Let’s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Why Should Children View This Program?
Of all the many skills children need for managing social interactions and rela-
tionships, one of the most difficult for them to master is knowing when to make
and accept an apology. When children do something to hurt another child’s
feelings through a misunderstanding, disagreement, or accident, they tend to
interpret the situation without considering how their behavior might affect the
other child. But what socializes children is their ability to respond in a caring
way to other children. Encouraged to look at a situation from the hurt child’s
point of view, even the youngest students can understand how...
Let’s Make Up:
Learning About Forgiveness
434540
GRADES K-2
Table of Contents
Program Overview
Why Should Children View This Program? ........................................ 3
Learning Objectives ................................................................................. 3
Program Content...................................................................................... 4
Pre-Viewing Questions............................................................................ 4
Viewing the Program
Introduction............................................................................................... 5
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong .............................................. 5
Part 2: Holding A Grudge ....................................................................... 6
Part 3: It Takes Two to Make Up............................................................. 6
Discussion Questions ......................................................................... 7
Bulletin Board Starters .................................................................. 9
Suggested Activities.......................................................................... 10
Activity Sheets (may be copied for class distribution)
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong.............................................. 13
Part 2: Holding A Grudge....................................................................... 18
Part 3: It Takes Two to Make Up............................................................ 22
Send-Home Pages
Send-Home Page...................................................................................... 26
K-1 Take-Home Book .............................................................................. 27
Grade 2 Take-Home Book ..................................................................... 28
Suggested Reading ............................................................................. 29
Script....................................................................................................... 31
This program contains:
1 videocassette (approximately 13 minutes)
1 Teacher’s Guide, including 11 Activity Sheets
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness 1
Program Overview
Why Should Children View This Program?
Of all the many skills children need for managing social interactions and rela-
tionships, one of the most difficult for them to master is knowing when to make
and accept an apology. When children do something to hurt another child’s
feelings through a misunderstanding, disagreement, or accident, they tend to
interpret the situation without considering how their behavior might affect the
other child. But what socializes children is their ability to respond in a caring
way to other children. Encouraged to look at a situation from the hurt child’s
point of view, even the youngest students can understand how saying two magi-
cal words, “I’m sorry,” can help them handle the conflict. Using three engaging
scenarios bracketed by upbeat music and lyrics, Let`s Make Up: Learning About
Forgiveness shows students how apologizing when you are wrong, refusing to hold
a grudge, and recognizing that it takes two to make up can solve problem situa-
tions.
Learning Objectives
This program is designed to help children:
• understand the importance of making and accepting apologies.
• learn that saying “I’m sorry,” can prevent a small misunderstanding
from turning into a big problem.
• understand what it means to “hold a grudge.”
• recognize that holding a grudge and not accepting an apology can make
a situation worse.
• discover that making or accepting an apology helps people to work
things out.
• learn that in a situation where two people are at fault, both sides need
to apologize.
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness 3
Program Content
Hosted by a personable teenager, the program consists of three stories. The first
describes what happens when one girl decides to play with a new friend without
thinking of how excluding an old friend will hurt that friend’s feelings. In the
second story, a boy makes a mistake that angers his friend, and although he
apologizes quickly, his friend keeps holding a grudge and won’t talk to him. In
the last story, an accident precipitates a falling-out between two friends, who
realize in the end that not speaking to each other doesn’t solve anything, and that
it takes two to make up.
Pre-Viewing Questions
• If you bump into someone by accident, what could you say to make
things better?
• When you and your friend have a fight, what could you do to make up?
• What do you think the word “forgiveness” means?
4 Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Viewing the Program
Introduction
Three short vignettes introduce the program’s topic. In the first, one boy forgets
to return his friend’s football. Next, a girl pushes a boy off a fence, by mistake.
The third, a boy accidentally squirts juice on a girl.
The program’s host, then comes on-screen. In each of these situations, she ex-
plains, there’s a potential for a big problem. But in each case, two little words,
“I’m sorry,” averted the problem. Apologizing when you do something wrong,
she tells viewers, is the quickest and easiest way for friends to make up. Three
scenarios about making and accepting apologies follow.
