Lesson Plan: Homeless Man and his Friends
Subject: English Literature
Class: 8th Grade
Duration: 45 minutes
Topic: Supplementary Reader - "Homeless Man and his Friends" (Unit 6)
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the teacher aims to help students:
- Understand the concepts of compassion, sacrifice, and loyalty
- Analyze the relationship between humans and animals based on mutual care
- Recognize that true wealth lies in relationships, not material possessions
- Develop reading comprehension through a real-life inspiring story
- Learn about the principle of reciprocity in kindness
- Build vocabulary related to homelessness, compassion, and animal care
- Appreciate that everyone deserves dignity and respect regardless of their circumstances
- Understand the theme "what goes around comes around" through kindness
2. Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Show compassion toward homeless people and stray animals in their community
- Share what they have even when they have little, prioritizing others' needs
- Treat animals kindly and recognize their capacity for loyalty and love
- Value relationships over material possessions in their lives
- Not judge people by their economic or social status
- Practice selflessness by putting others' needs before their own comfort
- Build meaningful connections with people and animals through consistent kindness
- Understand reciprocity - that kindness returns to us in unexpected ways
3. Introduction (5 minutes)
Engaging Questions:
- "Have you ever seen stray dogs in your neighborhood? How do you feel about them? Do you feed them?"
- "What do you think it means to be homeless? What challenges do homeless people face?"
- "Would you share your food if you were very hungry yourself? Why or why not?"
- "Do you think animals can feel love and loyalty like humans? Have you experienced this?"
- "What do you think is more valuable—having lots of money and things, or having true friends who care about you?"
4. Reading and Understanding (8 minutes)
New Vocabulary with Meanings:
| Word | Meaning | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Homeless | Having no place to live; without a home | César was a homeless man living on the streets |
| Sacrificed | Gave up something valuable for someone else | He sacrificed his own food to feed the dogs |
| Stray | Homeless animals wandering without an owner | He fed the stray dogs around him |
| Boomerang | Something that returns to you; here, kindness returning | His kindness came back like a boomerang |
| Loyalty | Faithfulness and devotion to someone | The dogs showed incredible loyalty |
| Forgoing | Going without; giving up | He had been forgoing his meals to feed them |
| Reciprocal | Given or felt by both sides equally | The exchange was reciprocal |
| Canines | Dogs (formal/scientific term) | The faithful canines waited anxiously |
| Kin | Family members; relatives | He had no kin to turn to |
| Trailing | Following behind | The dogs were trailing behind him |
5. Mind Map
HOMELESS MAN AND HIS FRIENDS
|
┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
│ │ │
CÉSAR'S THE DOGS' THE LESSON
KINDNESS LOYALTY LEARNED
│ │ │
┌───┴───┐ ┌────┴────┐ ┌────┴────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
Homeless Sacrificed Four Waited True Kindness
man own food dogs at wealth returns
│ │ showed hospital │ like
Lives To feed up entrance Not boomerang
on stray │ │ material │
street dogs Worried Anxious possessions Reciprocal
│ │ about for his │ exchange
Has Often their safe Measured │
disease stopped master return by Love &
│ eating │ │ companions sacrifice
Went to │ Followed Well │ mirrored
hospital Just to him taken Who back
at 3 AM feed │ care of stand │
│ them Reunited │ by you Hospital
Staff │ with him Wagging │ staff
didn't Even after tails Despite showed
know when treatment │ having compassion
him hungry │ Happy few │
│ himself Allowed to be things Let dogs
Four │ inside with │ inside
dogs Saved hospital him Never │
appeared food │ │ alone Offered
│ from Loved Faithful │ food
Waiting hospital their companions Warm & │
for him for them master │ loving César
│ │ │ │ saved
THEME: │ │ │ food
SELFLESS │ │ HUMANITY for dogs
LOVE │ │ & DIGNITY │
│ │ │ Staff
Loyalty Devotion Compassion admired
proven shown for all respect
│ │ beings & love
Actions Love │
speak returned Everyone
louder deserves
respect
6. Consolidation and Presentation (8 minutes)
Summary of the Lesson:
"Homeless Man and his Friends" is a heartwarming true story from Rio do Sul, Brazil, that beautifully illustrates the power of selfless love, loyalty, and the reciprocal nature of kindness. The narrative proves that true wealth is not measured in material possessions but in the quality of relationships we build.
César's Sacrifice: The story centers on César, a homeless man living on the streets who regularly sacrificed his own food to feed stray dogs around him. Despite facing hunger, cold, and the daily struggles of homelessness, César consistently put the needs of these animals before his own. He would often go without meals just to ensure the dogs had something to eat—an extraordinary act of compassion from someone who had so little himself.
