Hertford Infant and Nursery School
In 2010, Mary Merlo and Rachel Ramaker foro Hertford Infant and Nursery School took part in an Action Research Project with Shirley Clarke. We decided to create materials to help the pupils develop a growth mindset. We studied many theories about learning and developed six strands of learning based on Guy Claxton’s 4Rs and Learning Muscles and the Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory (ELLI) project by Bristol University. With the staff team, we chose six animals that are present in the local environment to represent each of the learning dimensions and also matched each of the animals with one of our school’s values and one of the six Edward deBono hats. To help the children get to know the animals and their learning strengths, we wrote a story for each of them. These stories have since been simplified. Squirrel
Mouse
Snail
Value: Enthusiastic
Badger
Value: Caring
Learning dimension: Creative
Learning dimension: Connecting
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Creating
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Understanding
deBono: Green – Creativity
deBono: Red – Feelings
Value: Friendly
Bat
Value: Thoughtful
Learning dimension: Questioning
Learning dimension: Planner
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Analysing
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Evaluating
deBono: Blue – Process
deBono: Black – Cautions
Value: Ambitious
Bee
Value: Respectful
Learning dimension: Persevering
Learning dimension: Communicating
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Applying
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Remembering
deBono: Yellow – Benefits
deBono: White – Facts
Further reading: Guy Claxton: http://www.buildinglearningpower.co.uk/ ELLI: http://rsvpdesign.co.uk/images/downloads/ELLI_in_Business_overview.pdf Growth Mindsets: http://mindsetonline.com/whatisit/about/ Original stories by Mary Merlo and Rachel Ramaker 2011. Retold by Rachel Ramaker 2014. Illustrated by Erik Dries. Please do not reproduce without permission of Hertford Infant and Nursery School. When referring to this publication, please give credit to authors, illustrator and the Hertford Infant and Nursery School staff team.
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User notes
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How Ambitious Snail persevered
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How Enthusiastic Squirrel used his creativity
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How Thoughtful Bat learned to be a planner
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How Caring Badger learned to make connections
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How Respectful Bee learned to communicate with her team 41 How Friendly Mouse’s questions saved the day
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How Ambitious Snail persevered
Ambitious: a strong feeling of wanting to be successful in life and achieve great things.
Persevering: steadily carrying on in order to finish something, despite difficulties or setbacks.
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Ambitious Snail always liked trying out new things, and did whatever he tried to the best of his ability.
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One day, he decided to climb up the Hertford Tree. None of his friends had tried this before. They were too scared.
I am not worried to have a good go.
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Ambitious Snail started climbing. When he got to the first branch, he slipped and fell all the way down so...
...he tried again. Soon he was halfway up. He felt very tired, so he had a nap.
I try to get things right.
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His friend Enthusiastic Squirrel went by. “Can you give me a lift to the top?” Ambitious Snail asked. “No problem, hold on tight,” answered Enthusiastic Squirrel.
I know when to ask for help.
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Soon Ambitious Snail was near the top. He carefully slid up the last few metres, making sure not to slip this time.
The view was amazing. Ambitious Snail watched the sun set and rise again. Then he started his journey down. I try to learn from mistakes I never give up.
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When he was on the ground again, his nieces and nephews wanted to know all about it. “How did you do it?�
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“Well...I persevered!”
I asked for help
I tried my best
I didn’t worry
I never gave up
I learned from my mistakes
said Ambitious Snail. 12
How Enthusiastic Squirrel used his creativity
Enthusiastic: showing excited interest or an eagerness about something.
Creative: showing use of the imagination to create original new ideas or things.
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Enthusiastic Squirrel was always full of great new ideas and full of energy... maybe a bit too full!
One day after completing yet another one of his inventions, his mum told him it was time for him to move out and make his own drey or squirrel nest. I play with ideas.
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Enthusiastic Squirrel was very excited. He started to look for a suitable place. Soon he spotted a blackbird’s nest lined with moss. “That looks like a comfy place” he thought, so he built one himself. That night he got very wet.
I try new things.
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The next day he spotted a mouse hole at the foot of a tree. “That looks like a dry place,� he thought, so he found one for himself. That night he got disturbed by a scary stoat.
I can change my ideas.
