow, with highlighted phrases to help you craft the perfect message. Good luck, and enjoy this opportunity to reflect on all the wonderful things in your life that you have to be thankful for!
Your Book of Values (Pages 21-23) - Appreciation is…
Over the next weeks, your children will be creating a simple but very powerful book on values.
Each week your children will revisit this task and add three pages to their book until it is complete.
Please allow your children to use the template provided to assist them with their design. The children will need to use this template as the dimensions are very specific.
Once complete your children will add their book to the Upschool library for the world to see.
Your Book of Values (Pages 21-23) – Appreciation is …
This week we are going to start our very own book on values. Each week we will ask you to add three more pages to the book. This week we will be adding the next 3 pages on appreciation.
Use the example to help you continue to create your very own book. Remember to keep it simple and keep your text away from the edges of the page!
Each week, we will add three more pages to your book until your book on values is complete.
Good luck!
Closing Video - Watch and Think
Use this video as a plenary session to help the children consolidate their knowledge and walk away with the feeling that when we look out for others and act with the intention of helping them with no reward, we feel good inside and that is what matters.
Watch and Think – What is Appreciation?
Watch the following animation about a family of sheep with a lamb that is a little bit different. At first they find it difficult to appreciate his differences, but in the end they understand that we should appreciate each other for what we are.
Think about a friend that you truly appreciate and make sure that when the film is over, you find that friend and tell them exactly how much they mean to you.