Mouse Perspective Lesson Plan City Mouse, Country Mouse Perspectives
Exploring Viewpoints & Empathy
Lesson Plan • Grade 3
Time
30 Minutes
Approach
Collaborative & Project-Based Learning
Objective
Perspective Taking
Rationale
In this lesson, students will explore the concept of perspective taking through the classic fable "The City Mouse and The Country Mouse." By watching the video and engaging in a collaborative activity, students will learn to appreciate different viewpoints and understand the importance of empathy. This lesson is crucial for developing social-emotional skills, as it encourages students to consider others' experiences and feelings, fostering a more inclusive and understanding classroom environment.
Materials Needed
Video Slide Deck
Discussion Guide
Scenario Cards (Cut out)
Projector/Screen
Instructional Sequence
5 min
Introduction
Begin by asking students if they have ever visited a place very different from their home (e.g., a big city if they live in the country, or vice versa).
Briefly introduce the concept of perspective taking : seeing the world through someone else's eyes. Why is it important to understand different viewpoints?
5 min
Video Viewing
Show the video The City Mouse and The Country Mouse .
Setting the focus: Ask students to pay close attention to how each mouse feels about their cousin's home versus their own.
5 min
Discussion
Use the Discussion Guide to lead a class conversation.
Encourage students to share their thoughts on why the mice felt the way they did (comfort vs. excitement vs. safety).
10 min
Collaborative Activity
Divide students into small groups and hand out a set of Scenario Cards .
Ask each group to choose a card and discuss: "How might the city mouse feel right now? How might the country mouse feel?"
Have each group present their scenario and both perspectives to the class.
5 min
Closure
Recap: Perspective isn't about who is "right," but about how our experiences shape our feelings.
Closing Prompt: Ask students to share one thing they learned about perspective taking today.
Mouse Perspective Slides City Mouse,
Country Mouse
Exploring Perspective & Empathy
Warm Up
Have you ever visited a place that was completely different from your home?
The Busy City
The Quiet Country
Key Word
Perspective
Looking at the world through someone else's eyes.
"Perspective is like a pair of glasses that helps us understand how someone else feels."
Movie Time!
The City Mouse and the Country Mouse
[
Click to Watch
](https://methuen.lennylearning.org/view/story-the-city-mouse-and-the-country-mouse )
Look closely: How does each mouse feel about where they are?
Think About It
1
Why did the city mouse want the country mouse to visit?
2
How did the country mouse feel about the noisy city?
3
Can two different places both be wonderful?
Mouse Perspective Discussion Guide Discussion Guide
City Mouse, Country Mouse Perspectives
Use these questions to guide a class conversation on the different viewpoints of the city mouse and the country mouse. Focus on how our experiences shape our preferences and feelings.
1
Why do you think the city mouse wanted the country mouse to visit the city?
Discussion Focus
Discuss the city mouse's excitement about sharing his lifestyle, food, and high-energy experiences. He sees the city as "the best" and wants his cousin to see why he loves it.
2
How did the country mouse feel about the city?
Discussion Focus
Explore the country mouse's initial curiosity compared to her eventual discomfort. Discuss the noise, the danger (the cat), and how the lack of peace made her feel unsafe, even though the food was "fancy."
3
What can we learn from the city mouse and the country mouse about appreciating different lifestyles?
Discussion Focus
Encourage students to think about the value of different experiences. Is one mouse "right" and the other "wrong"? How can we be kind to people who like different things than we do?
Mouse Perspective Scenarios Worksheet Perspective Taking Scenarios
Cut out these cards for group discussions. Consider how each mouse feels!
Scenario A
City mouse invites country mouse to the city.
City Mouse Perspective:
Country Mouse Perspective:
Scenario B
Country mouse shows city mouse her garden.
Country Mouse Perspective:
City Mouse Perspective:
Scenario C
City mouse and country mouse encounter the cat.
City Mouse Perspective:
Country Mouse Perspective:
Scenario D
Country mouse decides to go back home.
Country Mouse Perspective:
City Mouse Perspective:
Cut along the green borders to separate cards
