Cover of The Day of Ahmed's Secret
The Day of Ahmed's Secret
📚
Responsibility 3rd & 4th Grade
By Florence Parry Heide

Book Guide

The Day of Ahmed's Secret

A story that explores responsibility and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families
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♥ This book teaches: Responsibility. owning your choices and their consequences.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: doing what needs to be done with sincerity and without resistance or complaining.  In short: Do what needs to be done. Summary: Ahmed is an Egyptian boy who has a job delivering heavy containers of fuel on a donkey cart in the city of Cairo. He is excited about the responsibility and he’s especially proud that can lift these containers like his father did before him. The city is noisy and colorful, as Ahmed skillfully guides the donkey through the busy streets. At the end of the day he shares a special secret with his parents, something that makes them happy and proud.    Lesson Objectives: 
  1. Inspired by the example of Ahmed, students will be motivated to show that they are mature enough to be  responsible and do important tasks, at school and at home. 
  2. This story can be a link to studies about Egyptian geography and culture. 
  Guiding Questions: 
  1. Ahmed lives in the city of Cairo which is in what country? Find it on a map. Do you live far away or close to this country? 
  2. Describe Ahmed’s job. 
  3. The book illustrations show what Cairo looks like. Describe some of the things you see that you wouldn’t see where you live. 
  4. Have you ever seen a donkey or a camel? What do you know about these animals? 
  5. How did Ahmed deliver the heavy barrels to those who lived on the second floor of a building? 
  6. Were you surprised when you learned that Ahmed was old enough to do the job he did, but was just learning to write his name? Explain your answer. 
  7. How old were you when you learned to write your name? 
  8. Would you like to do the job that Ahmed did? Why or why not? 
  9. Ask your parents or grandparents about their first job. How old were they and what did they do? 
  10. Did you ever give your parents a surprise? If so, share about it. If not, think of a nice surprise for them and do it.   
🌿   Virtue Connection: Responsibility means owning what is yours, including your choices.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

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