• It's important to be curious and open-minded about people. • Before you assume something about someone, check it out! Have the buddy pairs look at the list that the classes have generated. Then have them choose any two rules that they decide are the most important to being a good friend and member of the community. Using markers and poster paper, have the pair create a “Good Buddy” poster by writing the statements, decorating the poster, and “signing” their names as a pledge to follow those rules. Display the posters in either or both of the classrooms, or in the hallway for the whole school to view.
Option 2: Create a Chain of Trust Materials: Paper (cut into strips); Stapler; Writing supplies Give each buddy pair a strip of paper. Have the pair brainstorm guidelines for how we should be honest and tell the truth, be generous and share fairly with others, or apologize and forgive in order to resolve conflicts, even when it’s hard. Have the buddies write their guideline on their paper strip. Then ask each pair to share what they wrote. Staple the first pair’s strip endto-end to form a circle. Have the other pairs take turns sharing their example and threading and stapling the link onto the chain. Once the paper chain is complete, talk to students about how telling the truth, being respectful, being forgiving, and being generous creates a chain of trust that binds a group of friends, classmates, or other group of people together. Then talk about how important trust is in building and strengthening community. You might say: • What happened to the group of friends in the Arthur stories and games when characters lied or teased or held a grudge? • Who did the characters’ actions hurt? • Why is it important for friends and members of a community to be able to trust each other? • What do you think might happen when that trust isn’t there?
Option 3: Acts of Kindness Materials: Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud; Paper, index cards; Writing supplies Read aloud the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Then have buddy pairs brainstorm and write or illustrate a list of ways they can be generous with their time toward their friends and/or family. To help them brainstorm concrete ideas, have buddies ask themselves: Whom will I be generous toward? What will I do to be generous or kind? When will I perform this act of generosity or kindness? Some examples might include: “I will help my little brother with his homework tonight,” “I will clean up my room every weekend,” “I will help my friend practice making soccer goals,” etc. Students can make pledge cards (using index cards) to give to their friend or family member.
89 Conclusion & Celebration
