TITLE: Be a Bridge Builder

The BIG Picture

AGE RANGE: age 6 - 11

Length of session: 60 mins

Objectives:

To introduce what “reconciliation” means.

To empower individuals to be contributors in reconciliation.

Learning Outcomes (Assessment For Learning):

All pupils will – be able to understand that they can choose actions which help build peace

Most pupils will – be able to reflect on which actions help and which don’t.

Some pupils will - be able to understand that making the first move towards building peace is risky and difficult

Engagement:

Key Words:

Friend
Reconciliation
Forgiveness

Learning Episode 1 English Language word play

In England we have the word “FRIEND” to describe someone we have a good relationship with – we respect them and
have affection for them.
• Write the word FRIENDS on the board.
• Go round the class. Each child says their name and one quality they want in a really good friend. Half way
round, change the activity so the other half have to think what quality they already have that makes them a good
friend.
(Ask some children to talk about things they DON’T want in a friend).
• Rub out the letter R on the board and ask the class what the word now says – FIENDS
In England the word “FIEND” is used to describe a very wicked or cruel person – it only takes one little thing for friends
to become fiends (the opposite of friends)

Learning Episode 2
Tell the bridge builder story (see powerpoint and story sheet)

Reflection
Ask the following questions:
• How do you think the brothers felt when they broke friends?
• Do you think they got more work done when they worked together or when they worked on their own?
• What did the older brother want the Carpenter to do when he came to his house?
• Do you think that would have helped his relationship with his brother?
• What did the Carpenter do instead?
• Why do you think he did that?
• Was it fair for him to do that when the brother wanted a wall?
 TITLE: Be a Bridge Builder

Learning Episode 3
Planning to Build Bridges of our own!

Intro: The Carpenter ‘physically’ built a bridge between the 2 brother’s farms, but when we break friends we need to
build bridges too – this is about trying to put the R back in! In fact, some people call this RECONCILIATION which is a
very long word but it basically means putting the R back in (which is why it starts with an R!).

• How can we do that?

• Is it easy to do? Even when we’re really sad about what they did?

Million Dollar Question

• This is a really tough question…Is it fair that we need to build a bridge?

Choosing to build a bridge is sometimes called ‘forgiving’ too.

Summary

Resources:
Bridge Builder Story sheet