Feel Brave: Wolfgang stories

Session developed by Matt Harvey.

These stories are from the Feel Brave Series, written by Avril McDonald.

The Grand Wolf

Themes: Death, change

When the Wise Owl tells Wolfgang that his grandfather has died I ask the children “what does that mean, that Grand wolf has died?” This is more a case of breaking the circle on ‘death’ without actually doing that although it can become a small enquiry as they work out the conceptual knots and challenge each other’s conceptions a bit.

After the line “you see, none of them wanted their nice world to change” you can ask

Task Question 1: Is it bad if the world changes?

Later in the story when the spider says “it’s helpful to cry” you can ask

Task Question 2: Is the spider right when she says it is helpful to cry?

Towards the end of the story when Wolfgang sees his grandfather in the shed you can ask

Task Question 3: Is the Grand Wolf really there?

 

The Wolf and the Shadow Monster

Themes: Fear, secrets

When Wolfgang’s secret fear of the dark is revealed you can ask the children “the book says Wolfgang had a big problem, what is his problem?” as a comprehension question. The book also says that the problem “hadn’t been shared”. So you can ask

Task Question 1: Should problems be shared?

When the shadow monster appears once they all become afraid of it you can ask

Task Question 2: Is the Shadow Monster really there?

When the spider says “you can change how you feel using your magical mind” you can break the circle on ‘mind’. After, you can ask

Task Question 3: Is the spider right? Can you change how you feel using your mind?

 

Download Feel Brave: Wolfgang stories