The 3 Cats – Lesson Plan/Story Telling – JC

Theme

Inclusion / Indifference / Friendship / Relationships                                

Learning Objectives

• To identify and share the group’s common values to new comers.
• To understand how our actions (in or unintentional) effect others eg: back stabbing.  
• How to restore friendship / addressing a conflict.

Learning Outcomes (will be able to do)

• Learn to be assertive by communicating thoughts and feelings firmly.
• Learn to respect others and be attentive to their needs.
• Learn to adapt to change.

Resources Required

• On our Journey Cards
• Cut out pictures of three different cats
• Coloured sticks representing the respective character

The Story

Part 1 – Harper and Mittens were happily living in the neighbourhood thanks to the attentive care provided by their loving neighbours

Part 2 – One fine day, Luna pads her way into the neighbourhood.  The dynamic duo, Mittens and Harper extends a warm welcome to Luna by inviting her into their daily routines and shared spaces, rather than asserting territorial dominance.

Part 3 – By time Luna, the newcomer who had integrated well into the lives of Harper and Mittens started developing a closer bond with Mittens, leaving Harper feeling left out. 

Subject Matter

The lesson can be used in different scenarios; ranging from family, friends, school and work.  Through this lesson, we understand how our behaviours effect others.  We reflect re the benefit of inclusion but at the same time the importance of respecting ground values and resolve conflicts. 

Eg: a family of three lived happily together and then the newborn comes along.  At first all seems fine but then the older sibling started feeling left out.

Eg: in a work environment where 2 colleagues open-up and include a new employee within their group.  After some time the magical trio friendship moments passed away and one of them starts feeling left out.

Procedure

Step 1: Introduction

Explain to the group that they will play a game based on a given story.  Preferably a large group needs to be split in smaller groups of three.  Each participant selects a cat picture.  They will then read and act out the story according to the character chosen.

Step 2: Act the story in 3 steps:

1. Harper and Mittens were happily living in the neighbourhood.
2. One fine day, Luna pads her way into the neighbourhood.  Mittens and Haper extends a warm welcome to Luna by inviting her into their daily routines and shared spaces.
3. By time Luna, the newcomer who had integrated well in the lives of Harper and Mittens started developing a closer bond with Mittens leaving Harper feeling left out.

Give each group a set of coloured sticks; a colour for each cat character.

Step 3: Process by asking questions

Ask questions one at a time to make the group reflect and share accordingly.

In part 1 of the story ask the below questions:

• How where Mittens and Harper feeling?
• What made them feel that way?

In part 2 of the story, challenge the group to reflect on their behaviour by identifying the values that led them to act accordingly.

• What made you (Harper and Mittens) accept Luna and share your special spaces with her?
• Luna what made you get along so quickly within the team (of Luna and Harper)?

In part 3 of the story, ask the below questions to make the group realise how & why the team dynamic changed:

• Was there any back stabbing or bullying?
• Where the team’s ground rules discussed well when Luna joined?
• Could it be that Mittens found Luna as her true perfect match in joining her adventurous pathways rather than Harper was as is not aware of her unintentional behavious?

Evaluation

• What they have learnt
• What would they have done differently
• Did they associate themselves with the character that they have chosen or with others and why?
• Have they experienced a similar situation
• Share feedback forms