This is one of a series of lesson ideas provided by Gill Chesney-Green from Derbyshire in the UK. (Thanks a plenty Gill! - Kim Flintoff - Webmaster)
LESSON: Sharon's Dilemma
AIMS: To create a situation in which the students experience a dilemma in order to reach new understandings about personal responsibility.
OBJECTIVES:
STRATEGIES:
1. Read extract.
2. In pairs create a still image that illustrates the relationship between Sharon and Katie. Discuss.
3. In groups of three- what should she do and why? Demonstrate in short scenes.
4. Two students then mime them entering the shop - act out the incident - the rest of the class thought-track them through the incident.
5. In groups of four or five - Sharon, shop manager, police officer, mum (and dad). In turn each question Sharon (teacher times each bit) then manager and police together and then all. Each character is likely to be angry - can they find other ways to demonstrate this rather than for the scene to develop into a shouting match?
6. Report back (Did Sharon tell on Katie or not? Does it relate to No. 3 above?)
7. Teacher narrates afterwards. Sharon leaves the shop and Katie is waiting for her. What is this meeting like? Stress to the pupils that they are after the "truth".
8. What happens next?
RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Design a poster to discourage shoplifting
Write a notice from the floor manager of the shop saying why all staff should be on guard for shoplifters and how shoplifting affects prices and staff numbers. (This could be done in IT)
ASSESSMENT POSSIBILITIES:
Create a scene between Sharon or Katie's parents to show how they are affected by the incident and how this may affect their relationship with Sharon or Katie. Look for insight into character and motivations and realism.
CROSS-CURRICULAR LINKS: PSVE and the theme of citizenship. Economic and Industrial understanding- shoplifting costs us as customers and as employees.
RESOURCES: Story sheet of Sharon's Dilemma
Sharon and her best friend, Katie walked into a department store to shop around. As they browsed Katie saw a sweater she really liked and told Sharon she wanted to try the sweater on. While Katie went to the dressing room, Sharon continued to shop.
Soon Katie came out of the dressing room wearing her coat. She caught Sharon's attention with her eyes and glanced down at the sweater under her coat. Without a word Katie turned and walked out of the store.
Moments later the store security officer, sales clerk and store manager approached Sharon. "That's her, that's one of the girls. Check her bags," blurted the clerk. The security officer said he had the right to check bags and Sharon handed them over. "No sweater in here," the clerk said, "but I saw them just as plain as anything. They were together on this." The security officer then asked the manager if he wanted to follow through on the case.
"Absolutely," he insisted. "Shoplifting is getting to be a major expense in running a store like this. I can't let shoplifters off the hook and expect to run a successful business."
The security officer turned to Sharon. "What's the name of the girl you were with?" he asked. Sharon looked up at him silently. "Come on now, come clean," said the security officer. "If you don't tell us, you can be charged with the crime or with aiding the person who committed the crime."
Should Sharon tell? Why?