This lesson introduces students to children from other cultures around the world and the their individual responsibilities. By exploring other children's jobs and responsibilities, we can better understand that the responsibilities we have make an impact on our families, friends and school.

"Setting the Stage" - Do you have a special job at home? Are you responsible for taking care of your room or your pet? What would happen if we didn't do the jobs expected of us?

"What Is Responsibility?"
This lesson introduces us to Julie, a cranky little girl complaining about all of the jobs and rules she has every day. As directed by the Learning Station dialog, encourage students to talk about the different jobs they have around their homes and how they feel about them. Some children may think they are the only ones with different jobs to perform.

"Julie and Magic Mouse"
While Julie is complaining in her messy bedroom, a fantasy cartoon mouse, Magic Mouse, appears. He asks Julie to find the globe in her room. This leads to a touch-screen game on the Learning Station.

"Clean Julie's Room"
Touch-screen game - Students must help Julie clean her room by putting objects where they belong, such as the shirt into drawer, the jacket onto the coat hook, books onto the shelf, and the dirty clothes into the basket. As the room is tidied, the globe is found.

"Trip to the Himalayas"
Julie complains to Magic Mouse that she has to brush her teeth every day. Magic Mouse decides to show Julie how other children live and take care of everyday responsibilities, like teeth-brushing. He asks for her globe to locate the Himalayas (Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Pakistan, and India) in Asia. Provide a globe to locate the Himalayas. Compare the location on the round globe to the same on a flat map. Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, is located here. Julie and Magic Mouse then go on their trip to the Himalayan Mountains. Ask the students if they think children live in these mountains. Do they brush their teeth? Julie and Magic Mouse meet children who tell them about their village and working animals called yaks. The children are responsible for the care of the yaks for the family. Julie learns that these children have big responsibilities.

"Brushing Your Teeth"
The children of the Himalayans told Julie about the old method of brushing teeth with a root. Julie realizes that toothbrushes are pretty convenient. Julie and Magic Mouse talk about how she lost her baby teeth, even though she brushed them. Some students may have not lost any teeth yet. The dialog on the Learning Station explains that these teeth are 'practice teeth' and it is normal to lose them. Some teachers may want to use this opportunity to elaborate on a lesson about teeth and their care.

"Trip to Japan"
Julie understands the importance of keeping her teeth clean, but not her room. She is tired of cleaning her room and making her bed. Magic Mouse decides it is time for another trip. Using the globe, locate Japan, where Julie meets a girl, in a very tidy room, creating paper origami cranes. Julie learns that putting away the bedding is the girl's responsibility. She also realizes that the girl's room looks nice when it is clean and the bedding is put away. The girl then introduces Julie to the ancient art of paper folding called origami.
Hands-on activity - Using the pattern provided on disk, the students have an opportunity to create their own origami dog. (Cranes are traditional Japanese favorites, but are difficult for beginners' motor skills). Students are directed to listen very carefully to instructions as given by the teacher. This pattern was chosen because of the simplicity of the folds for small hands. Students can then color their dogs and add eyes by using markers or crayons. After the origami activity, Julie decides that she could teach her little brother how to make the paper crane. She realizes that one of her responsibilities might be to be kinder to her brother. This is a good opportunity to discuss how responsibilities include how we act towards our friends and family.

"Trip to Turkey"
Julie decides to put her paper crane in a special spot in her room. Magic Mouse reminds her how messy her room was as they embark on another journey. Locate the mountains (north) in the country of Turkey on the map and globe. Here, Julie meets a shepherd boy. He explains to Julie and Magic Mouse that his responsibilities are to take care of the family sheep. He is also responsible for keeping his room clean. His room, while tending sheep, is a wagon similar to a camping trailer. He shows Julie his special cape, which keeps him protected from cold weather. For a simple physical activity, students are directed to pretend they are wearing a shepherd's cape. Students must use their listening skills to hear the directions of this simple exercise. They also must use their imagination to play the role of the shepherd. Teachers should ask the 'shepherd' questions about their responsibilities based on what they have learned by this visit.

"Herd the Sheep"
Touch-screen activity - On the Learning Station, students must assemble all of the scattered sheep behind the trailer so they can be taken into the village. The children must listen to the directions provided by the dialog to complete this activity.

"Julie Goes Back Home"
After visiting children who all have responsibilities, Julie decides it is time to go home and get ready for school. She realizes that her responsibilities are important to her family.
Videotaping activity - Scenes from each story location are shown on the Learning Station. Students are instructed to role-play as the teacher, asking the students questions about the different responsibilities that were presented. As students take turns, encourage them to ask different and creative questions. Encourage them to use full sentences in their questions and answers as you videotape their presentations.

Hands-on activity - A simple world map outline is provided on the disk. Also provided are pictures of each of the children of the stories to cut out and attach to the appropriate countries. A 'hint' image is provided on the maps for students to match. Talk about how they decide where each cutout should be placed. Encourage students to take these home and describe their 'travels' to their family.

Before Students Go Home - Review
What is a 'responsibility'?
Why are each student's responsibilities important?
Why is it important to brush our teeth?
Talk about how each student is responsible for something at school.
Review the different locations visited in the story.

Supply List for Activities
"Today I Learned" - parents handout
globe and world map
paper for origami dogs (pattern provided on disk)
makers or crayons
scissors and glue to create world maps with children cutouts (provided on disk)
Videotape