The Bear with the Sword
Tell the students that the story you are about to read has a very powerful message. The story is intended to persuade the audience (Us, the readers) to act in certain ways and to learn a very important moral message about how to treat others.
Look at the back cover / Read the Blurb - •Is there a blurb or other information? What does it tell us? •Read and analyse words and phrases in the blurb: •What does handsome mean? •What are the woods? Are they different to a forest? •What is a fortress? Why would someone need a fortress? •Can you think of some possible culprits that could be responsible for flooding Bear’s fortress? •What could be the reason behind the answer not being what Bear expects? Make some predictions about the story. •What is a parable? •Discuss other well known, or even less well known parables that you have read or heard. •What is meant by consequences of our actions? Give examples. •What does it mean to ‘make amends’? •Why is it important to make amends when we cause trouble for others? •Share examples of when you have had to make amends for something you have done. |
Read the story.
Afterwards recall the meaning of parable again with the students.
It's the use of a short surface story to tell a moral lesson that may not be immediately understandable - a bit like a fable. Again liken this story to the parables that Jesus told in order to illustrate a moral point.
What is the moral lesson behind this story?
Katherine England wrote, " The Bear and the Sword is actually a magical non-judgemental wonderfully persuasive parable about thinking before we act, taking responsibility for our actions and making appropriate amends to those we have inadvertently injured or inconvenienced."
Should we always try to be brave enough to own up to the consequences of our actions?
Afterwards recall the meaning of parable again with the students.
It's the use of a short surface story to tell a moral lesson that may not be immediately understandable - a bit like a fable. Again liken this story to the parables that Jesus told in order to illustrate a moral point.
What is the moral lesson behind this story?
Katherine England wrote, " The Bear and the Sword is actually a magical non-judgemental wonderfully persuasive parable about thinking before we act, taking responsibility for our actions and making appropriate amends to those we have inadvertently injured or inconvenienced."
Should we always try to be brave enough to own up to the consequences of our actions?
In pairs ask children to write a short persuasive text explaining why we should own up to the wrongs we have committed and try to make amends.
Examples could include things as simple as breaking something, causing distress to a friend by lying or standing by and allowing someone to be hurt. Share with each other. |