Doing what you are told and promises

Key idea: Doing what people tell you. When to follow instructions. Is it ever ok not to follow instructions? Authority.

Amelia and the tomato Plant

This is a retelling of jack and the beanstalk. I changed it slightly because children got caught up in sticking to the story rather than exploring their own ideas.

Resources

A picture or puppet of a girl (Amelia), some tomato seeds, money, A shoe (or something of little value)

 

Starter

Tell the following beginning of the story:

Amelia and her father live in a small flat in the city They don’t have much money. They have to work very hard just to have enough food to put on the table. On day Amelia’s father tells her that they don’t have enough money for food next week and asks her to take the TV to the shops and sell it for £10. Amelia promises to do it.

Amelia picks up the heavy TV and takes it all the way downstairs and out to the shops. In the shop a woman casts her eye over the tv and says, “I will swap it for a shoe. You give me your TV and I will give you a shoe.”

Amelia thinks about this for a moment.

Task Question:

• Should Amelia swap the TV for a shoe?

The children will most likely say no and give reasons like, ‘She needs money not a shoe’. You don’t need to probe very far, this is more of a comprehension and engagement question.

 

Main Activity

Continue telling the story:

After thinking about it very hard Amelia decides not to swap the TV for a shoe, ‘I promised my Dad that I would swap it for ten pounds, can you give me ten pounds for the TV?’

‘Certainly, young lady! Although…’ Says the shop assistant, leaning in close. ‘…I also have these magic tomato seeds. So do you want ten pounds or these magic tomato seeds?

 

Task Questions

• Should Amelia swap the TV for magic tomato seeds or £10? Why?
• Should Amelia do what her father told her to do?
• Should you do what people tell you to do?

 

Remind the children that Amelia promised to swap it for £10 and ask:

• Amelia thinks the seeds will make her and her dad rich, should she break her promise?
• If the shop keeper offers £20 for the TV, should Amelia break her promise?
• Is it ok to break promises?

 

Optional extension:

Continue the story. When Amelia gets back to her father she produces the magic seeds

• What do you think her father will say?
• What do you think her father should say?
• Should she tell him off if he didn’t do what she said?

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