Fairness
Reception: Fairness does not always mean everyone getting the same thing.
Core Story:
The Little Red Hen, a Russian folktale. In this story the Little Red Hen finds some seeds and decides to grow some wheat to make into bread. At every stage the Little Red Hen asks her farmyard friends to help her and each time they decline... that is until she asks who would like to help her eat the bread! Then all the farm animals want to help, but the Little Red Hen eats it all by herself.
Note: The Little Red Hen lends itself very well to a ‘Talk 4 Writing’ approach.
Drawing out the virtue
Fairness does not always mean everyone getting the same thing.
Is it fair that the animals all expect to eat the bread that none of them have helped to make?
Is it fair for the Little Red Hen not to share her bread?
Activity 1: Fairness Scenarios
Discuss the following scenarios:
It’s Rachel’s birthday. Should her brother also get a present?
All the toys are out on the carpet. Your job was on the desk writing so you’ve tidied up all ready and are standing waiting and watching the others. Should you help?
Your bedroom has been messy for ages and your parents have been asking you to tidy it. You get home to find your dad has tidied the whole house, including your bedroom. What will you do?
Umar is learning the violin so his granny buys him a violin. Should Granny also buy a violin for his little sister? (it will even out in the end)
Leo won the running race. Should everyone share his medal?
Activity 2: Dishing up the Peas!
Ask the class to imagine they and their brother or sister are at home watching mum serve the supper. She spoons peas onto 2 plates. How do we know if the plates have the same number of peas? Ask the class what you should do, highlighting the fact that of course no parent is going to count out each pea to make sure each child has exactly the same number! Explain that across a lifetime of eating peas some days you get a few more and some days you get a few less. The parent loves both children, and the children know that so they don’t need to count the peas on their plate. This can be linked to love and kindness because if you love other people, you should be happy if they get one more pea!
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Classroom Language |
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You have explained why something is fair/unfair very well and given excellent reasons.
Fairness is about treating people equally but not always the same – different people sometimes need different things.
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Library books
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Beaky the Greedy Duck (Ladybird classic)
Denver by David McKee