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong
At the school playground, Breanna and her new friend Sarah discover that
they’re going to the same dancing school and decide to play together after
school. When Morgan, Breanna’s friend and neighbor, reminds Breanna about
their after-school date, Breanna says she’s changed her mind and is going to
Sarah’s house instead. When Morgan asks to come, too, Breanna says no, and
then upsets Morgan even more by canceling their Saturday playdate in favor of
practicing with Sarah after dance class.
Learning from Morgan’s mother that something is up between the girls,
Breanna’s mother asks Breanna to explain. Breanna maintains that she didn’t tell
Morgan she wouldn’t play with her—all she did was tell Morgan that Morgan
couldn’t come to Sarah’s and that she and Sarah would be practicing their
dancing together on Saturday.
“How do you think that made Morgan feel?” Breanna’s mother asks, adding
another question, “How would you feel if a friend treated you like that?” Put
yourself in Morgan’s place, Breanna’s mother advises. Breanna thinks it over,
agrees that what she did was hurtful, and wonders if Morgan will ever be her
friend again. Her mother suggests she apologize to Morgan. “I’m really sorry,”
Breanna tells Morgan. “Come over on Saturday to play with Sarah and me,”
she adds, and the two are friends again. The program’s upbeat theme song
reinforces the idea of making and accepting apologies.
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness 5
Part 2: Holding a Grudge
Admiring his friend Andrew’s pet hamster, Sam asks to feed him, so Andrew
gives him Chippy’s food and goes off in search of something the two of them can
eat. Sam goes to join Andrew, but unfortunately, Sam doesn’t close the cage door.
Later, Andrew looks everywhere for his pet, but can’t find him. Devastated, he
blames Sam. Sam tries to apologize, but Andrew not only won’t forgive him, he
refuses even to talk to him.
When Andrew’s older brother Todd sees how mad Andrew is at Sam, he tells
Andrew that holding a grudge only makes things worse. You not only don’t
have Chippy, Todd tells him, but you don’t have a friend. He advises Andrew to
call Sam and make up. After thinking it over, Andrew decides that he’ll invite
Sam over, but won’t let him alone near his new hampster. A reprise of the song
reinforces the point of making up and not holding a grudge.
Part 3: It Takes Two to Make Up
At day camp, Chelsea is rushing her friend Josh to finish painting his picture so
they can both go to soccer practice. To save time, she says she’ll close the paint
jars while he puts on his sneakers. But she doesn’t close one jar tight enough.
When Josh goes to pick up his picture at day’s end, Chelsea accidentally knocks
over the jar with the loose top, and Josh’s painting is ruined. She tries to explain
she didn’t do it on purpose, but Josh is so mad he calls her names, making her
angry as well.
Next day at camp, the two are thrown together as buddies on a nature walk. As
they walk along, not speaking to each other, Josh suddenly trips and falls.
Chelsea, very concerned, asks him if he’s all right. As they start talking again,
they realize that it isn’t fun being angry at each other. They both admit they were
wrong, apologize to each other, and are friends once again.
After another reprise of the song, the host offers some good advice for viewers:
The quickest and easiest way to make up with a friend is to say you’re sorry, she
says. If you hurt a friend’s feelings, it’s important to admit you were wrong. If
someone apologizes for making you feel bad, don’t hold a grudge. The best
thing to say in all these situations, she concludes, is “Let’s Make Up!”
6 Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Discussion Questions
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong
1. What did Breanna and Sarah discover they both liked to do? Have you
ever been in a situation where you quickly made a new friend because
you both had the same interests? Did it make you forget your other
friends? Why or why not?
2. How do you think Morgan felt when Breanna told her she couldn’t come to
Sarah’s house and couldn’t play with her on Saturday? Would you feel the
same way if you were Morgan? Explain.
3. What does it mean, to “put yourself in someone else’s place”? What
happened when Breanna put herself in Morgan’s place?
4. Did it surprise you that Breanna thought Morgan might not be her friend
anymore? Why?
5. What did Breanna’s mother advise her to do? Did she do it?
What happened?
Part 2: Holding a Grudge
1. Why was Andrew so angry at Sam? Do you think he was right to blame
Sam? Why?
