Words can hurt – or heal | TeachingEnglish | British Council

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Words can hurt – or heal

Submitted by bsanja on 6 February, 2012 - 22:34

I've used this activity several times since I first discovered it on Education World site, where Gary Hopkins generously shared it. It is a lesson to teach

how unkind words can hurt ;
words for an apology.

Before the lesson you need to cut out a silhouette of a person, using construction paper, avoiding any gender or race specific characteristics.

At the beginning of the lesson I introduce Greenie as a new classmate. Students laugh and notice how different Greenie is and admit they would tease and pick on somebody like Greenie. I invite them to speak openly.When they say something mean, I rip a part of Greenie's body and give it to a student. They wonder what to do with it, but it doesn't stop others thinking of even meaner words to say.

After everyone has had a chance, we talk about what we have done. Students see the tape on my desk and want to tape Greenie back together. We first agree that our words hurt Greenie and we must apologize. Every student thinks of appropriate words to say while reattaching the pieces.

No matter how hard we try, Greenie is not the same. I lead students to the understanding that scars never go away when we hurt someone's feelings.

Students write about what we have learned. I always leave Greenie on the classroom wall for a few days.

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Comments

oztrkozge

Dear bsanja,That's a great

Submitted on 6 February, 2012 - 23:16

Dear bsanja,

That's a great activity which can be used with all age groups. Actually, I loved the idea behind the game, we should teach our students something related to life, as well. They will get the big message while playing. As a follow-up activity, you can let your students make new greenie and find all the positive adjectives for the new one :)

Keep writing,

bsanja

A follow-up activity

Submitted on 6 February, 2012 - 23:55

Thank you, oztrkozge. It is a very good idea to do a follow-up activity with Greenie.

merveoflaz

nice activity

Submitted on 7 February, 2012 - 01:18

I love the Greenie activity. Thank you.

Victoria Kamchatka

a great empathy-compassion

Submitted on 7 February, 2012 - 02:40

a great empathy-compassion lesson! I would ask Ss: How would you feel if you were Greenie?

lemanulas

@bsanja

Submitted on 7 February, 2012 - 07:35

Dear bsanja,I agree with Victoria and same ideas:

a great empathy-compassion lesson! I would ask Ss: How would you feel if you were Greenie?

Nice activity,,thanks...

anahit1

Good activity

Submitted on 7 February, 2012 - 09:25

Dear Bsanja, I liked the activity, because It develops not only Ss skills and knowledge ,but also adopts them for life .

nahla_shaw

thanks

Submitted on 7 February, 2012 - 12:55

Dear Bsanja,

I love the idea. Compassion and love for others is something that we must make our students aware of and this activity is perfect to show that scars are always there.

Thanks again :)