Why bats hang upside down – slides for teachers

How stories ignite values in children

What follows is a series of slides I used for a 90 minute workshop I presented to grade 1-3 teachers. The workshop was done first on 2 Feb 2010 in Cape Town and repeated on 9 Feb in Johannesburg. I did it in partnership with the Kids Development Academy. Thank you to them for a well put together experience! Thanks too to all the wonderful teachers who attended and participated with such enthusiasm.

The slides below will probably make more sense to the teachers who attended than to the casual net surfer who happen to come across them. If you have any questions, by all means contact me.

Outcomes

• Insight into the link between story and values
• Ideas for lessons
• An experience of the power of stry.

Building character

The link between stories and values

Between the head that understands and the hand that acts, lies the treacherous landscape of the heart.

Why bats hang upside down

The story

Reflection questions

• How many of you have felt like this in your life?.
• Close your eyes and think about bat hanging upside down weeping.
• What is he feeling?

Get the feelings expressed

• Draw this weeping upside down bat.
• Lets all pretend to be bats. What clever way can you use your bodies to look like upside down bats?
• Let’s close our eyes and think what a bat’s cry might sound like.
• Let’s right down the words that describe these feelings

Exercise

• Pretend that you are one of the animals or birds at the party and you heard about bat being thrown out.
• Make a card for bat to make him feel better
What can you draw/write to make him feel better?
• Put it aside for moment.

How values work – the story

Values diagram, simple

How values work – the theory

How values work, meaty

Counter reflection

• How many of you have been in Baboon or vulture’s shoes?
• How does it make you feel?
• Knowing how bat feels, does that change anything?
• Are there situation where kicking people out is important? Discuss/ find an appropriate story.

Stories hold up a mirror to your heart

Why use stories?

• Creates a safe space
• Brings distance for reflection
• Transforms abstract into concrete
• Participatory: involve entire person
• Purpose driven
• Particular to a community
• Communicate universally: symbols & archetypes
• Playful
• Learner centred

Final reflection

• What kind of person are you?
• What sort of class are we?
• Make a big painting/write the words/ create a song…

Why bats hang upside down – the story

Once upon a time before humans ruled the earth, animals reigned on the ground and in the tree trunks and birds reigned the sky and the tree tops Both animals and birds loved their world and loved who they were.
One day the animals decided to celebrate their ‘animalness’ and the word was spread across the land. When Bat heard the news he was very excited. He loved dressing up and he loved making friends. So, on the night of the party, he brushed his hair, gelled it with a bit of tree gum, cleaned his wings and set off. On the way he caught his reflection in a puddle and he winked at himself.
At the party he was just about to swagger in after the tall giraffe when a foot shot out and tripped him. Wait a minute’ said Big Baboon who was playing bouncer for the night. “You can’t come in”.
“Why not?” asked Bat surprised.
“Because you’re not an animal”, said Baboon, “you are a bird. Look at those wings and you only have two legs. OUT!”
“But I have fur and teeth. Look at me, I an animal”, pleaded bat.
“Nonsense”
“What about my ears?”
“Owls have ears and they are birds”
Bat tried a desperate dash through the door, but Baboon grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and threw him out. He landed on a wing and bruised it. Limping home bat began to cry. At home he sat on a branch and the tears just kept streaming. He cried so much that the branch on which he sat got wet and slippery and Whoops! He slipped round it, his feet still clinging and there he hung, upside down, weeping.
A few weeks later the birds had a party. They too wanted to celebrate their ‘birdyness’ and the words was spread. Again bat got excited. He loved dressing up and he loved making friends. Again he brushed his hair, gelled it with gum and cleaned his wings. He paid extra attention to his wings. As he slinked off he caught his reflection in a puddle and winked.
At the party e was just about to glide in after Little Sparrow when a curvy beak grabbed him from behind. It was Vulture who was the bouncer for the night “Wait a minute”, Vulture said, “You can’t come in”.
“Why not?” asked Bat surprised, this time he did not expect trouble.
“You are not a bird, look at you, you have fur and teeth.”
“But look at my wings” said bat confidently, and I have two legs. Clearly I am a bird.
“Nonsense” said vulture” you don’t fool me, look at those ears”
“Owls have ears” bat whimpered.
“Owls ears are just sticky outy feathers, not real ears. OUT!”
“But the animals say I am a bird” he tried one last time
“OUT!” Said vulture and flung him out with a strong talon.
Bat landed with a leg twisted in under his body and sprained it. Limping home bat began to cry. At home he sat on a branch and the tears just kept streaming. He cried so much that the branch on which he sat got wet and slippery and Whoops! He slipped round it, his feet still clinging and there he hung, upside down, weeping.
And now ever since, bat hang upside down because they are neither animals nor birds.

Flutes found in Gauteng

Our follow your own flute workshop this past Saturday was great fun and life changing as promised. Thank you Rachel, Johan, Joy, Lidia and Sharon for a memorable workshop. Your generosity of spirit and willingness to play made for a fun filled and meaningful experience.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received at the end shows us that we are addressing a deep felt need and doing it in a way that is non threatening, safe and enjoyable. The comment Johan made about how well the process is designed and how well integrated it is warmed my heart – aesthetics and learning, design and impact always go hand in hand.

Don’t forget the Improv Your Foxy Skills Workshop coming up this following weekend! This one is for people who want to stop analyzing and act with confidence in spite of change and uncertainty.

For those interested in the Follow your own flute reading material, you can read the following articles that I have just up loaded:

The story of the Black Prince that we used along with some comments on the versions we generated for the ending at the workshop.

Building character: an article about the elements that form part of the value system of both fictional and real characters,

I invite you to use it to expand on and refine your own value system so that you can act true to your own character in any given situation. Amidst the kakophonie of noise out there, it is essential to get to know your unique melody and follow your own flute.