Ethics, physical education, and psychology
I'm going to explode with anger!
Author: Edita Pilvinienė
School: Jonava Justinas Vareikis progymnasium
Lesson idea: To develop social and emotional competencies by deflating anger. The idea came while observing a physical education class.
Students performed various physical exercises outdoors: warming up, running around the stadium. Then the teacher gave each student a balloon and asked them to inflate it as much as they could, until they were no longer afraid of the explosion and the accompanying noise.
The balloon method can also be applied in ethics lessons when discussing emotions, especially anger. Learning to recognize and express one's anger assertively and non-aggressively is the healthiest way to deal with this emotion.
Ethics
In preparing the lesson plan, the technique of putting oneself in someone else's shoes was used.
Student reflection: "I got tired of blowing," "I even forgot that I was supposed to be angry," "when the balloon popped, it seemed like my anger popped too."
Ethics, Lithuanian language
Kristijonas Donelaitis, a Lithuanian literary classic – the guardian of ethics
Author: Vilma Kisielytė-Hancharyk
School: Dieveniškės "Rytas" gymnasium in Šalčininkai district
Intended for grade: 6
Lesson idea: To become acquainted with the first work of Lithuanian fictional literature, the historical circumstances of the poem's publication, and the author's personality. While reading excerpts from the work, answer the question: "What does it mean to live “viežlybai” - living with dignity?
Course of the lesson:
Students are presented with illustrations from K. Donelaitis's poem "The Seasons" and tasked with discussing what the poem might be about.
After dividing into groups, students are to select the most important facts and contributions of the writer's life from the provided website and present them to their classmates.
While reading an excerpt from the poem "The Seasons", students are asked to clarify the meaning of the word "slunkius" – sluggard.
I wish the winter had remained a longer while,
Or that we were sent here just to eat, drink, and sleep!
But now, Lord pity us, the summer time draws near
And summons us take up unwelcome loads of toil.
Ah, wellaway! Sad tears befill my weary eyes;
And that old wife of mine -you well know woman's ways -
Wears anger on her face and often sighs and cries.
So I, lamenting and forseeing joyless days,
I say to her, 'Dear Ma, for once try not to cry;
There is enough of time to do the work undone.
We know that an old wheel, which barely turns around,
Outlasts the new one, which keeps twirling round and round
And falls apart because of turning much too fast.
Even a stubborn horse, which hardly moves along,
Oft drags a heavy load to a more distant point
Than the brisk steed, which struts and jumps himself all out,
And oftentimes incurs a mishap needlessly.
And take the vender of the homemade axel grease;
He, on a squeaky wheel, just drags from town to thorp,
And yet he manages to earn a goodly coin.
So what of it, if some darn fool works on the run
And twists his aching brain, until his heart burns out!'
"My father, Kubas, all his life would never rush,
And e'en his father, Stepas, never favored haste.
My father many times, while lying drunk in bed
Wrapped up in an old coat, would curse and shout at us:
'You children must beware of modern ways and styles!
Keep living on the way your parents used to live.
Be wise; conserve your strength and never rush at work.
Be thrifty; learn to save while you are young and strong,
Then in your hoary age you will have good reserves.'
And so I took the wise advice of my old man,
And will repeat his words as long as I shall live."
After clarifying the meaning of the word "slunkius" - sluggard, students are invited to discuss how the “slunkius” justifies their laziness and to debate how we justify our own laziness.
A creative task is assigned: divide into groups of two, select a book from the children's fiction section of the library, and upon opening the first page encountered, identify all the adjectives within the allotted time. After selection, discuss among yourselves and decide which adjectives best describe the word "slunkius" – sluggard.
The concept of "viežlybumo" – virtuous, polite, good – is explored together. We summarize what it means to live "viežlybai – with dignity."
For homework, the method of limitations learned during the course is used to encourage creativity. Task: create a short comic (4–6 scenes) about how the “slunkius” (sluggard) justifies their laziness, using the adjectives selected during the lesson.
Ethics, arts
Giving voice to art pieces
Author: Vilma Vipartienė
School: Kelmė J. Graičiūnas gymnasium
Intended for grade: 9–10
Lesson idea: Students, working individually or in pairs, observing and analyzing artworks and drawing from their life experiences, learn to recognize and name emotions and feelings. The lesson plan is prepared using techniques of limitation and perspective-taking.
Lesson location: art gallery
Course of the lesson:
Students are given sheets introducing them to the exhibition's author, title, concept, and a brief description with tasks:
Task 1: Choose 3 favorite artworks: a painting depicting a landscape, a painting depicting a person, and a painting depicting architecture, and come up with titles for them using 3/5 words. One word must describe a feeling or emotion.
Task 2: Choose a painting that illustrates the student's hobbies or desires and briefly comment on their choice.
Task 3: Encourage students to imagine they are a writer and describe one chosen painting in the style of their favorite author. The text must mention at least 3 feelings or emotions.
Task 4: Choose a painting to which the student would like to travel. Justify their choice.
Task 5: Select a composition of sculptures or installations that appealed to them and create a short story about them.
Task 6: List 5 feelings and emotions reflected in the chosen sculpture.
Task 7: Evaluate the art gallery exhibition on a ten-point scale.
