| In the class I teach to children, I decided to read | | | | know what you will discover! |
| one of my son's favorite stories called "The Big | | | | Are all the houses the same or different? Point |
| Orange Splot" written by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. | | | | out in the pictures how some houses have similar |
| This book is a bright and cheerful story about a | | | | colors, although different styles. Other houses |
| man, inspired by a seagull spilling orange paint on | | | | have the same style (castle) but different colors. |
| his house, decided to be different then the rest. | | | | Remind the children that not all 2 houses are the |
| At first his neighbors were not pleased, but after | | | | same, but there are qualities that are similar. It is |
| sipping lemon aid and talking though the night, | | | | the same with our friends and no two friends will |
| everyone on his street learned about self | | | | be exactly alike. We may like the same things but |
| expression. | | | | we are always a bit different. Remind the children |
| The lesson: While reading the story, ask the | | | | to truly be a friend to someone is to accept their |
| children to think about the following. | | | | differences and similarities. |
| Everyone on the street wanted to be the same. | | | | The Craft: To reinforce this lesson, I had each |
| Do you think Mr Plumbean had "lost his marbles" | | | | child create their own "about me" posters to |
| because he wanted to be different? Can you | | | | share with each other. |
| think of times at school your friends didn't | | | | What you need: |
| understand you because you liked different | | | | - stickers, clip art and magazines of popular items |
| things? The purpose of this question is to get kids | | | | children like. Pictures to find may include animals, |
| thinking about how we judge each other, from | | | | cartoons, food, TV shows, sports, etc. |
| the things we like to the clothes we wear. | | | | - poster board |
| How do you think he felt when people were | | | | - pens, pencils, markers |
| upset? Did that stop him from wanting to be like | | | | - glue sticks |
| his dreams? Focus on the fact Mr Plumbean did | | | | What you do: Ask each child to make a poster of |
| not get angry when other people were judging | | | | who they are, what they like, and what makes |
| him. Also, he still continued to paint his house | | | | them unique. Prepare a "teacher" example. Some |
| differently despite the criticism. Remind the | | | | items to include on the poster would be your |
| children that just because you like or do different | | | | favorite color, your favorite animal, sports you |
| things, you should not let other people sway you | | | | play, your favorite cartoons, etc. |
| away from your dreams. | | | | After the children's posters are complete, tell |
| How did Mr Plumbean convince his neighbors being | | | | them "we will use our communication like Mr |
| different is ok? Remind the children Mr Plumbean | | | | Plumbean and listen and learn from each other. " |
| only talked to his neighbors about why he choose | | | | Have each child talk about their posters to the |
| to paint his house differently. In return, his | | | | group and remind the other children the |
| neighbors understood him better and stopped | | | | importance of listening to each other. |
| judging him for being different. Focus on the | | | | The lesson was a big hit! it was lovely to see |
| importance of communication and "listening and | | | | each child was proud of their differences but was |
| learning" Remind the children that when you | | | | excited to learn some kids were actually the |
| choose to understand someone better, you never | | | | same. |