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Elementary
Lesson
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The
Empty Pot:
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| A
lesson about integrity |
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The
Empty Pot (Demi, 1990) can be used to
discuss the importance of integrity. The lesson is based on the
Internalizing Virtue Framework.
Summary
-- Demi's tale is set in ancient China. The wise emperor is growing
old and must choose a replacement for his crown. The flower-loving
ruler devises a task for the children of China and announces that
the most successful participant will be made his successor. Each
child is given a seed to see who can grow the most beautiful flower.
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Ping, who is an outstanding gardner, has little doubt he will grow a great
flower for the emperor. However, despite his great care and attention, Ping's
seed will not grow. |
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the day finally arrives and the emperor orders all of the children to bring
their flowers to be inspected, Ping is saddened to see so many children
rushing by with their beautiful flowers. Ping is ashamed. He has nothing
to show. He approaches his father for advice. His father tells him that
his pot, although lacking a beautiful flower, is sufficient; he had done
his best, and he must tell the truth. So young Ping goes to the village
with his empty pot. |
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emperor looks sadly at the beautiful flowers before him. At last he approaches
Ping. He asks Ping why his pot is empty. Ping explains that he did his best
to grow the flower but it just would not grow. |
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emperor smiles and exclaims that he has found his replacement. He reveals
that all of the seeds he had given to the children were COOKED and therefore
could not grow. The test was not to find the greatest gardener, but a child
with the integrity needed to rule wisely in China. |
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| Awareness |
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Discuss
the maxim "honesty is the best policy" with the class. Have
the students ever heard this phrase before? What does it mean to them?
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| Understanding |
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Read
The Empty Pot to the class, stopping at different intervals in the
narrative to ask the following questions.
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- What
did Ping think about the contest to grow the most beautiful flower at
the beginning of the story?
- Has Ping
tried his best to help the seed to grow? How do you know?
- What
does Ping think of his friend's suggestion to take another flower to
the emperor? What do you think he should do?
- Do you
think Ping's father gave him good advice?
- Why do
you think the emperor seems unhappy with all the beautiful plants?
- What
had the emperor done? Why?
- Do you
think Ping was the best choice for emperor? Why?
- What
do we mean when we say Ping showed integrity?
- What
is integrity? In what ways did Ping show integrity?
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| Action |
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- Ask students
to make posters illustrating moments times when Ping showed integrity.
- Challenge
students to create a class "integrity" pledge. This pledge
should be posted in the classroom and referred to throughout the year.
- Help
students to create a bibliography of books that remind them to act with
integrity
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| Reflection |
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- Ask students
to evaluate the importance of sharing a story like The Empty Pot
with other children their age. Would they recommend that other teachers
or parents read this story to second graders? Why?
- Ask students
to consider whether or not they would want a friend to have integrity.
How would they know if a friend had integrity?
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Copyright
2002
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| Center
for the Advancement of Ethics and Character |
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