When You Feel Left Out

Gr 3–5—Children feel hurt when they are excluded or ignored, but there are some practical steps that can be taken to help them deal with their emotions and take positive action. This program presents three scenarios acted by elementary school age children as two young narrators discuss the steps to take to try to resolve the situations. The topics covered are feeling ignored within a group of friends, feeling excluded because you are in a new situation and shy, and feeling left out because someone is turning the group against you. In each situation, the same four steps are used to resolve it: take some time to think, use "I" statements to express your feelings, brainstorm ideas, and finally take action. In some situations, the person is able to resolve the problem on their own, and other times a family member or trusted adult helps out. Upbeat background music and colorful sets add interest and provide transitions. A valuable 52-page teacher's guide is included with resources, lesson plans, and extension ideas. School counselors and teachers will find this useful.—Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary, Edmonds, WA