-NiE ,
23 AUGUST 2017
Elementary Honesty
The nose of deceit YOU may not have heard of Italian writer Carlo Collodi, who lived in the late 1800s, but you may have read a famous tale of his: The Adventures of Pinocchio. In 1940, Walt Disney produced a musical animation based on the story, after the success of its first cartoon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The story revolves around a poor and lonely woodcarver named Geppetto. One day, he carves a beautiful wooden puppet which he calls Pinocchio. Pinocchio literally means “Little Wooden Head”. Not long after, the puppet is brought to life by the Blue Fairy. The Blue Fairy promises Pinocchio that he can become a real boy if he proves himself to be brave, truthful and unselfish. Therein begin the adventures of the puppet that longs to become a real boy. Pinocchio faces many dangers in a world of crooks, villains and monsters. One of the first lessons Pinocchio learns is that honesty is the best policy. Whenever Pinocchio tells a lie, he realises that his nose grows longer. It gets to a point where his nose becomes a tree limb, complete with leaves and a bird’s nest! Pinocchio finally promises the Blue Fairy that he will never lie after she tells him that “a lie keeps growing and growing until it’s as plain as the nose on your face”.
Note to the teacher
century learning skills
OUR children are riding the great wave of technology today. They now have facts and procedures at their fingertips. Teachers have to equip their students with new skills that allow them to thrive in today’s global economy. The activities in The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education pullout combine literacy skills with current content to build this set of skills. The key below indicates the skills integrated into the activities in this pullout.
Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason ● Measure ● Organise
Creative thinking
NiE Activity
1 2
Problem solving ● Question ● Research ● Recreate ● Present
Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal ● Written
● Identify ● Reason ● Measure
● Imagine ● Brainstorm ● Connect ● Invent
Problem solving ● Question
Ironically, the first lie in the story is not told by Pinocchio but by Geppetto, Pinocchio’s “father”. Geppetto, in wanting to buy schoolbooks for his “son”, sells his coat. But Geppetto tells his “son” that he sold the coat because “it was too hot”. Geppetto told this lie but he did it out of love and kindness. Was it wrong of Geppetto to lie to his “son”? Look at the following examples and discuss the questions:
Situation
White Lie
Truth
Taking a cough mixture
“It’s just medicine. It tastes good!”
It tastes like kerosene.
Getting your vaccination
“This won’t hurt.”
It will sting.
Going to visit a relative
“We’re going to Aunty Uma’s place. We won’t stay long.”
Any visit to Aunty Uma’s is a long time.
Based on the examples in the table above, what do you think a white lie is? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6
A. Did Nelson tell his Grandmother a white lie? Explain your answer. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 4 5
Have you ever told a white lie?
B. What should Nelson say in order to tell his Grandmother the truth? Write the answer in the speech bubble:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Why did you tell the lie? Did it help improve the situation or worsen it? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Complete the table below based on the white lie you told:
Situation
White Lie
Truth
7
● Listen
How would you define honesty? Here are seven words that are jumbled up. Rearrange them to get the definition:
and
you
in
truthfulness what
do
say
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
● Aural
Collaborating
Now read this comic strip taken from Star2.
Do these white lies sound familiar? Have your parents ever used them on you? Give one example where an adult told you a white lie. Explain how it made you feel. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
● Brainstorm ● Invent
Creative thinking
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
● Imagine ● Connect
Critical thinking
(Answer: Truthfulness in what you say and do.)
2
8
Look through The Star for three words that can replace the expressions used in the definition provided in Question 7. Cut them out and paste them below to form a similar definition.
● Contribute respectfully ● Compromise ● Attain goal nie editorial manager: SHARON OVINIS senior nie executive: ROWENA CHUA writer: S. SIVAM layout designer: SHOBA illustrator: HASSAN BAHRI To order The Star for NiE lessons, call: Sundarrajan 03-7967 1388 ext 1437 or 016-288 3682 We welcome feedback; write to: Star-NiE, Star Media Group, 15 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Petaling Jaya or e-mail us at: starnie@thestar.com.my