2. Sam felt terrible and told Andrew he was sorry that Chippy was gone. Why
didn’t Andrew accept his apology? What does “holding a grudge” mean?
3. Have you ever been in a situation where a friend decided not to speak to
you because of something you did or didn’t do? Did your friend keep
holding a grudge? What happened in the end?
4. Why does holding a grudge make a situation worse?
5. What did Andrew’s brother tell him to do? Did Andrew do it?
What happened?
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness 7
Part 3: It Takes Two to Make Up
1. Why did Josh get so angry at Chelsea? Suppose instead of calling the paint
spill an accident, Chelsea had said she was sorry, would it have helped?
2. What did Josh do that made Chelsea angry? What happened then? If two
people don’t talk to each other, what are the chances they will make up?
3. What happened to make Chelsea and Josh start talking again? Why did
they decide to make up? Why isn’t it fun to be with someone and not talk?
4. Why is it important for people to apologize when they are both in the
wrong? Does exchanging apologies after a disagreement makes a friend-
ship stronger? Explain.
8 Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Bulletin Board Starters
Invite children to write or dictate stories about two friends who
had a fight, then decided being mad was no fun, and made up by
saying “I’m sorry” to each other. Have children illustrate their
stories. Display the finished stories on the bulletin board.
Give each child a sheet of stiff paper folded over to form a card.
Have them pretend they are Breanna writing to Morgan, or
Andrew writing to Sam, or Chelsea or Josh writing to each other.
Have them illustrate the front of the card and write or dictate a
note for the inside telling Morgan or Sam or Chelsea or Josh they
are sorry. Display the cards on the bulletin board.
Letter the three part-titles of the program, “Apologize When You
Are Wrong,” “Holding a Grudge,” and “It Takes Two to Make Up”
on stiff paper or oaktag. Post these on the bulletin board and have
each child choose one to illustrate. Post the pictures under the
appropriate heading.
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness 9
Suggested Activities
Language Arts
Invite children to contribute all the words they can think of to describe what it
feels like when someone hurts their feelings and quickly tells them, “I’m sorry.”
List the words on the chalkboard. Have them then contribute all the words they
can think of to describe how they might feel if they did something wrong and
found that someone is holding a grudge against them or not speaking to them.
List these words as well. Discuss both sets of feelings with the class.
Communication
Invite children to tell about their own experiences with making or accepting an
apology. Have each child describe the situation that led to the misunderstanding,
disagreement, or accident. Did either they or the other person hold a grudge?
Were apologies made and accepted? What was the outcome?
(Note: In their enthusiasm for discussing their experiences, children may inadvertently
reveal personal information. Handle the discussion in such a way as to ward off any
inappropriate self-disclosure.)
Art; Creative Expression
Have children bring in old gloves or mittens and let them create their own pup-
pets using felt, yarn, glue, buttons, and the like. Have them use the puppets to
role play the situations in the program, or make up other situations that show
how saying “I’m sorry” can make people feel better inside.
Music; Creative Expression
Lead the children in reciting the lyrics of the program’s song together, or ask for
volunteers to sing a solo, using any tune they prefer. Divide students into small
groups. Ask each group to come up with a short stanza of additional lyrics
describing the benefits of being able to say, “I’m sorry!”
10 Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Language Arts; Art
Choose one of the books of fiction listed in the Suggested Reading section of this
Teacher’s Guide, or ask your school or local librarian to recommend a book about
the benefits of apologizing when you are wrong or of not holding a grudge. Ask
the class to think about characters as you read the story aloud. Stop at a good
point halfway through the story, and ask students to predict how the story will
turn out. Have them draw pictures to match their predictions. Finish reading the
story to let them see whether their drawings match the story’s ending.
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness 11
Activity Sheets
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong Activity Sheet 1
When Morgan Got Left Out
The story of how Morgan got left out, and its happy ending, is told in the eight sentences
below, but the sentences are out of order. Number them in the right order from 1 to 8.
_______ Breanna learned that Sarah went to the same dance school as she did.
_______ Breanna’s mother asked how Breanna would feel if Morgan
did that to her.
_______ Morgan accepted Breanna’s apology and the three girls played
happily together.
