There was a man, Chirobo, who had so much wisdom people were always dropping in. He would stop what he was doing and talk to them. He was so wise no one seemed to care he was blind.

A stranger came by and Chirobo showed him kindness. He asked if there was something he could do for Chirobo in return. Chirobo asked to go hunting with him. The stranger didn’t want to take him at first but then he conceded. Chirobo knew how to see in different ways besides his through his eyes. He knew when a leopard, warthogs, and rhinos were near. ( He could tell through his ears, nose, and skin. ) This knowledge helped them avoid trouble.

They set the traps for the birds and came back the next day. Chirobo’s trap had a large duck while the stranger’s trap had a small quail. The stranger told Chirobo his trap had the small quail. On the way home the younger man asks Chirobo why people fight. He said because people try to take what is not theirs just like you have done to me. Chirobo knew the man had lied to him.

Lesson for Character Education

Honesty

The stranger lied when he told Chirobo that the smaller bird was his. Even though Chirobo couldn’t see he knew the man lied. How do you think Chirobo knew?

Leadership

People were always seeking Chirobo out. There had to be a reason while people flocked to his house. It was not because he was blind and couldn’t do anything.

When people seek you out you are a leader. You don’t get to be a leader by cheating people. He might not have been able to see with his eyes but he saw in other ways. If your children can learn to see people in different ways they can learn to be a leader.

Enjoy your time with your child, and remember a great way to “Inspire-Your-Kids” is to read with them.

 
Natasha is visiting her grandmother, Babushka. She wants her Babushka to swing her, give her a ride in the goat cart, and feed her right away. She does not want to wait for anything. While they are eating lunch Natasha ask if she could play with Babushka’s doll.

Babushka told Natasha she could play with the doll while she was at the store. When Babushka left the doll came to life and demanded Natasha to play with her. Natasha thought it was fun at first. Then the doll became more and more demanding just like she was being towards her grandmother. She realizes that she didn’t like it.

Lessons for Character Education

Relationships

Natasha demanded that her Babushka play with her while she was working. She gets a taste of her own medicine when the doll comes to life and demands things from her.

All relationships need to be mindful of the other person. If you were to demand and demand something and not give anything back in return, after a while that person will get tired and will not want to be around you. We need to treat others with kindness.

There is a saying you reap what you sow. It means what you do to other people is what someone will do it you. Babushka did not do to Natasha what she did to her but Natasha still had the same thing happen to her through the doll.

Enjoy your time with your child, and remember a great way to “Inspire-Your-Kids” is to read with them.

After a fire in their apartment destroyed everything they owned.  The mother, grandmother and daughter moved into a new apartment, family and friends brought them lots of things they needed. But they were still lacking a big chair that they could cuddle in. So they started saving up all their change.

Finally the day came when their jar was full they took their change and converted it into paper money. They went out, found the perfect chair, bought it, and when it was set up in their apartment, they cuddled in it.

Lessons for Character Education

Goals

The little girl, her mother and her grandmother all had a goal: to get a big comfy chair. They saved and saved for a year until they were able to buy the right chair.

Social Responsibility

This lady and her daughter had a fire in their apartment. Family and friends helped by giving them the things they needed. It is our responsibility to help others when they are in need.

What can you and your family do to help someone? 

Enjoy your time with your child, and remember a great way to “Inspire-Your-Kids” is to read with them.

This is a cute little book the only words are a recipe and some signs.  You know what the lady is thinking through the illustrations. She wakes up, washes, and thinks about eating pancakes. She gets out the flour then realizes that she needs some eggs, so she goes to the chicken coop. Then she realizes she needs milk so she goes out to milk the cow.  Next she needs to turn the butter. Finally she realizes that she doesn’t have any maple syrup. She when she leaves to buy some syrup while the cat and dog are in the house. When she gets home the cat and dog have destroyed the ingredients to make pancakes. She is discouraged. But she smells pancakes being cooked next door. So she goes over there and invites herself to breakfast.

The plaque on her wall says, If at First you don’t succeed Try, Try, again.

 The lady faced several problems. At first she is missing some ingredients then her cat and dog spill them. So she couldn’t fix the pancakes. But she still found a way to get some pancakes. 

Lessons for Character Education

Goal Setting

This lady had a goal. 

Problem Solving

Her goal was to have pancakes for breakfast. But she encountered obstacles after obstacle.

What were her obstacles? (Hint 4 of them)

Perseverance

The lady didn’t let her circumstances discourage her. She looked at her messy house and found another way to reach her goal.

It is ok to get help if you need it as long as you keep moving forward no matter what the obstacles are you will eventually arrive at your goal even if it is not the way you originally started.

Enjoy your time with your child, and remember a great way to “Inspire-Your-Kids” is to read with them.

There was a man, Chirobo, who had so much wisdom. People were always dropping by so he would stop what he was doing to talk to them. No one seemed to remember he was blind.

When a stranger came by Chirobo showed kindness him. He asked if there was something he could do for Chirobo in return. Chirobo asked to go hunting with him. The stranger didn’t want to take him at first but then he agreed. Chirobo knew how to see in other ways besides his eyes. He knew when a leopard, warthogs, and rhinos were near. ( He could tell through his ears, nose, and skin. ) This knowledge helped them avoid trouble.

They set the traps for the birds and came back the next day. Chirobo’s trap had a large duck while the stranger’s trap had a small quail. The stranger told Chirobo that his trap had the small quail. On the way home the younger man asks Chirobo why people fight. He said because people try to take what is not theirs just like you have done to me. Chirobo knew the man had lied to him.

Lesson for Character Education

Honesty

The stranger lied when he told Chirobo that the smaller bird was his. Even though Chirobo couldn’t see he knew the man lied. He could tell by the way he was acting. People often act differently when they are lying.   

Leadership

Even though Chirobo was blind people were always seeking him out. There had to be a reason while people flocked to his house. You don’t get wisdom by cheating people. He saw not through his eyes but by other ways. He was always aware of what was going on around him. This is a skill that anyone can learn even your children.

Enjoy your time with your child, and remember a great way to “Inspire-Your-Kids” is to read with them.

You can do a topic a week. With each topic, there are four activities. If you request we will send you a coloring book that you can copy for your students. That way you can read the book together. You can have them color as you discuss the questions. And you will be instilling values in them to help them in their lives.

Thank you for your dedication to your students. You have the ability to touch so many lives. It is not an easy job, but it is so important.

_______________________________________________________

I used five copies of “The Hidden Swan” with my middle and high first grade students. They loved the book, remarking on how it reminded them of “The Ugly Duckling.” We worked with the first few pages of questions and they gave very insightful responses.
They really liked the coloring pages and wanted to know if they could color them. Several wished that the book was in the “dollar store.”
They were so surprised and grateful when they each got a complete copy of the “coloring book.” They couldn’t wait to get home and share the book with their parents.

Nancy Crenshaw
1st grade teacher
Will Beckley ES