MORAL A Multimedia Teaching Approach in A Thematic-Learning Environment Nov / Dec 2006 Brought to you by: Our dedicated team of trainers A.L. Khoo, BSc. (UM) S.S. Tee, MEd. BSc. (UTM) P.Y. Loke, MSc. BSc. (USM)

Values: Moral beliefs and attitudes of a society Preferences or principles Preferences - personal choices that are subjective and able to be changed at any time. Principles - like honesty and compassion, are consistent, universal, transcultural and objective.

The greatest difference: Values of preference are something "to have“, in the same way as one may have a skateboard or a bag of marbles. Values of principle are something "to be“. The most important thing to be, like, honest, kind, compassionate and responsible.

Know, feel, behave… Knowing what it requires of one's relationship to others, eg. to be compassionate one must have moral knowledge, but that does not make one compassionate. Needs the addition of a moral feeling about compassion, being emotionally committed to it. Finally, one must behave with compassion; acting compassionately in one's personal relationships.

Why storytelling? To teach children realistic thinking. Effective in influencing the way our children think and behave Combined with your children's imaginations and the inestimable power of your presence, makes stories one of the best ways to influence their thinking.

Why use stories? To touch children on the level where it matters - the level of imagination. Imagination. The word comes from "image" - a mental picture. Plato said that children should be brought up in such a way that they will fall in love with virtue and hate vice. Stories, can create an attachment to goodness. The nature of stories enables us to "rehearse" moral decisions, strengthening our solidarity with the good. Books That Build Character by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanee Wolfe

Reading aloud… Stories create emotional attachment Stories provide a wealth of good examples Stories familiarise youngsters with the codes of conduct. Stories help to make sense out of life.

Example is always the best teacher - and what we do always overwhelms and overshadows and out-teaches what we say. But, while example is the prime teacher, close behind (and closely interrelated) are the methods of storytelling, games, role-playing, and imagination. Teaching Your Children Values by Linda and Richard Eyre

e-themes Moral story The text of the story enhanced by computer technology. It's formatted for the teacher’s reading and viewing, with easy-to-use buttons. It is enhanced with illustrations to make it more enjoyable. Following the story, have fun with the numerous follow-up activities that help anchor and reinforce the concepts that are fun for the whole family.

Follow-up activities… Questions about the story Daily practice Craft activities Quiet time/self-reflection Role-playing activity

Theme: My body Activity: Telling story with puppets Story: The dirty Doggy

Additional activities (Song) Melody: London Bridge Take a bath with shampoo and soap Shampoo and soap (2x) Take a bath with shampoo and soap Let us keep clean. *replace ‘Take a bath’ with ‘Wash your hands’

Brush your teeth day and night Day and night (2x) Brush your teeth day and night Let us keep clean. Comb your hair from root to end Root to end (2x) Comb your hair from root to end Let us keep clean.

Theme: Things that belong to me Activity: Rhyme chanting (Washington and the cherry tree) Washington found an axe, found an axe, found an axe. He was excited, excited, excited. He took up the axe and cut cut cut, chop chop chop. He cut down a cherry tree, a cherry tree, Whose cherry tree? Washington’s father was very angry Very very angry “Who cut my favourite tree?” (rough voice) Who who who

Theme: Activity: DIY stories

Theme: Food Activity: Role-playing session Practice good manners while taking food

Your turn now… Think of an activity to promote unity among your students. Unity is harmony within and among individuals in the group.