1. 1 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 1 Today’s Gem Choosing Success, Choosing Life Susan Mejia Johnson

2. 2 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 2 Why Animals Steal … and People CAN’T!

3. 3 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 3 Mini Lesson Objectives 1. Discuss why animals steal 2. Think of the many consequences to theft 3. Discover why stealing is not only against the law, but against all of the things that make humans the “leader of the pack.”

4. 4 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 4 Animal Theft Animal Stealing Video (click on the picture to view the video)

5. 5 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 5 Choose the scene that seemed funniest to you?… here are a few With the group discuss… Why did the theft occur? Who was the vicitm?. List the consequences of the theft to the victim. What are the characteriestics of an animal’s capacity to make choices? What characteristics does the human mind have to help them make better choices? - list answers to this point on next slide.

6. 6 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 6 Lesson Learned Activity 1. Example: Few species other than man have a Cerebral Cortex 2. Our Cerebral cortex allows us to put together all the parts of our brain - acknowledging the emotional part (ex. I want that baby’s pacifier for myself) but balancing that “emotional need” w/our “human capacity” for reasoning and the difference between right and wrong - (I want it, but stealing the baby’s pacifier it is not an option. 3.4.5.6.

7. 7 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 7 Human Uniqueness The brain is the organ that sets us apart from any other species. It is not the strength of our muscles or of our bones that makes us different, it is our brain. The brain is the organ that sets us apart from any other species. It is not the strength of our muscles or of our bones that makes us different, it is our brain. —Pasko T. Rakic

8. 8 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 8 Apply it to yourself! My bet is each and every one of us have seen something that “emotionally” we really want, but it belongs to someone else. The humanness of us is what helps us realize that “wanting something emotionally” does not change the fact that the “something” belongs to someone else. In the large group share some stories about people we know who have been the victim of a theft (burglary, mugging) where the consequence to the victim was severe either financially or emotionally. Don’t share names, just the story.

9. 9 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 9 The Point So…while emotionally we may want something that is not our own - our human civilization demands we DO NOT steal. If that’s not enough, here’s 3 more reasons not to steal: It’s against the law. There are substancial legal consequences for theft. Mom, grandma and your kindergarten teacher would be REALLY sad and disappointed.

10. 10 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 10 Teach others- With your team either write a 3 minute scene or create a poster showing how you would teach this concept to a 3rd grade class – Animals sometimes steal; humans are smart; we have problems solving brains far superior to other species and so don’t need to resort to stealing; humans also recognize the impact their choice has on others. They respect others and treat others as they wish to be treated themselves. Remember - Make sure the message you send makes it clear - humans as leader of the pack do NOT steal.

11. 11 12/09 ©2009, Choosing Success, Choosing Life - Mini Lesson 11 Apply it to others! Think of your choices and the impact they have on others. All of us have a great deal of power to influence our world – Tip: make sure your influence is positive. Watch for a chance to positively impact the life of someone. Bring back your story next week.