| Middle
School Lesson |
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| The
Chronicles of Narnia |
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| Understanding
Responsibility -- |
| Week
1 |
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| Before
this discussion, students should have completed chapters 1 - 5 of The
Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. |
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- Begin
the discussion by asking the students to describe each of the four siblings--their
personalities, actions, and relationships with one another.
- Share
the following definition of responsibility with the students: Being
dependable in carrying out duties and obligations. Showing reliability
and consistency in words and conduct. Being accountable for your own
actions.
- Discuss
the definition of responsibility, mentioning that responsible people
are often thought to be trustworthy. Discuss the connection between
trustworthiness and responsibility.
- In the
first five chapters, the trustworthiness of two characters, Edmund and
Lucy, is questioned. Read aloud the following passage from chapter 5:
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| "How
do you know," [the professor] asked, "that your sister's
story is not true?" |
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| "Oh,
but--"began Susan, and then stopped. Anyone could see from the
old man's face that he was perfectly serious. Then Susan pulled herself
together and said, "But Edmund said they had only been pretending." |
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| "That
is the point," said the Professor, "which certainly deserves
consideration; very careful consideration. For instance--if you will
excuse me for asking the question--does your experience lead you to
regard your brother or your sister as the more reliable? I mean, which
is the more truthful?" |
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| Use
the following discussion questions to help the students understand the connection
between trustworthiness and responsibility: |
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| 1.
Is this a fair question for the professor to ask? Can we judge how
responsible a person will be based on his/her past actions? |
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| 2.
How do the siblings know that Lucy is more responsible than Edmund?
What do responsible people do? |
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| 3.
If a person has a history of being irresponsible, can s/he change?
How? How could Edmund regain his siblings' trust? |
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| 4.
The discussion from questons two and three can lead to a discussion
of what it means to be a responsible student. How do responsible
students act? How can they earn the trust of their teachers and fellow
students? |
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| Assignment
for Week 2 |
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| Question
four foreshadows Edmund's eventual redemption...but he makes many mistakes
before he changes his ways. As students continue reading, ask them to pay
close attention to Edmund and the choices he makes. Why does he do what
he does? Is he a happy person? The students might be assigned to respond
to these questions in writing in preparation for the next meeting. They
might share their responses in small groups. |
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| Copyright
2002 |
| Lesson
created by Deborah Farmer |
| Center
for the Advancement of Ethics and Character |
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