First Graders Learn About the Golden Rule

Storytime on the carpet seems like something that happens naturally at schools, but Todd Elementary teachers had to take a break from it for the past two-and-a-half years.

It’s back now, and students in all grades are gathering once again on the soft carpet and watching their teacher with big eyes as they listen to a story.

Recently, first grade teacher Dorene Tomaskovic read to her students “The Golden Rule,” by Ilene Cooper, a picture book about a grandfather explaining the rule to his grandson.

“The Golden Rule is valuable,” she read to the students. “Does anyone know what valuable means? It is something really special and precious.”

In the story, the grandfather discusses different religions and how the rule can be found in those religions in various ways.

Mrs. Tomaskovic stopped to explain to the students that there are different beliefs and that, even though they are different, they all agree on The Golden Rule.

“It doesn’t matter what religion you are. They all tell you to treat others as you want to be treated. They all have the same idea,” Mrs. Tomaskovic said.

In the book, according to the Shawnee Native American tribe, you must observe the following rule, “‘Do not kill or injure your neighbor. It is not him or her that you injure, but yourself.’”

“What does that mean?” Mrs. Tomaskovic asked the students. “Does it make sense that if you hurt somebody you are hurting yourself?”

“It means that if you hurt someone, there’s something in your body that hurts,” one student said. “It is your heart.”

Mrs. Tomaskovic continued reading.

“What about if there is a new student in your class?” she asked the students. “How would you make them feel better about being nervous in a new school? Maybe it would help if you smiled at them?”

The story ended with the grandfather telling the boy that he cannot make anyone practice The Golden Rule and that there is only one person that he can ask to do that: himself.

Mrs. Thomaskovic and the students then made a list of ideas for how to apply The Golden Rule in their daily lives:

• Help people if they get hurt
• Help someone feel better if they are sad
• Invite kids to play with you
• Help others with their work
• Be a good friend
• Share with others

She gave the students examples, such as sharing crayons with a student who does not have crayons. Students then selected one way that they can apply The Golden Rule to their lives and drew a picture of it.

“I drew a kid helping another kid get up after he fell down,” Declan said.