Name________________________ Date_____________

Analyzing Children's Literature

You've said that children's books have many different pieces-pictures, morals, animals, words, humor-today we're going to look really closely at one of those pieces. Morals.
We're looking for answers (more than one) to a few questions:

  • What do morals do?
  • Do all children's stories teach a moral?
  • Do all children's stories teach the same moral(s)?
  • What morals do we find in stories?
  • Why these morals?

Let's start with a brainstorm. What morals might a book teach? What lessons do you think children need to know? Write out as many as you can think of in 3 minutes.


Now let's look really closely at one or two books that we've read…

Title of the book__________________________________________________

  • Did this book teach a moral?

  • Did this book have the same moral as The Runaway Bunny or The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Which?





  • What morals are taught in this story?








  • Why are two of these morals important?

    The moral ____________________________ is important because _________________________________.

    1.

    2.


Name________________________________ Date______________________


What would you want your child to know?

So, we have read a few stories with morals. You know that kids are curious and fun and imaginative and smart but inexperienced and silly and have fears of being punished or monsters under their bed. You are older. You know more about life. Now, I'm wondering, which morals or lessons do you think a child should be taught?

What should they be taught to keep them safe? And happy? And to get along with others? And become confident and successful?

Try for 10 of your own.

My list

1. Hold someone's hand when you cross the street
2. It's alright to cry
3. It's okay to be different

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