The Medical Emergency: At 3 A.M., César arrived at the hospital emergency room seeking treatment for a disease he was battling. Nurse Cris Mamprim and her colleagues initially knew nothing about César or his background. However, they soon discovered something remarkable—four dogs had followed César to the hospital and were anxiously waiting at the entrance. These faithful canines refused to leave, worried about their master who had shown them such consistent kindness.
The Dogs' Loyalty: The dogs' behavior demonstrated their incredible loyalty and love for César. Despite being former strays, these animals had formed a deep bond with the man who had cared for them. They waited patiently throughout his treatment, proving that animals are capable of profound gratitude and devotion. The nurses learned that these dogs were well-taken care of, despite César's own dire circumstances—he had literally been forgoing his own meals to feed them.
Witnessing Reciprocal Love: Nurse Mamprim was so moved by this display of mutual love that she photographed the scene and shared it on Facebook, commenting on the beautiful reciprocity between César and his companions. She noted that this "simple person, without luxury, who depends on help to overcome the hunger, cold, pain, the evils of the world, has by his side the best companions, and the exchange is reciprocal."
Hospital's Compassionate Response: The hospital staff demonstrated their own compassion by allowing the dogs inside the hospital after giving César his medication, not wanting to keep him separated from his loyal companions. When they offered food to César, he ate some but characteristically saved a portion to give to the dogs later—even in his moment of need, he continued to prioritize their wellbeing.
The Deeper Message: The story concludes with Mamprim's observation that despite having no material possessions and no family (kin) to rely on, César was never alone because he had his warm and loving companions. The analogy perfectly captures the essence: "Kindness in this story acts like a mirror; the love and sacrifice César reflected onto the stray dogs was mirrored exactly back to him in his time of need, proving that true wealth is measured by the companions who stand by you."
This story teaches us that acts of kindness create bonds that transcend economic status, that animals are capable of deep loyalty, and that what we give to the world—especially love and compassion—returns to us in our times of need.
7. Reinforcement (5 minutes)
Additional Information:
- Real Story Impact: This true story went viral on social media, inspiring millions to reconsider their attitudes toward homeless people and stray animals
- Brazil Context: Brazil has a significant homeless population and many stray animals; César's story highlights these social issues with compassion
- Animal Psychology: Research shows dogs are capable of deep emotional bonds and loyalty; they remember kindness and respond with devotion
- The Boomerang Effect: Scientific studies in psychology confirm that acts of kindness benefit the giver through returned goodwill and improved wellbeing
- Material vs. Spiritual Wealth: The story challenges society's definition of success and wealth, showing that relationships matter more than possessions
- Healthcare Compassion: The hospital staff's decision to allow dogs inside shows institutional compassion and recognition of emotional support animals
- Social Media for Good: Mamprim's Facebook post demonstrates how social media can spread positive messages and inspire compassion
- No Kin but Not Alone: This teaches that family isn't just biological—we create families through bonds of mutual care and respect
8. Evaluation
a) Lower Order Thinking Question (Knowledge/Comprehension)
Question: "What did César regularly do for the stray dogs, and how did the dogs show their loyalty when he went to the hospital?"
Expected Answer: César regularly sacrificed his own food to feed the stray dogs around him. He often stopped eating just to feed them. When César went to the hospital at 3 A.M. for emergency treatment, four dogs followed him and waited anxiously at the hospital entrance, refusing to leave. They were worried about their master and wanted to make sure he wasn't alone, showing their incredible loyalty and love.
b) Middle Order Thinking Question (Application/Analysis)
Question: "Analyze the phrase 'the exchange is reciprocal' in the context of César's relationship with the dogs. What did each give to the other, and what does this teach us about relationships in general?"
Expected Answer: "Reciprocal exchange" means both sides give and receive equally. César gave the dogs food (even sacrificing his own meals), shelter, care, and love. In return, the dogs gave César companionship, loyalty, protection, and ensured he was never alone. When he was sick and vulnerable, they stayed with him and showed worry and devotion. This teaches us that meaningful relationships are built on mutual care, not one-sided giving. Both parties benefit—César had companionship despite being homeless, and the dogs had a loving caretaker despite being strays. It shows that you don't need wealth to build valuable relationships; consistent kindness and care create bonds stronger than material gifts.
c) Higher Order Thinking Question (Synthesis/Evaluation)
Question: "Evaluate the statement 'true wealth is measured by the companions who stand by you' in light of César's story. How does modern society often define wealth differently? Create a personal plan for building 'true wealth' in your own life."
Expected Answer: The statement means that real richness comes from having loving, loyal relationships—people or even animals who care about you and support you in difficult times. César was materially poor (homeless, no possessions) but relationally rich (had devoted companions who stood by him even at 3 A.M. in a hospital).
