Christmas is such an exciting time for young children! I like to take the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation to involve children in affective development and creative thinking via Disney's, "Twice Upon a Christmas." I strongly recommend purchasing this DVD. The animation is beautiful, and the stories lend themselves to class discussion and other activities!
LESSON 1! JEALOUSY
"Belles on Ice" - (synopsis from Wikipedia) This first segment tells the story of Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck, who are competing in an ice skating competition. The girls are joined by Mickey and Donald, as they prepare to take the ice. Daisy becomes envious of crowd's reaction to Minnie and attempts to steal the spotlight for herself. Minnie performs several daredevil stunts to regain the spotlight. Fed up, Daisy and Minnie argue and shove each other, putting each other at risk, and then try pulling dramatic stunts to draw the attention of the crowds. When Minnie becomes injured after slipping on a fallen handbell while landing from a stunt blindfolded, Daisy helps Minnie, and the two apologize. Together, they perform a grand finale.
Class Discussion (record children's answers):
1. What is "envy?" What is "jealousy?" Are they the same? Are Minnie and Daisy jealous of each other or envious of each other?
2. What does it mean to compare yourself to someone else? How is it good to compare yourself to your friends or classmates? Explain. How is it bad to compare yourself to your friends or classmates?
DEFINITION: Envy is wanting to have something that another person has and feeling unhappy and that it's 'not fair' that person should have it. For example, you may feel envy when someone you know gets the super cool bike that you've always wanted!
DEFINITION: Jealousy is like envy but includes suspicion. Jealousy is often to do with competition. For example sometimes you may be jealous of a brother or sister because you think your parents love him or her more than they love you. Or you may feel jealous about your friend and want to have all of his or her attention all of the time.
The BAD SIDE OF JEALOUSY: Feeling jealous can bring all sorts of bad feelings with it. Feelings of anger or even hatred. Feelings of rejection, when you feel that you are not wanted or not good enough. Feelings of wanting to get the attention back on yourself in some way.
3. How could you tell that Minnie was angry? How could you tell that Daisy was angry. Minnie and Daisy are good friends --why do you think they were angry with each other? What did Minnie and Daisy do to get the attention back on themselves?
TRUTH: No one, not even the most wonderful person in the world, will go through life without feeling jealous at some time. The trick is to recognize jealousy and then choose how you are going to react to it. This takes time and you may have to work very hard at times but there are millions of successful people around the world who have learned to use jealousy as a way of improving their lives and the lives of others.
4. Feelings of Jealousy --What Will You Decide to Do? What NEGATIVE REACTIONS did Minnie and Daisy FIRST decide to do about their jealousy? What POSITIVE REACTIONS did they finally decide to do about their jealousy? WE GO BACK THROUGH THE CARTOON, STOPPING IT AND LOOKING AT FACIAL FEATURES. IT IS EASY FOR KIDS TO NOTICE THAT JEALOUSY TYPICALLY FOLLOWS THIS PATTERN: SADNESS, EMBARRASSMENT, ANGER, ACTING OUT (SHOWING OFF --ARGUING, FIGHTING). THIS IS HOPEFULLY FOLLOWED BY REMORSE AND APOLOGY.
***Jealousy can make you feel worthless, angry, lonely. NOW WHAT?
Possible negative reaction
Teasing, put downs, gossip and rumours, giving up.
Possible positive reaction
Look at your own talents, accept everyone is unique. Try to improve your own performance. Work together.
LESSON 2! GREED, GIVING
"Christmas: Impossible" - Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck are celebrating Christmas Eve at their Uncle Scrooge's mansion. After the boys become convinced that they are on the "naughty list", they travel to the North Pole to write their names on Santa's "good list". At Santa's workshop, they cause much trouble, such as bumping into elves and breaking stuff, but they and the elves help clean up the mess and save Christmas. Before they leave, they luck into an opportunity to add their names to the "good list"; however, they add Uncle Scrooge's name instead, mindful of the fact that he was never written onto the list either. On Christmas, Santa leaves them a note that explains that their actions have caused them to be put on the Good List, too.
