Definition

The ability to meet obligations; that for which one is answerable; a duty or a trust.

Literacy

Pigstyby Mark Teague

Materials Needed

1. Materials needed for activity (see below under The Weight of Irresponsibility)

2. The song “Responsibility” from Red Grammer's  recording Bebop Your Best

Read the story Pigsty to the class

Have a discussion about:

1. What does it means to be responsible?

2. Are you responsible for picking up your own room?

3. What other responsibilities do you have at home?

Activity: The Weight of Irresponsibility

When we are responsible we deal with the tasks before us and move on. What happens if we don't handle our responsibilities?: Make a list of some responsibilities. You can use those in the song and add others.

1. feeding your pets

2. putting away the books you've read

3. hanging up your clothes

4. making your bed

5. finishing your homework

6. doing the dishes

7. taking the trash out

Have a volunteer come to the front of the class to represent someone who is not doing his responsibilities. As you list the responsibilities he/she fails to do, add the responsibility onto the student. Start with hanging up your clothes. The student then puts the pile of clothes on. Then make the bed. Add a sheet draped over the student's shoulder. Not finishing your homework would be to stuff papers in neckline and up the sleeves. Not feeding your pet:.take a stuffed animal and put it around the student's neck. You can Velcro the animal's feet together. Put some books around a strap to represent the books that are not put away. You can attach those to the belt loop. Dirty dishes is easy! Glue some fake food to some plastic plates and put a little Velcro on the back of the plates. Attach them to the shirt. Finally, stuff a trash bag with shredded paper and tie it to a belt loop. Now the student is loaded down with neglected responsibility. It is impossible to do an activity with so much “weight”! Ask the student to now use a hoola hoop!

For pre-school and Kindergarten have a student jog in place while holding a laundry basket (the kind with holes so the class can see what is going inside the basket). Instead of pinning the items on the student as in the description above you can ask the student what jobs he/she and if he/she doesn't always do them and on time place an item in the laundry basket that represents that job. When the basket is full it will be more difficult to jog with the basket full. The student may even have to set the basket down because it has become too heavy to hold. Ideas for responsibilities:

1. Do you always pick up your toys? (have a big heavy toy that will go in the basket)

2. Do you always hang up your coat? (have a coat to go in the basket)

3. Do you pick up papers and pencils off the floor? ( have a pack of paper and pencils to go in the basket)

4. Do you empty your backpack? (have a full backpack to go in the basket)

5. Do you brush your teeth? (have a toothbrush and toothpaste to go in the basket)

5. Do you take out the trash? (have a trash bag full of shredded paper to go in the basket)

6. Do you set the table as soon as you are told to? (have dishes and cups and silverware to go in the basket)

7. Do you make your bed before you leave for school? (have sheets to add to the basket)

Note: We tried to think of responsibilities that younger students are required to do while at home or in school.