-NiE ,
Elementary
It’s story time!
Learning to empathise Creative thinking
Critical thinking ● Reason
3
READING a wonderful story is one of the most pleasurable things in life. Not only do stories take us into the world of imagination, they can evoke certain feelings and emotions in us. Sad stories tug at our heartstrings, while happy stories give us a feel-good sensation; horror stories cause anxiety and violent stories usually make our hearts pound with fear.
NiE Activity 1
● Identify
3 MAY 2017
Problem solving
● Brainstorm ● Connect
● Question
Communicating ● Oral ● Written
● Aural
Read the following passage, which has been adapted from an article published in the Heart & Soul column in Star2 on March 5, 2017.
Gratitude 101 By LAU LI YUAN
A little girl had been living in the Land of No Worries all her life. She was very fortunate because she had been loved dearly. She was never hungry and never had to worry about money. Because of that, she grew up to be naive, thinking that life was a bed of roses. She decorated herself with branded items and threw tantrums when her parents asked her to do household chores. I think you might have guessed it by now – the little girl was me. Everything changed one day when I joined my dad at a charity event. We went to visit poor, needy families. One family struck me the most. Their house looked like it was in the middle of the forest, surrounded by weeds. A heap of recycled plastic containers, glass bottles and cans greeted us as we approached. Just as I had expected, the condition of the interior of the house was as bad as its exterior. The unfamiliar cemented floor, tattered roof, messy and probably decades-old furniture made me feel uncomfortable.
Based on the passage, answer the questions that follow. You may work in pairs. Then, discuss your answers in class.
1.
Growin g Land o up, Li Yuan lived in f No W or th call it t he Lan ries. Why did e d of N she o Wor ries?
Standing before us was an old lady wearing shabby clothes. Beside her on the bed was her husband, bedridden due to a stroke. We had brought basic necessities like food, diapers, milk, cooking oil and pillows. As she accepted our gifts, tears of gratitude started to form in her eyes. The old lady had been taking care of her sick husband for years. She said sometimes she even carried him to the hospital all by herself as there was no one around to help her. They had a handicapped son whom the lady also had to care for. She was forced to stop working as a waitress due to gallstones she had, which caused her much pain. Their main line of support was her daughter, the lone breadwinner. My heart felt heavy as we bade her farewell. That one encounter with this family made an enormous impact on me. Listening to the old lady’s life story made me reflect on my own. No matter how I look at things, I have to accept that I have been profoundly blessed. The main objective of me writing this article is to urge youngsters or anyone of any age group to practise gratitude. If you are breathing this very minute, you are blessed; if you have a healthy body, you are blessed; if you have food to fill you up, you are blessed.
2.
Describ
5.
How h as after v Li Yuan cha n isiting the old ged family ? lady an d he
e the o
ld lady
3.
’s hous
e.
Why d id lady’s tears form in eyes? the old
NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify
4.
● Reason
In wha tw deserv ay was the ing of o sympa ld lady’s lif e thy?
6. r
What wa the wr s the main o iter’s a b rticle? jective of
Creative thinking ● Imagine
● Connect
● Brainstorm
Problem solving ● Recreate
● Present
Communicating ● Oral ● Written
● Aural
Collaborating ● Contribute respectfully
● Attain goal
● Compromise
In a group of four, design a poster to raise awareness of the old lady’s plight among your schoolmates. Give at least three suggestions how they can help the old lady and her family. You may use pictures and words taken from The Star. Do this activity on a sheet of A3 paper. Then, take turns presenting your poster in class. As a class, vote for the most compelling poster to be displayed on the classroom notice board.
7.
How d id read in make you fe g this passa el? ge
8.
How d oy old lad ou think yo u y and h er fam can help the ily?