Compassion/Caring Lesson- 2nd Grade
Materials:
“Puppies for Sale” story (attached) and compassion scenarios (attached)
Purpose: To help second grade students move past looking only at their needs and being moved to help others
#1 Introduction: Compassion/Caring
- Ask students if they know what the word compassion (or caring) means?
- Next give the students the definition of compassion
(understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it)
- Ask the students what are some ways they can show compassion (or have shown compassion)?
** making friends with a new student at school, creating a get well card for someone that is sick, comforting a friend that is sad, etc…
4. Share some stories of the ways you show (or have shown) compassion (they love to hear from you!). You can even share a story of when you were their age.
#2 Puppies for Sale story:
- Read the “Puppies for Sale” story to the class. Please speak loudly & slowly. Also, show expression as you read to help get the students interested.
- Ask the questions immediately following the story. You can create your own questions if you would like.
#3 – What would you do?
- Cut out the scenarios from the “What would you do?” handout.
- Ask for student volunteers to read the scenarios. If no one volunteers, please read for them.
- Ask students for input on what they would do in these situations. Try to think of two or three ideas for each scenario.
Closing
1. Why is it important to show compassion?
2. What will you do differently after today?
Puppies for Sale
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies for Sale.” Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign. “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” He asked.
The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. “I have $2.37,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”
The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?” The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. “That is the little puppy that I want to buy.”
The store owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.” The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.”
The store owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.”
To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands
Questions:
1)Why did the boy immediately seek out the slower puppy?
2)Why did the storeowner try to prevent the boy from buying the puppy?
3)Why was the boy adamant about paying full price for the puppy?
4)What lessons can be learned from the boy’s compassion for the puppy?
“What Would You Do?”
How can you show compassion in these situations????
- A student in the hallway drops his books and you overhear some other students laugh. What would you do?
- A student in your class has been out sick for several days. What would you do?
- A new student has joined your class. She is from another state and doesn’t know anyone at your school. You can tell she is nervous because she is not talking to anyone. What would you do?
- Your school or church is collecting items for a needy family in your community? What would you do?
- Your neighbor who lives alone has just had surgery and cannot walk for a few days. He has a dog that stays in the back yard. What would you do?