CLASS DISCUSSION (after viewing cartoon):
1. What does it mean to be selfish?
Working definition for kids:
2. What is greed? Only thinking of yourself and not thinking of the feelings of others
Working definition for kids: a selfish wish to have more than you really need
3. Is Uncle Scrooge selfish? Why or why not?
4. Are Huey, Dewey, and Louie selfish? Why or why not?
5. Huey, Dewey, and Louie live in Uncle Scrooge's HUGE house. Why are they still greedy?
6. What was the one thing that Uncle Scrooge wanted and never got, even though he was super rich? Why was that so important to him?
7. What bad things did Huey, Dewey, and Louie's greed make them do?
8. Why did they decide to put Uncle Scrooge's name on Santa's list instead of their own?
9. How did that make them feel? What lesson did they learn about greed?
10. How did Huey, Dewey, and Louie feel when Uncle Scrooge opened his gift?
10. What is the opposite of greed? (Begin with having children answer easy opposite questions such as: What is the opposite of "up?")
10. What are some things that make people happy that you CANNOT buy with money?
(brainstorming activity)
GO BACK THROUGH THE CARTOON, STOPPING IT AND LOOKING AT FACIAL FEATURES. THIS, AGAIN, HELPS CHILDREN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FEELINGS AND ACTIONS.
1. What does it mean to be selfish?
Working definition for kids:
2. What is greed? Only thinking of yourself and not thinking of the feelings of others
Working definition for kids: a selfish wish to have more than you really need
3. Is Uncle Scrooge selfish? Why or why not?
4. Are Huey, Dewey, and Louie selfish? Why or why not?
5. Huey, Dewey, and Louie live in Uncle Scrooge's HUGE house. Why are they still greedy?
6. What was the one thing that Uncle Scrooge wanted and never got, even though he was super rich? Why was that so important to him?
7. What bad things did Huey, Dewey, and Louie's greed make them do?
8. Why did they decide to put Uncle Scrooge's name on Santa's list instead of their own?
9. How did that make them feel? What lesson did they learn about greed?
10. How did Huey, Dewey, and Louie feel when Uncle Scrooge opened his gift?
10. What is the opposite of greed? (Begin with having children answer easy opposite questions such as: What is the opposite of "up?")
10. What are some things that make people happy that you CANNOT buy with money?
(brainstorming activity)
GO BACK THROUGH THE CARTOON, STOPPING IT AND LOOKING AT FACIAL FEATURES. THIS, AGAIN, HELPS CHILDREN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FEELINGS AND ACTIONS.
... following 3 lessons are under construction
LESSON 3!
"Christmas Maximus" --This story features Max and Goofy celebrating the holidays. An adult Max brings home his friend, Mona to meet Goofy. However, Max is unsure whether or not he wants Mona to meet his dad. Max at first is embarrassed by his dad, who shows baby pictures to Mona, but after noticing that his scarf is made by him, he realizes that Goofy is always goofy, and that is why he loves him. Max forgets about being embarrassed and decides to join in the fun.
LESSON 4:
"Donald's Gift" -- This story revolves around Donald Duck and his Christmas wish of peace and quiet. As Donald returns home from Christmas shopping, he daydreams and misses his bus. He runs to catch it, but he is slowed down by a series of well-wishers. Donald becomes increasingly annoyed by the joyous people, and, at home, he is annoyed to hear the same Christmas carols on his radio. When Daisy and his nephews arrive, Donald becomes annoyed that they want to go out so soon after he returned home, but Daisy drags him out. Donald finds that he can not escape "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and he inadvertently vandalizes a window display. After he is kicked out of the mall by a policeman, he feels guilty for his lack of Christmas spirit and helps off-key carolers. Daisy and the boys join him, and Donald sings from his heart.
LESSON 5!
"Mickey's Dog-Gone Christmas" --Mickey makes decorations for the Christmas party, which Pluto keeps interrupting. Pluto attempts to put the star on the tree, but he knocks down the ladder, causing the Christmas tree to fall on the ground, which breaks other decorations. Mickey has Pluto sent to the dog house. Pluto decides to run away from home and finds himself shipped to the North Pole, where the reindeer adopt him. At home, Mickey attempts to reconcile, only to find Pluto missing. Mickey posts "lost dog" posters and eventually turns to a department store Santa, who turns out to be the real one. Meanwhile, Pluto becomes homesick, and the reindeer help Pluto to return home. As Mickey's friends arrive, Pluto completes the Christmas tree decorations, and everyone celebrates Pluto's return.
