Loyalty Lesson II

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Looking for Loyalty
(Lesson for K-3)

Purpose: To motivate my students to loyalty in their relationships.

Hints for Presenters: Students like to know of your personal experiences with loyalty. Think of times when you've been loyal to a friend or employer. Think of times when people have been either loyal or disloyal to you. How did you feel? Could any of these personal illustrations be used in this lesson?

Introduction

Discussion: Defining Loyalty

What does it mean to be "loyal"? Allow students to discuss, coming up with a working definition on the board, something like: "Staying true to your friends, school or country, even when it's hard." Why is it good to be loyal?

1. The Importance of Loyalty

Activity: Learning to Lean

Divide into groups of 6 or 8 - it must be an even number. Ask each group to stand in a circle holding hands (or holding wrists, to make it stronger) and count off in order, one, two, one, two. Instruct the students: "When I say 'Go!' all the "ones" lean forward while the "two's" lean back. Hold on tightly so that you'll support each other from falling." Next, ask them to reverse: the ones leaning forward to lean backward and the ones leaning backward to lean forward. (For K-3 you may wish to start with one group, with all the other students watching. Then, organize a second circle to do the same. In this way, adults and responsible students can stand close to the circle to make sure nobody falls.)

Debriefing - Was it hard for you to trust the others to hold you when you leaned forward and back? How many of you were a little scared? Why is it important to be able to trust the people who are holding on to you? If a person's loyal to you, will he or she hold you tightly? Why is it important to be loyal to others?

2. What Loyalty Looks Like

Film Clip or Read Along: Beauty and the Beast

Show the part where Bel learns of her father's need and the Beast releases her to go. Then, skip to the part where Bel returns, just in time to give the Beast the motivation he needs to fight for his life. Run it through the happy ending.

Debriefing: How was Bel loyal to the Beast? (She returned just like she promised she would.) What would have happened to the beast had she not been loyal and stayed at home? (The Beast would have died.) Was it easy or hard for Bel to be loyal? (Hard. It would have been easier to stay home and be like everyone else.) How did life turn out better for Bel because of her loyalty to the Beast? (The Beast turned back into a handsome prince and they lived happily ever after.)

(Alternate clip for older elementary or teens: Use a clip toward the end of the first "Star Wars," where Han Solo is about to leave in his ship, rather than battle the Evil Empire at the Death Star. Luke and Princess Leia are obviously disappointed, but Leia says that he must go his own way. At this point, Solo has decided to not remain loyal to his friends. Fast forward to where Luke and the other fighter pilots are battling the Death Star. Luke is coming in to make a final approach, with enemies at his tail. Almost certainly he will be destroyed by their fire. But suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, someone fires on the enemy to give him time to attack. It was Solo, who had changed his mind and remained loyal after all. Keep rolling till Luke destroys the Death Star and the battle is won. Discuss the value and risk of loyalty.)

3. How to Be Loyal in Real Life

True Story

Benji was worried. He came home after Kindergarten and told his dad, "I've got a problem. I'm friends with a kid in school, but my other friends don't like him. They think he's fat and don't want to hang around him. I don't want to ignore him at recess; but I don't want to lose my other friends either."

Discussion: If you were Benji's dad, what would you have suggested?

Benji's dad said, "What if you were the boy? What would you feel like if you had no friends?" Benji thought he'd feel pretty bad. His dad continued, "Why don't you keep playing with him and your other friends at recess and just see what happens."

Discussion: What do you think happened?

Benji kept playing with his unpopular friend, and his other friends ended up not caring. They didn't reject Benji. Benji remained loyal to his friend.

Summary and Action

Benji did the right thing and ended up with more friends. Bel in the movie did the right thing and saved the beast's life, transforming all the magical characters back into people. Loyalty helps others and helps us. Let's determine this week to be loyal to our school, our teachers and our friends.