We recently received some feedback that teachers are finding our lesson plans useful.
We can send you these in a word document which is easier to use.
Just write to rosemarypattison@yahoo.com.au for a copy :)))
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Category Archives: George went to see the Prime Minister
an awesome review
We are so excited to receive some awesome reviews from “Mum’s Say” on Kidspot! We really value any feedback suggesting opportunities for improvement and will take that on board for the next book. We also love any positive feedback because it tells us that we are on the right track!!
http://www.kidspot.com.au/product-reviews/Little-Epiphanies+908.htm
Taking Action
Lesson plan for teachers
Book “George went to see the Prime Minister”
Concept:
Being aware of others less fortunate, demonstrates the development of our emotional intelligence and sense of social justice through empathy. Sometimes we are aware of situations that, though they are very upsetting, we cannot do anything about them. It is also important to be aware of current issues that affect our planet and the people on it.
In the book George went to see the Prime Minister, George is ‘taking action’, she is ‘doing something about’, the issue of ethical buying. In our real world (not the children’s story) we don’t have someone in charge of the whole world who can make changes. We can, however make some small changes ourselves or we can alert others in power, about issues. For the sake of the learning, we will assume there is a Prime Minister of the World.
Lesson plan
As a group, read “George went to see the Prime Minister”
Go back to the page where George is telling her father that she is going to see the Prime Minister of the World.
Class discussion:
Teachers, select some issues to discuss (select issues which don’t take away from your students’ childhood innocence but that will help them develop a social conscience). You can probably think of many but if not, here are some random suggestions (or you might select some as a class by having an initial discussion):
- Give them a scenario of someone in their local neighbourhood that doesn’t look after their dog. The owner doesn’t feed it enough and it is cold at night. What could be done?
- Turtles main food is jelly fish. They often get confused when they see a plastic bag and eat it which makes them sick
- Weed spraying – in our local park or school. What are the benefits? What are could be done instead?
As a class discuss some of these issues.
Group task:
Divide into small groups or pairs. Ask each group or pair to write a one page letter, to the Prime Minister of the World about the issue following these headings:
What is the issue?
Why is it a problem?
What might the solution be?
(Don’t worry too much about inaccuracies. It is more important to get them thinking about the fact that they can actually take some action about an issue that is worrying them.)
Parents – this is a family activity
Book “George went to see the Prime Minister”
Concept:
Being aware of others less fortunate, demonstrates the development of our emotional intelligence and sense of social justice through empathy. Sometimes we are aware of situations that, though they are very upsetting, we cannot do anything about them. It is also important to be aware of current issues that affect our planet and the people on it.
In the book George went to see the Prime Minister, George is ‘taking action’, she is ‘doing something about’, the issue of ethical buying. In our real world (not the children’s story) we don’t have someone in charge of the whole world who can make changes. We can, however make some small changes ourselves or we can alert others in power, about issues. For the sake of the learning, we will assume there is a Prime Minister of the World.
Family activity
As a family, read “George went to see the Prime Minister”
Go back to the page where George is telling her father that she is going to see the Prime Minister of the World.
Family discussion:
Parents or grandparents, select some issues to discuss (select issues which don’t take away from your children’s childhood innocence but that will help them develop a social conscience). You can probably think of many but if not, here are some random suggestions (or you might select some as a family by having an initial discussion):
- Give them a scenario of someone in their local neighbourhood that doesn’t look after their dog. The owner doesn’t feed it enough and it is cold at night. What could be done?
- Turtles main food is jelly fish. They often get confused when they see a plastic bag and eat it which makes them sick
- Weed spraying – in our local park or school. What are the benefits? What are could be done instead?
As a family discuss some of these issues.
Task:
Develop a one page letter as a family, to the Prime Minister of the World (if you actually know who might have some influence about this then write to that person, or Council etc – if not you could use the scenario that there is a Prime Minister of the World) about the issue following these headings:
What is the issue?
Why is it a problem?
What might the solution be?
(Don’t worry too much about inaccuracies. It is more important to get them thinking about the fact that they can actually take some action about an issue that is worrying them.)
taking a check on our consumerism
Lesson plan – taking a check on our consumerism
Book “George went to see the Prime Minister”
Concept:
Raising awareness of our own consumerism. We are inundated with advertising from the internet, TV, and bill boards. We are hugely influenced in the way in which we purchase our food, clothes, toys, furniture, cars and everything!
In the story, “George went to see the Prime Minister”, George is addicted to buying clothes. At one stage in the story she stops and thinks about what she is doing, and decides that there are better ways to spend her time.
Lesson plan
As a group, read “George went to see the Prime Minister”
Bring to class lots of advertisements from magazines, the internet or anywhere, that are suitable to your students’ level – G rated. Divide the students into groups of 3 or 4 and ask them to fill out the following worksheet:
Who is the advertisement aimed at (who is the audience, who will read it)?
Is it selling something? What is it selling?
What is the advertisement is intending to do?
What is it trying to make us believe?
We will get more friends if we buy their product?
Will we be more famous if we buy it?
Bring the class back together and ask each group to discuss their answers.
(This concept can be revisited weekly, as students bring more examples to the classroom).
Family activity – taking a check on our consumerism
Book “George went to see the Prime Minister”
Concept:
Raising awareness of our own consumerism. We are inundated with advertising from the internet, TV, and bill boards. We are hugely influenced in the way in which we purchase our food, clothes, toys, furniture, cars and everything!
In the story, “George went to see the Prime Minister”, George is addicted to buying clothes. At one stage in the story she stops and thinks about what she is doing, and decides that there are better ways to spend her time.
As a family, read “George went to see the Prime Minister”
It is great to be on the spot as advertisements come on the TV to discuss. You can also pick out appropriate advertisements from magazines, the internet or anywhere, that are suitable to your family. Let the adults in the family share appropriate stories of how they are targeted (cars, etc) by advertisers and how they may be influenced to keep up with certain important peer groups. Discuss the following:
Who is the advertisement aimed at (who is the audience, who will read it)?
Is it selling something? What is it selling?
What is the advertisement is intending to do?
What is it trying to make us believe?
We will get more friends if we buy their product?
Will we be more famous if we buy it?
Keep revisiting this concept, building on examples, and raising awareness
Looking after our planet – lesson plan
Hey teachers, here’s a great way to engage your students to care about our planet:
Concept:
Focusing on the need to be continually looking after our planet and thinking about the future.
In our story, “George and the problem of food” the friends worked for many long hours and for days and nights to fix the problem of food. It was such an effort that they decided to work on the problem of food more often.
Lesson plan
As a group, read George and the problem of food.
If you don’t have a vegetable garden for your class, it is a good idea to create one. Just creating a vegetable patch applies the learning. Your students will be able to plant vegetables and watch them grow. If you already have vegetables growing, then to apply the learning follow these steps:
- Do an audit of the vegetables growing
- What is currently growing in the patch?
- When will each of the different varieties be ready to eat?
- Create a class calendar and write in (or draw) the vegetables that will be ready to eat on each month
- Select a month when nothing will be ready to eat
- Select and plant a vegetable that will be ready to eat in that month
If a vegetable garden is not an option for you, then you could think of planting herbs in pots, or alfalfa sprouts!
