One of my favorite lessons in my book Powerful Understanding is the lesson that introduces children to their “moral compass” – that internal voice inside each of us that can help “give us direction” when we are trying to make a moral decision. We often experience moments in our lives when we are faced with the age old question: Should I or shouldn’t I?
Here are my top ten books to teach the concept of “paying attention to your moral compass”. In each story, the character is faced with a dilemma, and a choice to make. All of these books invite conversations about the stages of a moral dilemma: the temptation, the choice, the guilt, taking responsibility, and finally, the restitution or making amends. Great books for reading aloud, pausing, and asking the students – “What would you do?”
Hilarious story of a little girl is told NOT to eat the cake her mother just made. The temptation becomes too great and she ends up eating the entire thing! She makes amends by owning up to her decision and baking a new cake.
Another book that will have your students giggling! Betty Bunny accidently breaks a lamp but ends up blaming the Tooth Fairy! A great story about the value of honesty.
A unique book full of little scenarios with moral dilemmas. The book asks the reader to pick A, B, or C — three different ways to deal with the problem. Great for conversations and role playing.
When Sarah breaks her mother’s favorite necklace, she tells lies to cover it up. But everytime she tells a little ghost pops out of her mouth! Every new lie Sarah tells, another ghost appears. Not until she tells the truth do the little ghosts disappear.
A young boy and his friends completely destroy a lonely neighbour’s vegetable garden while playing baseball. I have read this book to countless of intermediate students and each time, there are gasps of horror when Mr. Belavista walks in on their game and sees his beloved garden destroyed. An excellent story about taking responsibility and making amends.
Finders keepers, right? When Ruben picks up someone’s lost money, he discovers how hard it can be to do the right thing. Another well read book in my collection, I love how this book really explores and acknowledges the complexity of emotions one faces when faced with trying to do the right thing.
Similar premise to Sarah’s Little Ghosts, a boy’s little lie comes alive in the form of a monster who grows and grows until he finds the only way to make it go away is to tell the truth.
Oh, the temptation of magic, pasta, and adoration of others! In the beloved classic tale, we experience, first hand, Big Anthony’s moral compass pointing in the wrong direction when it comes to not touching Strega Nona’s magic pasta pot. Poor Anthony will never eat pasta again!
Ruthie loves teeny tiny things. When she finds a teeny tiny camera on the school playground, she can hardly believe her luck. She wants to keep the camera in the worst way, but there’s one little problem: It isn’t hers. And so she lies. An endearing story and an even more endearing character!
The Emperor gives all the children in the land a seed and tells them that the one who grows the most beautiful flower will become the next Emperor. A young boy works tirelessly to tend his seed, but nothing grows. He returns to the king, among the other children’s beautiful flowers, with an empty pot. To his surprise, he is rewarded for his honesty. I LOVE this book for introducing moral compass, integrity, honesty and courage.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you found one or two new titles to add to your classroom or library collection! Have a happy reading week, everyone!
Anyone who knows me knows that “making connections” is in my blood! As one of the five “reading powers” I have taught hundreds of “connect” lessons to students, helped hundreds of teachers know the difference between “deep” and “quick” connections, recommended thousands of “connect books” over the years, and made dozens of “connect” book lists.
Earlier this summer, I received an email from an educator in school district #69 (Qualicum, Vancouver Island) asking me for a recommendation for a “Re-connect” book. At first, I wondered if it was a typing mistake! “What do you mean by Re-Connect book?” I asked her.
She explained that at the start of a new school year, the staff selects a picture book that is read in every classroom. The theme of the book becomes the unifying school theme for the year.
Past themes the school explored included courage, generosity, independence, stewardship, and caring communities. This year, her school will be exploring the theme of “belonging” and she asked if I knew of any books I could recommend. (I did, of course!)
To build the school community, every class reads the book, then joins in an art activity around the theme during the first few weeks of school. The art is hung in the entrance hallway of the school to mark the school theme. Hers is not the only school in her district that carries on this tradition each fall.
Here is a photo of one of their school-wide art projects based on one of their past themes: Reach for the Stars. The “Reconnect Book” they used for this theme wasDREAM: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom and Wishesby Susan V. Bosack.
She also shared past themes and corresponding picture books they have used:
Well, of course, my brain started swirling with “Re-Connect” themes and corresponding picture books and I felt so inspired that I just HAD to create a new TOP TEN TUESDAY book list! With her permission, I am sharing this amazing idea with you in the hopes it may inspire your school to begin the year with a RECONNECT book!
Below are my top ten “RE-CONNECT” book recommendations and the possible school theme connected to it.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you feel inspired to “RECONNECT” with your students this fall by sharing one of these books with them! Huge shout out to Karen Monstad and the entire staff at Nanoose Bay Elementary School the staff for sharing their “RECONNECT” book idea with me! Happy reading, everyone!
