Definition:

The ability to read body and facial language that shows when others are feeling hurt, and demonstrating the desire to try to help them with their troubles. 

In short: 

Feel what others feel.

Summary:

“The Three Questions” is an adaptation of a short story by Tolstoi. The story begins with a young boy, Nicholai, who wonders how to be a good person. He asks his talking animal friends three questions: (1) when is the best time to do things, (2) who is the most important person, and (3) what is the right thing to do? Even though the animals do their best to answer his questions, Nicholai is dissatisfied with their replies, so he visits the oldest animal, Leo the turtle, who smiles but doesn’t say anything. After Nicholai helps Leo with his digging, he rescues a distraught Panda and her child. Finally Leo answers the three questions and Nicholai learns that to be a good person one needs to be compassionate and respond to the needs of others.  

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Teachers launch students into a discussion about how to tell when someone needs help and what to do about it. They can create a poster that highlights their ideas and hang it in the classroom. 
2. After discussing the story and making the poster, students are more prone to acting on a greater awareness of other people’s needs. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. What prompted Nicholai to ask his 3 questions? 
2. What were the three questions Nicholai asked? Hint: (1) when is the best…? (2) who is the most important…? (3) what is the most important thing…? 
3. Were the answers his friends gave helpful to Nicholai? Explain your answer. 
4. Why did Nicholai visit Leo the turtle? 
5. Why did Nicholai help Leo? 
6. If you’ve helped someone who is old or tired, share about what you did and how it made you feel.
7. What kind of things do you like to do for your parents?
8. What kind of things do you like to do for your siblings, friends?  
9. Who is the most important person in your life? 
10. What do you think is the most important thing for you to remember to do?