The Tales of Turnabout Farm CD-ROM

Subject: Citizenship
Level: Primary
Age Group: General
Order Number: 13062

A Citizenship Course for 4-7year-old children.

These twelve amusing stories are named after the twelve months of the year, each focusing on an aspect of anti-social behaviour, the theme. The aim is to respect one-another and foster good relationships for living and working together. Suggested discussion points, ideas and worksheets accompany each story, which is independent within the set, allowing flexibility. The course should be started at the beginning of the school year, reading the stories chronologically and using the themes as a behaviour target for each month. In addition, several aspects in the stories link to other seasonal topics. The ‘Tales’, followed by a discussion, enable children to deepen their understanding of relationships and ponder over unacceptable behaviour, some of which they will have encountered in their own lives.

I feel young children will relate more easily to the gentle, yet positive messages, contained in these stories by using both animals and people. When the problem is recognised by a character in the story, it becomes less embarrassing and personal. A change in bad habits is not an overnight miracle so concentrating on one aspect for the month, monitoring progress, and re-visiting the story/theme in subsequent weeks and months, will help each individual. The ethos of the school and its’ anti-bullying policy will be strengthened from an early age. By realising that each one of us is unique and special in our present-day global world, which is reflected in our communities, we can discover the values that make for a caring and co-operative society.

Once purchased, the CD can be freely copied and networked throughout the school.