I originally created OLLIs when schools in my province of British Columbia shut down last spring due to Covid19. While many are now back in class, I know there are many districts still juggling virtual and in-class support. (Shout out to my teacher friends in Alberta and Ontario who are working online at the moment!) These OLLIs can be used both in class and virtually person. Either way, I hope you find some ideas that you can use with your students to lighten your load just a little this year!
Here is a list of the previous OLLI lessons and anchor books in case you missed any of them:
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. – Jane Goodall
An essential goal for teachers in the 21st century is to try to help students understand that they are in important part of the global community. No matter our age, our actions can affect and contribute to the world. Most children living in North America don’t really understand that, for the most part, they are among the most privileged in the world and because of that privilege, they have a responsibility as a global citizen to be mindful and helpful of others. And while we may not able to take our students to Africa to help build a school, as this year winds down, we can help bring awareness that our actions, no matter how small, can make a big difference.
One Too Many introduces young readers to social justice issues (poverty, education, safety) in a child-friendly and easily accessible way. Simple, rhyming text with repeating phrases will leave the reader feeling more aware of those in need and inspired to take action. An important book to explore basic needs and access to them and simple ways we can all make a difference.
Added bonus – Author Linda Grace Smith will be sharing her book during a Virtual Author Visit next week! (more information below! Don’t miss out! )
The Lesson:
Write the words “NEED” and “WANT” on the board. Invite students to think about what the difference is in the two words. Give an example: I need food and water to live; I want a new video game. Invite students to share some of their own ideas. Create a list on the board.
Look at the “NEED” list – introduce the term “Basic Needs” and explain that there are only a few “basic needs” people need to survive – food, water, clothing, shelter, and love. Without those things, it becomes difficult to live your life. Explain that everything on the “WANT” side of the chart are not necessary for survival. We might WANT a new video game but we don’t actually NEED it to survive.
Explain that if someone does not have their basic needs, life can be very difficult. Most of us don’t need think about what we are going to eat, where we are going to sleep, or if we have clothes to wear.
Ask students if they think everyone in the world has basic needs. Discuss the fact that there are many people living in different places in the world who don’t have food, water, shelter, clothing, or love. Ask if they think that it’s fair that we do and they don’t?
But there are 7 billion other people in the world, so I probably don’t need to do anything. I can live in my house and play my video games and go to soccer practice, eat pizza, play with my friends, and live a good life. I can’t really do anything about it – I’m just a kid! Agreed?
Invite students to talk to their partner and infer what they think it means. (if one tiny mosquito can make that big an impact – then I guess I can, too) It only takes one small action to make a big difference!
Read the book One Too Many. Explain that the author wrote it because she wanted us to start thinking about others and about ways we might be able to help. Invite the students to be listening for ways they might be able to help.
Close the book and say “Sometimes, when I finish reading a story, the book ends but my thinking doesn’t. This book is really lingering (triple scoop word!) in my mind.
Ask the students what is “lingering” for them. You might model:
It really made me think about others and also how one small act can make a big difference. One person can make a huge difference – just like one tiny mosquito can have a huge impact on a gigantic human. You are the mosquito; the person is the world. I may not be able to help people in other countries get clean water or food, but I can make a difference by my everyday small actions. Don’t ever think that one small action is not going to make a difference. YOU CAN make a difference!
Create an “I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE” chart. Brainstorm different ways students can help make a difference. (see examples below)
If I see someone…
I can…
playing by themselves
invite them to play
eating alone
sit with them
crying
ask them if they are okay
carrying something heavy
ask if they need help
with no snack
share my snack with them
Pass out “I Can Make a Difference” chart. Tell the students they can “borrow” one or two ideas from your chart, but to try to come up with the rest on their own.
After students have completed their page, invite them to share their ideas. Discuss setting a goal and challenge each student to pay attention to those around them in school, at home, or in their neighbourhood. Encourage them to notice a need and do their best to take action and “make a difference”.
This lesson would be a great introduction to the concept of “Change Agents”. Depending on your grade, you could continue sharing books about real people whose actions changed the world. For more lessons on Change Agents and other global issues, see my book Powerful Understanding– Chapter 4 – Understanding the World
Additional Anchor Books:
The following books are recommended for introducing social injustices, local and global poverty, and acts of kindness that make a difference. Don’t forget to search for Read Alouds on YouTube, if you are teaching online. Whenever possible, choose the video of the actual author reading their own book.
![What Does It Mean to Be Global? (What Does It Mean To Be...?) by [Rana DiOrio, Chris Hill]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519VY-s9B2L.jpg)
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