The Disorderly Day 
(Orderliness Lesson)
Elementary

Leader Hints: Think of how being orderly has helped you in your career and your life. Were there times you were disorderly that hurt you? Think of how other people's orderliness helped you. Think of how their disorderliness has hurt you. Your students need to know that orderliness is important to you. By jotting down these formative life experiences before the lesson, you'll have them to share during the discussion time.

Today we want to discuss "orderliness" Does anyone know what it is? (After some input, try to come up with a simple definition such as "Organizing your life to make it more fun." Write it on the board.)

Brainstorm: Orderly and Disorderly

(Put "Disorderly" on one side of the board and "Orderly" on the other side.) Give me as many examples of orderly and disorderly as you can. I'll write them on the board.

Story Time!

To understand the importance of orderliness, let's listen to a story. (Put them in a setting most conducive to listening to a story.)

I'll never forget the day that Messy Popkins arrived. It was early Fall, the first day that a brisk north wind had replaced the warm southern wind. I was the last one off the bus that day and just before opening the school door, something caught my eye. A small, pretty lady with a huge, red umbrella over her head was landing on the playground. That's right, landing. 

Holding the umbrella tightly with both hands, she plopped down onto the playground in front of the swing set. A stray dog wandered up close to sniff her, but ran away yelping when she shook her finger at him. She tucked in her shirt-tail and headed for the door as I ducked in just ahead of her. 

I didn't tell anybody, because I knew that nobody would believe me. But when I saw her walking toward our class, I just knew we were in for trouble. 

"Hi! I'm Messy Popkins," she said cheerfully. "I'm your substitute teacher. Now I do things a little differently, but if nobody tells on us, we will have lots of fun!"

The rest of the class squealed with delight, but I wasn't so sure. 

"First, take all your belongings from your desk - all of them. No, don't put them on your desk. Scatter them on the floor beside your desk." 

We all kind of looked at each other until Billy Bochers, the class clown, tipped his desk over, scattering all his belongings. 

"What's your name, child?" she asked. "B...B...Billy. Billy Bochers," he replied.

"Good boy!" She said. "A true leader! Come on class. We don't have all day. Get that stuff out of your desks and into the aisles. It's easier to find stuff when you can see it."

I have to admit. I was starting to have fun. It's like Miss Messy was just the opposite of any teacher I'd ever had. And it made sense. Whenever she asked for a reading book, I didn't have to look through my dark desk. It was right there on the floor!

But as the day went on, the problems started. Every time someone went to the bathroom or went to the board to write, things got scattered. My stuff got mixed up with Pedro's stuff and I suspected that Sean was using some of my crayons. Jill complained that somebody had stepped on her favorite pencil and broke it. 

But the big problems came in the lunch room. Miss Messy instructed us that lines were no fun and that we didn't have to be quiet and orderly. "Don't wait for the people in front of you," she said. "Just go up and get your food and sit wherever you want." 

So we all huddled around the entrance to the food line. Billy wormed his way up front and shouted as he got through the line first. "I'm gonna sit in the back of the cafeteria by the window," he bragged. He loved his new-found freedom.

Some of the bullies thought the pushing and shoving was great, but they almost got in fights with each other. With all the confusion, some  never got their food at all. 

Later, Miss Messy told us to head back to class for a party, so that those who missed lunch could at least eat a few cookies and a cup of milk. But someone spilled milk on my drawings and others got crumbs in their papers. 

Then Billy showed up. Since he didn't sit with the class for lunch, he didn't hear Miss Messy call the class. So he missed the party. Billy always tries to act big and tough, but I could tell he was disappointed that the milk and cookies were gone. "And where is my paper airplane?" he complained. Someone threw it at him from the other side of the classroom and it hit him in the face. Billy's face turned red with anger.

"Okay class," said Miss Messy. "How are things going? Isn't it fun not to be orderly?"

Billy was the first to raise his hand. "It was fun at first. But I didn't get any cookies. Tomorrow I'm sitting with the class during lunch."

"Someone stepped on my favorite picture," complained Pedro. "If it's okay, I'd rather keep my stuff in my desk."

"I didn't get lunch," said Sean. Next time I'd rather have a lunch line."

Miss Messy looked up at the clock and jumped up. "Your regular teacher will be back any minute! I must be off!" She hurried out the door, tripping over papers, erasers and books. 

When our regular teacher arrived, she looked shocked. "What happened here?!?" she asked.

We explained to her all about our messy day with Miss Messy. 

"That explains it," she said. Miss Messy is from the county office. They send her to teach classes the importance of orderliness. Did you learn your lesson?"

"Yes!!!" we all shouted. 

"But before we start cleaning up," I said, "can we all look out the window?" 

Sure enough, the wind had changed direction and Miss Messy was flying back home, holding tight to her umbrella, with her shirttail hanging out. 

Discussion

1. Why was it fun at first to be disorderly?
2. What problems did Miss Messy cause by being disorderly?
3. How does disorderliness hurt us? (Teacher: you may share personal examples.)
4. How does orderliness help us? (Teacher: you may share personal examples.)
5. What are some things we can do to be more orderly at school?
6. What are some things we can do to be more orderly at home?

Conclusion

Let's think today about how we can be more orderly. During the day, raise your hand when you have any ideas. And let us know when you see someone helping us to be more orderly. 

Options

Draw a Picture

If you have more time, have the children draw a picture from the story. As they draw, walk around the class and talk to them about their drawings. This is a great time to explore their feelings on orderliness and to reinforce good character.

Another Story for Later

Later in the week, read The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. Thing One and Thing Two were a lot like Miss Messy and could stir up more discussion on orderliness!

(Copyright November, 2007, Steve Miller and Legacy Educational Resources, www.character-education.info )