Grades K-2 Fiction Literature For Healthy Relationships

This fiction children’s book sends an anti-bullying message to young children. The book takes the reader through the steps of each character as they bully another character. The larger animals bully the smaller animals in the jungle until a Monkey Mother teachers her young Monkey son how to stand up to a bully. The story then backtracks through all the events that each character went through. In the end all the characters learn how to get along together and become friends. This book is the best option for our topic because it sends a great message to young children about how to stand up to bullies. This book also shows how each event affected the others. It shows the chain reaction of bullying. This book also incorporates the habitats of each animal. Children can learn where each animal lives in the jungle. The book could also be used as a resource for art. The illustrations are sketched out in pencil, so it would be a resource for children to use as they guide themselves on how to draw one of the animals.
Excerpt: “Don’t you tell me what to do, this tree’s big enough for two. Share it with me as a friend, don’t be mean to me again.” – The Little Monkey
Read Aloud of The Jungle Bullies

The lesson plan, linked above, addresses many of the Common Core State Standards speaking and listening standards for grades K-2, listed below.
The lesson begins with before reading questions to have the students begin thinking about the theme of the story. There are prediction questions and general questions about children’s literature.
Then, there are during reading questions that allow the students to stay focused and engaged with the reading. There are questions that get the students to think beyond what the author intended and to support their learning at the moment.
Finally, there are after reading questions that reflect back on their original thoughts of the book. At this moment the children will be able to reflect and evaluate their predictions and discuss what they learned from the book. These questions also correlate with the graphic organizer of the sequence of events from the book. The graphic organizer takes the students through the emotions of each character through the specific events. This graphic organizer could be used as a worksheet or as a whole class diagram on a white board.
As an addition to this lesson plan, the students can role play the different scenarios with classmates. They can discuss as a group how each person felt in each scenario. This will reflect the clear meaning of the message for this book. After they practice the scenarios, they will be able to discuss their successful anti-bullying, healthy relationship strategies.

NHES 1: Core Concepts: Identify the benefits of healthy peer relationships
- HBO 1: Establish and maintain healthy relationships
NHES 1: Core Concepts: Explain why it is wrong to tease or bully others based on gender identity or roles
- HBO 7: Treat others with courtesy and respect without regard to sexual status
NHES 4: Interpersonal Communication: Demonstrate how to effectively communicate needs, wants, and feelings in healthy ways to promote healthy family and peer relationships.
NHES 4: Interpersonal Communication: Demonstrate how to effectively communicate care and concern for others to promote healthy family and peer relationships.
- Source for all above standards: NHES Sexual Health PDF
MEH5.2.3: Explain the potential positive and negative outcomes from decisions related to mental and emotional health (e.g. dealing with interpersonal conflict, managing anger)
MEH5.2.4: Describe when help is needed and when it is not needed to make a mentally and emotionally healthy decision (e.g. dealing with interpersonal conflict, managing anger)
MEH8.2.2: Demonstrate how to encourage peers to make healthy mental and emotional health choices.
- Source for all above standards: NHES Mental and Emotional Health PDF

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.2
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.4
Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.

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