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He decided to build his drey high up in the tree, but make it as dry as the mouse hole and as comfy as the blackbird’s nest. Soon it was time to add some final touches, like soft moss, downy feathers, colourful pieces of glass and plastic waterproofing.
I am resourceful. I can use my imagination.
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At last it was ready. His friend Respectful Bee came to visit. “How did you do it?” he asked in admiration.
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“Well... I was creative!�
I played with ideas.
I tried new things.
I was resourceful.
I changed my ideas.
I used my imagination.
said Enthusiastic Squirrel. 19
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How Thoughtful Bat learned to be a planner
Thoughtful: treating people in a kind way, especially by thinking about their wants or needs; appearing to be deep in thought; showing careful thinking.
Planning: thinking of a way to achieve a goal.
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Thoughtful Bat was always thinking. He thought about how scary flying was and about how he really didn’t want to go to bat school.
He was always late for school because he preferred to climb to it rather than fly. One day he was especially late, as he had stopped to think for a while. I think about what I do. I
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When he got to the right branch, the bat teacher and bat children had already left. Thoughtful Bat knew he’d be in trouble if he didn’t catch up with them. So he closed his eyes and flew off.
Flying with your eyes closed isn’t a good idea and soon Thoughtful Bat flew into a bush. He wasn’t hurt so he stopped to think for a while. Suddenly he heard a familiar squeak. 23
It was his friend Enthusiastic Squirrel. “Please help me. Someone has stolen my winter supplies and soon it will be time for my winter sleep.� Thoughtful Bat knew exactly what to do... but if only he was better at flying.
I think about what I do.
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He closed his eyes and thought hard. He remembered all the wise advice his teacher had given him: “Think about what you do, use your ears to hear, take your time to get things right.� Suddenly flying made sense to him, and off he flew.
I take my time with work. I reflect on hat I learn.
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Soon he caught up with his bat school. He told them about Enthusiastic Squirrel’s problem and how he wanted to help him. All the bats worked together to help Enthusiastic Squirrel get new supplies.
I am organised.
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Thoughtful Bat was the star of the night, using his ears to avoid flying into bushes and his nose to smell the best nuts and berries. Enthusiastic Squirrel was very grateful.
I use my senses.
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Thoughtful Bat felt very proud of himself. “What did you learn last night?� asked his bat parents.
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“Well... I learned to be a planner!� I thought about what I did.
I used my senses.
I took my time to do things right.
I reflect on what I had learned. I was organised.
said Thoughtful Bat. 29
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How Caring Badger learned to make connections
Caring: showing kindness and concern for others.
Connecting: linking one thing to another.
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Caring Badger lived in a large badger set with many tunnels which connected to large holes. She cared very much for all her friends and family who lived in this set.
She did not care much about learning at school. School was hard and she didn’t like to get things wrong, so she copied her friends’ work. It never made any sense to her.
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One day her mum asked her for help as her baby brother had a sore throat. “I am very busy. Could you please collect some honey for me?� said her mum.
Before Caring Badger could ask her how and where, she had disappeared back down the set. She had no idea where to get honey.
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She went on her way and soon saw some bees busy collecting nectar. “Please can I have some honey?� she asked. The bees were too busy to listen.
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Caring Badger sat down and had a think. The bees looked funny with the pollen all over them. “I wonder where they take it,” she thought. “They must store it somewhere, just like my mum does.”
I make connections between ideas and facts.
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She decided to follow one of the bees and soon she had found the beehive. She felt very proud of herself. She scooped some honey out of the hive but it dripped onto the ground.
Caring Badger sat down and had a think. She thought it was funny that her paw was all sticky. “I wonder how I could collect it,” she asked herself. “It is as runny as water.” I can make sense of my learning. I can see the funny side of things.
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Suddenly Caring Badger remembered how she’d seen rainwater collecting on leaves. She picked a large leaf and scooped in the honey.
I look for amazing ideas and facts.
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Soon her brother was all better. “Clever idea to collect the honey in the leaf,” said her mum. “How did you work that out?”
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“Well... I learned to connect up my thinking,� I saw the
I made sense of my learning.
funny side of things.
I made connections between ideas and facts.
