The spots and the dots by Helen Baugh and Marion Deuchars

 


Lesson plan to explore racist attitudes and prejudice

Year 3/ Year 4/ Year 5

Text: The spots and the dots by Helen Baugh and Marion Deuchars

Lesson plan by Andrew Moffat

Enquiry Question: Y2: Why are some people scared of difference?

Y3/ Y4: What is prejudice and where does it come from?

Starter: You want to keep the surprise in the book so be careful not to reveal the back of the book when you hold up the front.

Consider the title – how are spots and dots similar, how might spots and dots be different?

Main: Read, “The spots and the dots” up to the middle page and then act confused as you continue and realise the text is upside down. Say you think the publishers must have made a mistake… then realise the pictures are the same… the aim is for the children to realise what has happened and that the book can be read from two viewpoints and comes to the same conclusion.

Then discuss:

-          Why are the spots and dots scared of each other?

-          Where does that fear come from?

-          What happens as a result of that fear of difference; how does it affect the lives of the spots and dots?

-          “Nobody knew what the spot tribe would do but everyone knew spots were bad through and through” consider this line; why is this about prejudice? What does ignorance mean?

-          What happens to change the fear?

-          “The world started changing in front of their eyes” how? What does this mean?

-          Is there a message in this story? What can we learn from the spots and dots?

Activity: Write a diary entry for the baby spot (or dot) about the day when their world changed. What did they do, how did they feel at first and what happened? Include the line, “The word stared changing in front of my eyes!” and explain how and why. Finish the diary entry by saying what the spot / dot is going to do tomorrow now that they are no longer frightened of the other.

Plenary: why do you think the author chose to use spots and dots, why didn’t they use squares and triangles or real people?

What can we learn from this story? Why is this about No Outsiders?

What is racism and where do racist attitudes come from? What can we do to challenge fear, ignorance and racist ideas?

Why is this story about No Outsiders?

 

 

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