Page 30 - Ugly Unicorn

Worksheet
This worksheet page encourages children to do something most adults can’t do... stand up for yourself and others. The Unicorn story is so appropriate because you have so many unicorns in your society, classroom and family. It is so prevalent that you will
be considered odd if you don’t engage or support this type of behavior. If you want to be the center of attention, just say... "Let me tell you what I heard about (and fill in the blank).”
On this page, you want the children to come up with some Good Thinking to help them deal with being the topic of the gossip. This thinking should not be mean or hateful, “I don’t care what they say... I hate all of them.” This will not keep you from being hurt; it will cause you to become angry and vindictive.
An example of better Good Thinking is, “Even if what they are saying is true, I will not give them the power over me and make myself angry or sad.” This is a very difficult issue for children but they need to understand that they need not run to others to “protect” them. If they control their own thinking they will be able protect themselves.
The second part of this worksheet has to do with not supporting the Unicorns. The Unicorns and their victims are the minority. The there are those who don’t seem to object to the Unicorns’ behavior. We may laugh at the Unicorn’s behavior but not be the instigator. We may just ignore and walk away. But very few of us will tell the Unicorn that they should not engage in that type of behavior. Usually for fear of becoming their victim or because the chosen victim may not be very likable anyway.
We can always say, “I wasn’t the one making fun of them,” or “I did not think it was any of my business,” and let the Unicorns continue in their behavior. Let the children verbalize how they might handle other’s Unicorn type behavior.
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