Lesson Plan 1
“We and They”
Lesson 1
(1 lesson)
Overall Key Questions:
What are the factors that shape our identity?
How can identity be used to include or exclude us from membership in various groups?
The lesson below provides a good opportunity to begin to explore how the perceptions we have of others can affect our behaviour. The lesson could also be adapted as a homework exercise or as a quick reading and discussion exercise in class.
Little things are big
Key Questions:
How can identity be used to include or exclude us from membership in various groups?
What are the factors that shape how we see others? (Creating the `other’.)
How does a society determine who belongs and who is excluded?
How do physical differences become powerful social divisions that
affect what we believe is possible for others and ourselves?
How do the perceptions we have of ourselves and of others affect the choices we make?
Resources
Step 1
- Begin by reading the story, Little things are big to the class, stopping at the point highlighted in the story.
Step 2
- Ask learners to discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups:
What dilemma does the narrator face?
What risks does he perceive if he tries to help the woman?
Would the dilemma have been different if the woman had been in danger?
If the incident had taken place during the day?
What do you think he will do? Why?
- Discuss the answers as a class.
Step 3
- Finish reading the story to the class.
- Discuss the following questions with the class:
What labels does Jesus place on the groups to which he belongs?
What labels does he place on other groups?
How did those labels shape the way he perceived his choices and the decision he made?
Why does he have regrets?
Did he make the right choice?
Who is the victim in this story-Colon, the woman, or the larger society?
Step 4
- Ask learners, in small groups, to discuss a time when they treated someone differently (or saw someone being treated differently) because of how they saw the person or how they saw themselves (give learners the choice of speaking about this anonymously).
- Discuss these situations as a class.
Step 5
- Conclude this lesson by asking each group to think of one or two lessons that have been learnt so far (lessons about themselves, how we treat people, how we see each other, etc).
- If possible keep a record of these lessons on the board or on a sheet of paper that can be displayed in the classroom.
