On Friday we read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. In the story, the main character Chrysanthemum is made fun of at school because of her name. We talked about what was happening to her, and I was impressed that several students remembered the term “verbal bullying” from the Power of One presentation we saw a few weeks ago.
After reading the story we wrote down the hurtful words on a paper heart. Then I read the words, and for each word folded the heart until it was all crumpled up. We brainstormed kind words that could make someone feel better, and wrote them on another heart. We opened up the crumpled heart, and smoothed it out, but it didn’t look quite the same. I reminded all the students that our words are powerful, when we say hurtful things it hurts someone’s heart, and even when we say kind things to fix it, those wrinkles are still there. I think the students understood how important it is to think about what you are saying before you speak.
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One thought on “Chrysanthemum”
What a lovely lesson! I’m sorrythat Saloni missed it. It’s a subject that she has had to deal with on a regular basis. I would love it if, at some point, that topic could be re-visited.
Misli Alan