I looked for amazing ideas and facts.
said Caring Badger. 39
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How Respectful Bee learned to communicate with her team
Respectful: understanding someone's feelings, wishes or rights.
Communicating: sharing or exchanging information, news or ideas .
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Respectful Bee was really respectful. She never hurt anyone and tried to listen to what her mum asked her. Only, the beehive was so busy that she often sneaked off to daydream on top of her favourite flower.
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One day the Queen Bee called a meeting. There was a huge shortage of honey and she asked all the bees to work extra hard. Respectful Bee really wanted to help but she didn’t know how.
I can listen sensitively and with empathy.
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She soon bumped into her friend Friendly Mouse. Together they played hide and seek for a while. That day, Respectful Bee did not collect any honey. She was ashamed of herself. “I must make sure I don’t get distracted again,” she thought.
I can work without getting distracted.
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The next day she tried again. This time she found it very hard to find the right flowers. “I wonder how the other bees find the flowers so quickly.� She stopped to watch the other bees for a while.
One of them performed a little waggle dance by waggling its abdomen. It showed all the bees where to find the good flowers. After he had finished, all the other bees took off in the same direction. Respectful Bee followed them. I can learn from and help others.
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She found a garden full of flowers. Soon she too was collecting nectar. “This flower is great,” she called out to another bee. “Why don’t you tell the others?” said the other bee. She flew back to the hive to perform a waggle dance herself.
I can work with other people and take turns. I can share and copy ideas.
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That night the Queen Bee called a meeting again. “Well done everyone,” she said. “Our honey supply is full up again.”
I can be part of a team.
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Respectful Bee’s mum was very proud of her. “I noticed how hard you worked today,” she said. Respectful Bee felt proud of herself too. She was proud to be a useful part of the bee family. “What did it teach you?” asked her
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“Well... I learned to communicate� I shared and copied ideas.
I was part of a team.
I learned from others.
I listened carefully to others. I worked without being
I took turns. I helped others.
distracted.
said Respectful Bee. 49
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How Friendly Mouse’s questions saved the day
Friendly: kind and pleasant.
Questioning: asking for information.
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Friendly Mouse loves chatting and playing with her friends. When they were ill, she would visit to cheer them up. If they needed help, she’d be the first one to offer!
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One day, all her friends looked very grumpy and no one stopped to talk to her. Friendly Mouse was surprised. Then she noticed the sign on the gate. It said...
g. d warnin Advance g down e choppin b l il w e on, kw informati e Next wee r o m r fo ol trees. the scho night: eeting to m e th to come - School
Hall
- 7pm
I can look carefully at information.
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Now she understood why everyone looked so sad. The animals needed the trees. “I wonder why they want to chop them down� she thought. I must go to the meeting tonight and get some answers.
I can ask questions to find out more. I can think of ways to find things out and choose the best one.
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That night the School Hall was very full. The people talked about how the trees made a mess with all the dead leaves. They said they blocked out the sunlight from their houses. Someone thought the trees looked ugly. They worried about the roots damaging the water pipes and pavement.
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After the meeting, Friendly Mouse called her friends together. She told them what she had heard. “Well, I had better start packing,” said Enthusiastic Squirrel sadly. All the other animals nodded. “No wait!” squeaked the mouse.
I can share what I have learned.
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Friendly Mouse was sure that there was something they could do. “We have heard the problems and everyone’s answer is to chop down the trees,” she said. “What if there were some other answers too?”
I can question what I have found out.
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“We can make the trees beautiful,” said Enthusiastic Squirrel. “We can gnaw the tree roots so they don’t damage anything,” said Caring Badger. “We can eat more leaves so they don’t make a mess or keep out the light,” said Ambitious Snail.
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Slowly the animals came up with an amazing plan. Over the next few days the trees were transformed. When the day of the tree cutting arrived, people said what a shame it would be to lose the beautiful trees.
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The trees were saved! The animals celebrated the good news. “Thank you for your help Friendly Mouse,” they said. “Without you we would have given up.” “How did you do it?”
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“Well... I asked questions,� I looked carefully at the information.
I shared what I had learned
I thought of ways to find things out.
I asked questions to find out more.
I questioned what I had found out.
said Friendly Mouse. 61
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