Best Popular Film: “Arthur’s Knee” (Season 2, Episode 14)
Producer: PBS, April 9th, 1998
Rating: G
Considering the grade level (6th) that is the intended audience for our
material, I immediately went to Arthur because that is a great TV show for the
elementary level in general. (The characters in the show are mostly 10 and 11 year olds, so thats 4th and 5th graders.) The episode itself is also multi-faceted in that it not only
covers physical safety (such as when Arthur goes to the dump and cuts his knee due to
making bad decisions), but also truthfulness in terms of fessing up to what happened,
and also bacteria when Arthur’s cut gets treated. Most importantly, the episode in it’s
entirety is free and on Youtube.
Review: The production is done well, the show is also well known so student’s may
already have prior knowledge of the characters. As mentioned, the episode covers a
variety of topics interrelated to safety and deals with them in a less childish perspective
than most kids TV shows.
Core Integration:
Because this is an episode of a TV show rather than a full movie, this would be very easy
to incorporate with the classroom. I would have students view the episode together as a
class on an activboard or TV, and then engage in a classwide discussion afterwords
focusing on safety. I would provide guiding questions for the discussion such as “What
decisions did Arthur make that led him to get hurt?” or “Why do you think Arthur
needed to get his cut treated right away?”
Standards:
NHES 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and
products and services to enhance health
NHES 5: Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision making skills to
enhance health
HBO 4: Apply Safety rules and procedures to avoid risky behavior and injury
HBO 6: Students will recognize and avoid dangerous surroundings.
HBO 8: Support others to avoid risky behaviors and be safe
Social Studies Standards:
– Students will be able to demonstrate ways to resolve conflict to prevent,
reduce, and avoid violence. (H4.Sa3.6)
– Students will determine when situations require a decision related to safety
and injury prevention (S5.8.2)
– Students will distinguish when safety and injury prevention decisions
should be made individually or with the help of others (S5.8.3)
– Students will explain the importance of being responsible for promoting
safety and avoiding or reducing injury (S7.8.1)
– Students will analyze practices and behavior that reduce or prevent
injuries (S7.8.2)
– Students will demonstrate healthy practices and behaviors to improve safety and
injury prevention of oneself and others (S7.8.3)
– Students will make a commitment to practice safety and injury prevention
(S7.8.4)