_______ At school, Breanna started talking to a new girl, Sarah.
_______ Morgan lived next door to Breanna and they always played together.
_______ Breanna told Morgan she wasn’t going to play with her because
she and Sarah had to practice their dance steps.
_______ Breanna thought it over and told Morgan she was sorry.
_______ Breanna’s mother asked Breanna what was up between her and Morgan.
14 © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong Activity Sheet 2
Apology Accepted
Make a storybook about what happened when Breanna hurt Morgan’s feelings.
1 2
Breanna made a date with her new She hurt Morgan’s feelings by leaving
friend, Sarah. her out.
3 4
Breanna’s mother asked her how she
would feel if Morgan did the same thing Breanna thought it over, apologized to
to her. Morgan, and the three girls played together.
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC 15
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong Activity Sheet 3
How Would You Feel?
Here are some words that describe feelings:
angry disappointed sad
hurt glad happy
lonely pleased upset
joyful good nervous
Choose from the list the words that describe how you would feel if you were
Morgan, and Breanna told you she decided to play with Sarah, and left you out.
Write the words here.
Now choose and write down the words that describe how you would feel when
Breanna said, “I’m sorry!”
16 © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Part 1: Apologize When You Are Wrong Activity Sheet 4
What Would You Say?
Read the stories below. Write what you would say. Choose from these answers. You can use
one answer, two answers, or all three.
“Too bad.” “It was an accident.” “I’m sorry!”
Luke is coming up behind you. You’re playing soccer and go
You don’t see him and turn too to kick the ball. You miss the ball
quickly, knocking him down. and kick another player very hard.
What would you say? What would you say?
___________________________ _________________________________
On the playground, you throw You think your friend’s new
the ball and it hits one of your sneakers are very uncool. You say
classmates. so out loud, and then see you have
hurt her feelings.
What would you say?
What would you say?
___________________________________
________________________________
You and your friend are play- Your friend gets angry when
ing a computer game. You hit a you take his markers without
button and the screen goes blank. asking.
What would you say? What would you say?
__________________________________
? ________________________________
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC 17
Part 2: Holding a Grudge Activity Sheet 5
When Chippy Got Away
The eight sentences below tell the story of why Andrew got mad at Sam, and how they became
friends again. The sentences are out of order. Number them in the right order from 1 to 8.
_______ Andrew’s brother Todd told him that holding a grudge makes a
situation worse.
_______ With his cage open, Chippy got away.
_______ Andrew thought it over and decided to make up with Sam.
_______ Sam asked to feed Chippy, but didn’t close the cage properly.
_______ Andrew was so angry he wouldn’t accept Sam’s apology.
_______ Andrew blamed Sam for Chippy’s escape.
_______ Andrew called up Sam and invited him over to see his new hamster.
_______ Andrew didn’t have Chippy and he didn’t have his friend.
18 © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
Part 2: Holding a Grudge Activity Sheet 6
Picture It!
What does a grudge look like? How do you hold one? Use your imagination to draw a
grudge in the space below.
Now fill in one face outline to show what someone “holding a grudge” looks like. In the other
face outline, show what someone looks like after “letting go of a grudge.”
holding a grudge letting go of a grudge
Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC 19
Part 2: Holding a Grudge Activity Sheet 7
Andrew Makes Up With Sam
Use the words below to fill in the blanks and retell the story of Andrew and Sam.
grudge apology make up
cage holding blamed
friend sorry gone
Andrew let his friend Sam feed his pet hamster, Chippy, but Sam did not close the ___________
properly. Later that day, Chippy was ______________________. Andrew looked everywhere.
When he couldn’t find Chippy, he got mad at Sam. At school the next day, Andrew
_________________ Sam. Sam felt terrible. He told Andrew he was _______________________.
But Andrew was too angry to accept his _________________________. He told Sam not to
come over ever again.
Andrew’s brother Todd asked Andrew if he was going to stay mad at Sam forever. “You’re
holding a ___________________,” Todd said. He told Andrew that by ______________________
a grudge, he didn’t have Sam as a _______________________ anymore. He advised Andrew to
_______________________ with Sam. Andrew thought it over. He missed Sam. He took
Todd’s advice and invited Sam to come over.
20 © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC Let`s Make Up: Learning About Forgiveness
