Faith CoLab: Tapestry of Faith: World of Wonder: A Program on the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism for Grades K-1

Activity 3: Animal Altruism Stories and Dramatic Role Plays

Part of World of Wonder

Activity time: 25 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Leader Resource 1, Animal Altruism Stories
  • Optional: Computer with Internet access and a large monitor or a digital projector other medium for showing video clips of animal altruism listed in Alternate Activity 1

Preparation for Activity

Description of Activity

Children hear real-life examples of animals acting altruistically and consider whether this might be motivated by kindness. Recognizing emotions, empathy, and kindness are all fostered as participants role play and discuss the stories.

Read a story from Leader Resource 2, Animal Altruism Story. Show any relevant video clips. When you have finished ask for volunteers to act the story out. You may wish to read the story again as the children act it out.

Before each role play, ask each volunteer to name what they think their character (human or animal) might have been feeling.

After each role play, process with questions such as:

  • I wonder, if you were the animal in this story, what would you feel?
  • I wonder how the person or animal in danger was feeling.
  • I wondered why they decided to help.
  • I wonder if animals feel kindness.
  • I wonder if any of these stories surprised you or made you feel a big "wow" of awe and amazement.
  • I wonder how kindness is important in the web of life.