Modern society often defines wealth as: money, property, expensive possessions, social status, brand-name items, luxury experiences. But César's story shows these don't guarantee companionship or happiness. A wealthy person could be surrounded by possessions yet utterly alone in a crisis.
Personal Plan for Building True Wealth:
- Prioritize Relationships: Invest time in family and friends regularly, not just when convenient
- Practice Consistent Kindness: Like César's daily feeding of dogs, show small acts of care consistently
- Be There in Difficult Times: Support friends when they face problems, not just during fun times
- Give Without Expecting: Help others without calculating what I'll get back
- Value Quality Over Quantity: Have a few deep friendships rather than many superficial ones
- Include All Beings: Show kindness to animals and people others might overlook
- Share What I Have: Even if I don't have much, share what I can (time, attention, small gifts)
- Be Loyal: Stand by friends and family even when it's inconvenient
This creates a life where, like César, I'll never truly be alone because I'll have companions who genuinely care.
9. Remedial Teaching
Strategy for Slow Learners:
- Story Sequencing: Use 5-6 picture cards showing: César feeding dogs → Dogs as strays → César at hospital → Dogs waiting → Dogs allowed inside → Leaving together
- Simple Questions Per Section: Break story into 3 parts, ask 2-3 basic questions after each part
- Empathy Building: Ask "How would YOU feel if you were César? If you were the dog?"
- Visual Comparison Chart: Two columns—"What César Gave Dogs" vs. "What Dogs Gave César"
- Acting Out: Role-play the scene—students pretend to be César feeding dogs, dogs following to hospital
- Define "Homeless": Show pictures, discuss what it means to live without a home, build understanding
- Repetition of Key Message: Keep repeating "Kindness comes back to you like a boomerang"
- Personal Connection: "Have you ever been kind to an animal? Did it remember you?"
10. Writing Activity (8 minutes)
Writing Task: "Imagine you are Nurse Cris Mamprim. Write a diary entry (150-180 words) describing what you witnessed at the hospital that night. Include:
- Your first impression when César arrived
- Your surprise when you discovered the dogs waiting outside
- What you learned about César's relationship with the dogs
- How the story made you feel
- What lesson you took away from this experience"
Guidelines:
- Write in first person as the nurse ("I was working when...")
- Show your emotional response to what you witnessed
- Include at least 3 vocabulary words from the lesson
- Describe the dogs' behavior and César's actions with the food
- Reflect on what this experience taught you about compassion and wealth
11. Follow-up Activities
Homework Assignment:
- Kindness Reflection: Write a paragraph (100-120 words) about a time when you showed kindness to an animal or person, or when someone showed kindness to you. How did it make you feel?
Additional Activities:
-
Animal Care Research: Find information about how to safely help stray animals in your community. Write 5 tips for feeding and caring for strays responsibly.
-
Comparison Essay: Write a short comparison (150 words) between someone who is "materially rich but relationally poor" and someone who is "materially poor but relationally rich" like César.
-
Social Awareness Poster: Create a poster about showing compassion to homeless people and stray animals with the message "Kindness Returns Like a Boomerang."
Extended Learning:
-
Community Service Plan: Design a simple plan for how your class could help either homeless people or stray animals in your community (food drive, donation collection, awareness campaign).
-
Interview Project: Interview family members or neighbors about their experiences with loyal pets. Write a summary of what you learned.
-
Moral Story Collection: Find and share another story (from any culture) that teaches about kindness returning to us. Present it to the class.
-
Creative Writing: Write an imaginary conversation between César and one of his dogs, where they each explain what the other means to them.
Assessment Criteria:
- Comprehension of story events and themes (25%)
- Understanding of reciprocity and loyalty concepts (20%)
- Vocabulary usage and language skills (20%)
- Empathy and emotional intelligence (20%)
- Application of lessons to personal life (15%)
Resources Needed:
- Pictures of César and his dogs (if available from the original Facebook post)
- Images showing homelessness and stray animals (used sensitively)
- Map showing Brazil and Rio do Sul
- Chart paper for comparison activities
- Story sequence cards for remedial teaching
- Videos about animal loyalty (optional)
Cross-Curricular Connections:
- Social Studies: Understanding homelessness, social issues, community support systems
- Science/Biology: Animal behavior, dog psychology, human-animal bonds
- Values Education: Compassion, sacrifice, loyalty, reciprocity, dignity
- Geography: Brazil, South America, urban vs. rural homelessness
- Life Skills: Empathy development, responsible pet care, community service
- Psychology: Understanding emotional bonds, loyalty, gratitude in humans and animals
No comments:
Post a Comment
Post a comment