Help your kids explore six essential character virtues with the Popcorn Park Puppets. In each video the puppets become entangled in problems that require them to sort out right from wrong. With a little help from Socrates and his female counterpart, Diotima, they learn to ask the right questions and do the right things.
Complete with inspiring songs and delightful humor, these videos provide a fun way to engage your students in thinking, talking, and writing about the kinds of people they want to be.
GREAT STORIES! GREAT PUPPETS!
GREAT SING-ALONG SONGS!
Each volume in the series is approximately 25 minutes in length. A teaching guide is included on each DVD providing discussion questions, writing assignments, and group learning activities. Companion materials, including classroom posters and a storybook, are also available to help you extend the lesson even further.
The Six Pillars of Character - TRUSTWORTHINESS
Groark and Muggsy learn how important honesty and trust are in building good friendships. When Muggsy tries to impress Groark by stealing an expensive birthday present for him, Groark struggles to figure out the right thing to do, and teaches Muggsy that it is better to have honest, trustworthy friends than expensive toys.
Learn more / View Video Clips . . .
The Six Pillars of Character - RESPECT
Burna discovers that name-calling, teasing, and put-downs are not good natured fun. When her friends ostracize her for treating them disrespectfully and for bullying a new kid on the playground, Burna learns that the way to have good friendships is to treat people the way you would like them to treat you - with respect.
Learn more / View Video Clips . . .
The Six Pillars of Character - RESPONSIBILITY
Groark and Burna learn that being irresponsible can be unfair and hurtful to everyone, including themselves. When Burna neglects an important responsibility by dumping it on Muggsy, and Groark makes a mistake and lets Muggsy take the blame, the result is a tangle of hard feelings that nearly runs their friendships.
Learn more / View Video Clips . . .
The Six Pillars of Character - FAIRNESS
Essie learns that being fair to everybody can be a lot harder than it seems. When she has to decide which of her friends will get the starring role in the annual Popcorn Park play, Essie has a lot to consider — including the not-so-fair actions of the two competitors.
Learn more / View Video Clips . . .
The Six Pillars of Character - CARING
Burna discovers (by being a "reading buddy") the personal rewards that come from giving of yourself to help somebody else. When Burna has to make a hard choice between doing a community service project and playing soccer, she learns that caring is more about what we do than about how we feel.
Learn more / View Video Clips . . .
The Six Pillars of Character - CITIZENSHIP
Nubbs becomes a hero to his friends by helping them tap into their power to make their neighborhood a better place. When Nubbs leads his friends in a successful effort to transform an ugly vacant lot into a beautiful grove of shady trees, they all experience the satisfaction that comes from being good citizens.
Learn more / View Video Clips . . .
Parents' Choice Award Winner
"We had just completed a Responsibility unit last month, and the video was an excellent culmination of the lesson. I loved the way the video “connected” with the definition of responsibility…and the children NOTICED. The students just loved the colorful characters and inviting settings in the video. The video was able to keep the full attention of the students. The songs were excellent in expressing the feelings of the characters." —Becky Mouser, Counselor, Cravens Academy
