ERC: Kindness Unit

Lesson: Horton Hears a Who

Time: 10:22 – 11:22

Description In this lesson we will read and watch Dr. Seuss’s “Horton Hear a

Who.” Students will discuss what is means to say, “A person’s a

person, no matter how small.” They will then do an activity on

how they could help the Who’s out.

Goals

(for students

and the

teacher)

- Students will continue to build on the idea of kindness

through this story.

- Students will know that the theme of the book is that

every person counts and is important based on the

quote “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

- Students will be impressed with the importance of

reaching out to those in need around us.

- Students will look at the character that makes of a

person who helps others.

Competencies ERC:

- Acquire or consolidate, if applicable, an understanding

of how all individuals are equal in terms of right and

dignity à This is targeted when we look at how Horton

treated the Who’s with kindness, even though he could

not see them.

Professional:

- Competency 6- To plan, organize, and supervise a class

to promote students’ learning and social development

à This is one competency I want to improve on from

past lessons. In this lesson, I planned 4 short and simple

activities to do with the students. These activities still

promote students’ learning, but are kept at a level that

meets many of the students’ needs. By keeping them

short, I better ensure the smooth running of the class.

The short tasks will allow for my students to focus on one

thing at a time and not for too long. Using a book and

movie are also ways that I planned the lesson to have

multiple ways for the students to absorb the content. I

focus on their social development by using class

discussion. This allows the students to practice working

as class, listening to others, voicing their ideas, building

on others ideas, and waiting for their turn.

- Competency 8 – integrating ICT à I use the Smart

board as a way to collect students ideas.

- Competency 10 – To cooperate with members of the

teaching team in carrying out tasks involving the

development and evaluation of the competencies

targeted in the programs of study, taking into account

the students concerned.

à This is a lesson that is part of my ERC unit on Kindness.

It was developed with my CT and under the idea that

as a school, we are promoting kindness. I had sat down

with my CT to develop this lesson and others as parts of

the unit. We worked on how the lesson would be taught

(deciding to do it in multiple short parts) to best meet

our students’ needs. We went over what material to use

(we decided to do both the book and the movie, so

we could have to different mediums.) The goals for this

lesson were developed during this time as well (goals for

the unit as a whole and also for this lesson specifically).

Breakdown 10:22

Activity 1:

The lesson will start with the students sitting in front of the Smart

board. The first activity will be to read, “Horton Hears a Who.”

While reading the book, I will emphasize the following to the

students:

- Scenes that display Horton’s characteristics (caring,

brave, determined, kind, helpful, gentle). I could say,

“Wow, Horton is doing everything he can to take care

of the Who’s. He is very determined.”

- Whenever Horton says, “A person’s a person, no matter

how small.”

10:40

I will stop mid way through the book and continue the story

with the movie.

10:50

Activity 3:

After finishing the story, we will go on to discussion. I will start

with, “Wow, we have a really great main character in our

story. Horton did something that was very hard. He helped his

friends even when everyone was against him. Why do you

think Horton helped the Who’s despite the rest of the jungle

being mean to him?”

I will go around and have students share their thoughts. I will

prompt students by reminding them what Horton repeated

throughout the story, that “a person’s a person, no matter how

small.” I may ask them, “Do you remember this line? What do

you think Horton meant when he said a person is a person no

matter how small?” After allowing students to share, I will

elaborate on what it means depending on how much they

have understood. I would explain it by saying, “This means that

everyone is important and has a right to be treated with

kindness no matter how small they may seem. This ‘small’

doesn’t just mean size, but also how people may feel about

another person. Some times we think, ‘Oh that person isn’t

important’, but that is not true. Horton realized that everyone is

important, valuable and deserves to be treated with kindness

and he couldn’t even see the people we has acting kind to!

Right now, let’s think about what kind of person Horton is.

On the Smart board I will have a chart that looks like this (but

without the characteristics and supporting details):

I will ask the students to name different characteristics of

Horton and to support it with a detail from the story. I will

record what the students share on the chart. After collecting

all the characteristics and details, I will remind students that

Horton did all these things because he knew that “a person is

a person no matter how small” meaning, everyone matters

and is valuable.

11:05

Activity 4: How would you help the Who’s?

Students will draw a picture that shows how they would help

the Who’s and write a sentence to accompany their picture.

*The chart on Horton will remain on the board for students to

look back at.

11:22

Assessment 1) Participation chart – I will have a chart with all the

students’ names. Each name is in a box and I will use a

check and check plus system to mark who is

participating, as well as who is giving valuable

contribution.

Represent it!   How would you help the Who’s? Draw a picture of how you would help the Who’s out.

I would help the Who’s by _______________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________.

 

Help  Me!