Lesson Plan – Class 9 - Unit 1 Supplementary: The Envious Neighbour

 

Lesson Plan – Unit 1 Supplementary: The Envious Neighbour

Class: IX

Subject: English

Lesson: The Envious Neighbour

Genre: Japanese Folk Tale

Origin: The Envious Neighbour

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1. Learning Objectives

The teacher expects the students to:

1. Read and understand the folk tale with proper comprehension.

2. Learn new vocabulary and expressions from the lesson.

3. Identify the characters and sequence of events.

4. Understand the consequences of greed, envy, and cruelty.

5. Appreciate the values of kindness, generosity, and honesty.

6. Develop moral and ethical values through the lesson.

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2. Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

1. Retell the story in their own words.

2. Differentiate between good qualities and bad qualities.

3. Explain the effects of greed and jealousy in life.

4. Practise kindness, generosity, and compassion in daily life.

5. Appreciate the importance of helping others and treating animals kindly.

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3. Introduction

The teacher introduces the lesson with the following questions:

1. Have you ever felt jealous of someone else's success?

2. What happens when a person becomes greedy?

3. Why should we treat animals with kindness?

4. Is it right to wish for what belongs to others?

5. What qualities make a person truly happy?

After eliciting responses, the teacher introduces the lesson The Envious Neighbour, a Japanese folk tale that teaches important moral values.

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4. Reading and Understanding

Loud Reading

• The teacher reads the lesson aloud with proper pronunciation and expression.

• Students listen attentively.

• Students read the lesson silently.

• Important passages are explained in detail.

New Words and Meanings

Word	Meaning
Tit-bit	A small piece of tasty food
Wagging	Moving rapidly from side to side
Covetous	Desiring something that belongs to another
Obliged	Bound to do something
Mortar	A vessel used for grinding substances
Withered	Dried up or shrivelled
Precious	Valuable
Incense	Substance burned for fragrance
Virtuous	Having high moral standards
Revive	Bring back to life or activity

Understanding the Lesson

• An honest old couple lovingly cared for their pet dog.

• The dog led them to hidden treasure buried underground.

• They became wealthy and generously helped the poor.

• Their greedy neighbours borrowed the dog hoping to find treasure.

• The dog refused to help them because they treated him cruelly.

• In anger, the neighbours killed the dog.

• The dog later appeared in the good old man's dreams and guided him.

• A mortar made from the pine tree produced treasures.

• The jealous neighbours destroyed the mortar.

• The ashes of the mortar had magical powers to revive trees.

• The good old man received rewards from a prince.

• The greedy neighbour tried to imitate him but failed.

• Finally, the wicked couple realized their mistakes and reformed themselves.

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5. Mind Map

                 THE ENVIOUS NEIGHBOUR
                           |
         ---------------------------------------
         |                                     |
     Honest Couple                    Greedy Couple
         |                                     |
   Kind to Dog                         Cruel to Dog
         |                                     |
     Hidden Treasure                    Wants Wealth
         |                                     |
     Becomes Rich                     Finds Dirt & Offal
         |                                     |
         ---------------------------------------
                           |
                        Dog Dies
                           |
                     Appears in Dream
                           |
                 Pine Tree → Mortar
                           |
                Rice Turns to Treasure
                           |
                   Ashes Revive Trees
                           |
                    Reward from Prince
                           |
                Greedy Couple Imitates
                           |
                         Failure
                           |
                    Learns the Lesson
                           |
                  Kindness Wins Over Greed

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6. Consolidation and Presentation

Summary of the Lesson

The Envious Neighbour is a Japanese folk tale about an honest old couple and their faithful dog. The dog helps them discover hidden treasure, making them wealthy. Instead of becoming selfish, they share their wealth with others. Their greedy neighbours become jealous and borrow the dog, hoping to gain riches. When the dog does not help them, they kill him. Through dreams, the dog continues to help the kind old man. Magical events involving a mortar and its ashes bring further rewards to the good couple. The greedy neighbours try to imitate these actions but fail because of their selfishness. Eventually, they realize their mistakes and become better people. The story teaches that kindness and generosity bring happiness, while greed and envy lead to trouble.

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7. Reinforcement

Additional Information

• Folk tales are traditional stories passed from one generation to another.

• Japanese folk tales often teach moral lessons through simple characters and magical events.

• The dog symbolizes loyalty, gratitude, and goodness.

• The story shows that good deeds are rewarded, while greed and cruelty bring suffering.

Character Traits

Honest Old Couple

• Kind

• Generous

• Compassionate

• Grateful

• Forgiving

Greedy Neighbours

• Envious

• Selfish

• Cruel

• Impatient

• Later become reformed

Moral Values

• Kindness is rewarded.

• Greed leads to failure.

• Jealousy destroys happiness.

• Animals should be treated with love and care.

• Forgiveness can transform people.

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8. Evaluation

A. Lower Order Thinking Questions (LOTS)

1. What kind of pet did the old couple have?

2. What did the old couple find when they dug the ground?

3. What tree was the dog buried under?

B. Middle Order Thinking Questions (MOTS)

1. Why did the dog refuse to help the greedy neighbours?

2. How did the mortar become useful to the old couple?

3. Why did the prince reward the old man?

C. Higher Order Thinking Questions (HOTS)

1. How does greed affect a person's behaviour and relationships?

2. Why do you think the old couple forgave their neighbours?

3. What lessons can modern society learn from this folk tale?

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9. Remedial Teaching

Strategies for Slow Learners

1. Explain the story using simple language.

2. Use pictures of the dog, treasure, mortar, and cherry tree.

3. Present the story as a sequence chart.

4. Conduct storytelling and role-play activities.

5. Teach vocabulary through flashcards and examples.

6. Provide a simplified summary of each event.

7. Ask short oral questions to reinforce learning.

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10. Writing Activity

Activity 1

Write a paragraph (80–100 words) on:

"Greed Leads to Failure."

Activity 2

Write five sentences describing the faithful dog in the story.

Activity 3

Imagine you are the honest old man. Write a diary entry about the day you found the hidden treasure.

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11. Follow-up Activity / Homework

1. Write the meanings of the glossary words and use them in sentences.

2. Draw a flowchart showing the sequence of events in the story.

3. Prepare a character sketch of the honest old couple.

4. Write a short note on the moral of the story.

5. Collect and narrate another folk tale that teaches a moral value.

Teaching Aids

• Textbook

• Blackboard

• Flashcards

• Story sequence chart

• Pictures of the dog, treasure, mortar, and cherry tree

• Mind map chart

Value Inculcation

• Kindness

• Generosity

• Gratitude

• Forgiveness

• Compassion towards animals

• Contentment

Life Skill Developed

Students learn that honesty, kindness, and generosity lead to happiness and success, whereas greed, envy, and cruelty result in disappointment and failure. The lesson encourages students to cultivate positive values and maintain healthy relationships with others.