We’re all wonders by RJ Palacio

Year 3 No Outsiders lesson plan 

Text: We’re all wonders by RJ Palacio lesson plan by Andrew Moffat equalitiesprimary.com

Learning intention: To use my pupil voice

Success criteria: I know everyone has differences, I know what unique means, I know how people can feel hurt, I know what a bystander is, I know what to do if I see someone being unkind

Starter: What does unique mean? How can a person be unique? What does bystander mean? (when someone sees something they know is wrong but chooses not to say anything or do anything) In what situation might someone be a bystander? Tell the children, there is one part of the story where we see children act as bystanders; at the end of the lesson you will ask for children to identify that part.

Main: Read “We are all wonders”. Auggie says he is not an ordinary kid; in what ways is Auggie ordinary and how is Auggie different from other kids? Why are Auggie’s feelings hurt? Why does Auggie say he is a wonder? Why does Auggie say he wants people to change the way they see? Look at the page where the boy holds out a ball to Auggie; what’s changed for Auggie on this page? Which part of the book shows people being bystanders? What needs to happen here?

Role play: We are going to practice using our pupil voice and choosing not to be bystanders. In this story Auggie is called names for being different and everyone acts like a bystander because no one uses their pupil voice to speak up for him. Ask for a volunteer to be Auggie and give out cards to every other child. All the cards are blank except for a small number which have a star on them. Explain to the children that we are going to role-play the part of the book where children choose to be bystanders but some of us are going to practise choosing not to be bystanders. If your card is blank, for this role play you need to remain a bystander but if you have a star you need to choose to use your pupil voice and speak up for Auggie. Tell the class you cannot ask anyone to pretend to be unkind towards Auggie so you will take that role. You are going to tell Auggie he is different and doesn’t belong here but then say you want to hear people who have stars speak up, use their pupil voice and defend Auggie (you might want to rehearse some ideas first). Repeat the role play with different children being Auggie and different children speaking up. For the last one don’t give out cards and say you want everyone to speak up. Praise the class for not being bystanders and using their pupil voice.

Activity: Children draw “Don’t be a bystander” posters showing different responses to bullying.

Plenary: In the story when children call Auggie names why doesn’t Auggie use his pupil voice and speak up? Ask children who role played being Auggie how they felt when you said they were different and didn’t belong, and how they felt when children used their pupil voice. Discuss what children can do if they see bullying (tell an adult, remove the child: ensure children have strategies)

Afl questions: Why might some children feel like outsiders on our playground? What can we do in our school to make sure no one feels like an outsider?

For more No Outsiders lesson plans see "No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools" by Andrew Moffat

For No Outsiders parent / child workshops see "Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain" by Andrew Moffat