Definition:

The ability to feel what others are feeling and the action of trying to help them with their troubles. 

In short: 

Feel what others feel.

Summary:
This funny narrative poem is about a monster that loses the “M” in his name. “Onster” begins a desperate quest to find the missing “M”. He sadly realizes that “without my ‘M’ I’m someone else instead.” No longer a monster, he decides that he can’t scare kids anymore, and starts hanging out with them, playing soccer, swimming, helping others, and thoroughly enjoying this new experience. Eventually, he realizes that life is much better being a friend instead of a monster! 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Students are more able to value friendly behaviors over negative ones. Hopefully, a child prone to bullying will realize that being a bully isn’t fun anymore. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. Are the monsters in this story real? 
2. The monster that lost his “M” says, “without my ‘M’ I’m someone else instead.” Does he behave like a monster after he loses his “M”? 
3. What’s one thing “Onster” does that shows he’s not a monster anymore? 
4. Why do you think the other monsters make fun of “Onster” and don’t want to be around him anymore? 
5. When “Onster” was a monster, he didn’t realize that he could be different. What helped him become nicer? 
6. Was “Onster” happier being a monster or a friend? Why?  
7. Have you ever been around a bully, someone who is unfriendly, teases, and sometimes hurts others? What was it like? 
8. Do you think a bully can change into a friend like the monster did in this story? 
9. What do you think would help a bully want to change and become a friend? 
10. Ask your parents or grandparents or siblings if they ever had to deal with a bully. What did they do about it?