The goal of this unit is to develop social skills such as communicating respectfully, thinking logically, rather than emotionally, and developing values like respect and empathy, through classic imaginative literature. Students will explore these themes through the characters’ point of view and their choices. For this unit I will use a popular children’s classic, Winnie-the-Pooh, written by A. A. Milne.

This unit was written with primary students in mind, but it can be modified and adapted across grade levels. Teachers can modify the strategies and activities according to their class situation. This unit can also be adapted across the curriculum to connect to the requirements of the other subject areas, such as science and history. Through the humorous tales of Winnie-the-Pooh, the students not only learn problem solving through the actions and decisions of the characters, but also get a glimpse of a different culture, time period, and usage of language.

(Developed for English Language Arts and Science, grade 3; recommended for English Language Arts and Science, grades 1-5)