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.)