45–60
minutes
E mpat h y BIG B uddy S ession 2:
Read and Talk Together In this session, the buddies come together to go through the interactive story. It should take about 30-–45 minutes for them to listen to and discuss the story. Although it’s important to encourage students to talk freely, keep the class on task by letting them know when it is time to move on to the next part of the story. Be mindful of students’ conversations. If the buddies are finding it hard to keep the conversation going, remind them to review strategies on their index card or have them ask a grown-up for help.
Early Finishers Some buddy pairs will complete the interactive session early. Have them use one of these ideas to keep the discussion going until the session ends: • Use the empathy Think About It cards to review and reflect on events in the interactive story and relate the events to their own lives. • Read a book together in a book corner that has topic-related books on display.
Class Discussion Leave about 10 minutes at the end of the session to bring the whole group together. Lead a discussion about what students thought of the story as you check for understanding and help students make personal connections. Ask questions such as: • How did Arthur tease Sue Ellen? • How do you think Arthur felt about being called a bully? • Why did Sue Ellen's reaction to and feelings about the teasing change? • What were some different ways you might get someone to stop teasing? • Think about your own experiences. Do you remember a time when something similar happened to you? How did it make you feel? If time allows, do a simple activity to reinforce the learning such as: • Project an image from the interactive story on the wall or a screen. Have volunteers describe what's happening in the scene. Then ask students to describe how they feel about what is happening. Encourage them to use key vocabulary words.
65 Big Buddy Session: So Funny I Forgot to Laugh
