 PALs Caitlin, Karen, and Lindsey formed an Integrity Team to plan, prepare, and present the lessons. In Bowen's class, the role models had time for three fun and engaging activities. They began by handing out lunch sacks, some of which had two Starburst squares, some of which were empty. When the children paired off and opened up their bags, they had to problem-solve how to make it fair.
After deciding to share the sweet treats so everyone gets one, students were given a heart-shaped paper on which to write or draw ways in which they can show fairness. They then circled up and, rolling a rubber-band ball to help decide who should go next, took turns sharing what they'd created.
 In Ryza's class, time didn't permit all three activities, so the novice instructors did what veteran teachers do all the time – they improvised. They circled up and prompted students to tell how they could be fair today, then they passed out the Starburst squares to select students. Very quickly, they could hear shouts of "that's not fair" and "you just told us to be fair but now you're not being fair."
The team affirmed them for catching and correcting the injustice, then wrapped up the activity with a little poem, "Play fair; don't be square." Thanking them with a mirror cheer, Westwood first graders thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. Westwood appreciates PALs partnership and eagerly anticipates more fun-filled character lessons from these creative leaders. |
