• Grade 2
• Hey, Little Ant – Phillip & Hannah Hoose

Hey, Little Ant

Written by Phillip & Hannah Hoose

Synopsis

Hey, Little Ant is a simple story of a boy and a little ant that teaches a lesson of respect and consideration of others. The little ant looks up and starts talking to the boy as he is about to step on him. The dialogue is a debate between the boy and the ant and what action the boy should…or should not take.

Originally, this was a song by a father-daughter team – a conversation between two creatures, large and small. The story will generate important discussions such as to squish or not to squish?

Vocabulary

• Squished
• Speck
• Nest mates

Characters in the Story

• The boy
• The ant

Discussion Topics

Before Reading

• Have the students start to think about recognizing another person’s feelings and making decisions
• Ask the students, “Have you ever wondered what it would be like if animals, insects, or birds could talk? If so, have you ever wondered how they might be feeling at a certain time or if they could speak, what they might say to us?” Encourage student responses that describe situations and feelings.

During Reading

• On page 2, the boy sees the ant and talks to it before he plans to squish it with his shoe. Do you think the boy would have been surprised to hear the ant speak begging the boy not to step on him?
• On page 4, the ant continues to try to get the boy to listen and to understand that although they are different in size, they are very much alike.  How might the boy be similar to the ant or the ant be similar to the boy?
• On page 14, what is the ant trying to get the boy to think about? (Putting himself in another person’s shoes.)

After Reading

• How do you think the ant might be feeling with the boy’s big shoe ready to come down on him? Brainstorm ideas with the students, focusing on the ability to recognize another person’s feelings.

*Adapted from Skillstreaming the Elementary School by Ellen McGinnis and Arnold P. Goldstein

Fin’s Tales – Can You Help?

My hockey teams plays against a lot of other teams throughout the season. Sometimes we play very fast. Sometimes we bump into the players on the other team and fall down. Sometimes we are happy and sometimes we feel angry. Sometimes when we are angry there is an opportunity to bump into another player and push him over.

• What do you think I do when this happens?
• Should I push him down to the ice so he falls hard?
• Should I carefully skate past him, careful not to touch him?
• Should I yell at him instead?