The Midday Sun Beats Down on the Dusty Street

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 99 views

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the concept of a spoken-word piece based on a given situation or short story. Students will create a piece that defends their judgment on whether the boy Wil will or will not return the wallet. This exercise aims to develop critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills.

The Situation

The Midday Sun Beats Down on the Dusty Street

The midday sun beat down on the dusty street, turning the air into a scorching heat. The boy Wil, a young teenager, stood in the middle of the street, clutching a wallet in his hand. The wallet belonged to an old man who had been walking down the street, oblivious to the fact that his wallet had been stolen.

The Boy's Dilemma

Wil had been watching the old man from afar, and he knew that he had the opportunity to return the wallet and do the right thing. However, he was also aware that returning the wallet would mean that he would have to admit to taking it, and he was afraid of the consequences.

The Spoken-Word Piece

As students create their spoken-word piece, they will need to consider the following questions:

What would you do in Wil's situation?
Why would you choose to return the wallet or not?
What are the consequences of each choice?
How would you defend your judgment?

Group 1: Students Will Create a Spoken-Word Piece Based on the Given Situation or Short Story, Defending Their Judgment

The Boy Will Return the Wallet

The boy Wil stood in the middle of the street, clutching the wallet in his hand. He knew that he had done something wrong, and he was afraid of the consequences. However, he also knew that he had the opportunity to do the right thing and return the wallet.

"I know I took the wallet," Wil said, his voice shaking with guilt. "But I'm going to return it. I know it's the right thing to do, even if it means admitting to taking it. I don't want to be a thief, and I don't want to live with the guilt of knowing that I stole from someone who trusted me."

Wil took a deep breath and walked towards the old man, who was still oblivious to the fact that his wallet had been stolen. "Sir, I think I have something that belongs to you," Wil said, holding out the wallet.

The old man looked at Wil in surprise, but he was also grateful. "Thank you, young man," he said, taking the wallet from Wil. "I appreciate your honesty and integrity. You're a good person, and I'm glad to see that you're doing the right thing."

The Boy Will Not Return the Wallet

The boy Wil stood in the middle of the street, clutching the wallet in his hand. He knew that he had done something wrong, but he was also aware that returning the wallet would mean that he would have to admit to taking it, and he was afraid of the consequences.

"I know I took the wallet," Wil said, his voice shaking with fear. "But I'm not going to return it. I'm not going to admit to taking it, and I'm not going to face the consequences. I'm going to keep the wallet and pretend that I didn't take it."

Wil took a deep breath and walked away from the old man, who was still oblivious to the fact that his wallet had been stolen. "I'm not going to do the right thing," Wil said to himself. "I'm going to do what's best for me, even if it means hurting someone else."

Conclusion

In conclusion, the boy Wil's decision to return or not return the wallet is a complex one. On one hand, returning the wallet would mean admitting to taking it and facing the consequences. On the other hand, not returning the wallet would mean keeping the money and avoiding the consequences.

As students create their spoken-word piece, they will need to consider the following questions:

What would you do in Wil's situation?
Why would you choose to return the wallet or not?
What are the consequences of each choice?
How would you defend your judgment?

Discussion Questions

What would you do in Wil's situation?
Why would you choose to return the wallet or not?
What are the consequences of each choice?
How would you defend your judgment?
Is it ever okay to take something that doesn't belong to you?
What are the consequences of lying or stealing?
How can we make amends for something we've done wrong?
What are the benefits of doing the right thing?

Assessment

Students will be assessed on their ability to create a spoken-word piece that defends their judgment on whether the boy Wil will or will not return the wallet. The assessment will be based on the following criteria:

Creativity and originality of the piece
Clarity and effectiveness of the language
Ability to defend the judgment
Use of rhetorical devices and literary techniques

Extension

Students can extend their learning by creating a visual project that represents the boy Wil's decision to return or not return the wallet. The project can be a painting, a drawing, a sculpture, or a digital art piece.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the boy Wil's decision to return or not return the wallet is a complex one. As students create their spoken-word piece, they will need to consider the following questions:

What would you do in Wil's situation?
Why would you choose to return the wallet or not?
What are the consequences of each choice?
How would you defend your judgment?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the main question in the story? A: The main question in the story is whether the boy Wil will or will not return the wallet.

Q: Why is the boy Wil's decision important? A: The boy Wil's decision is important because it shows whether he is willing to do the right thing and return the wallet, or if he is willing to keep it and face the consequences.

Q: What are the consequences of returning the wallet? A: The consequences of returning the wallet are that the boy Wil will have to admit to taking it and face the consequences, which may include punishment or loss of trust.

Q: What are the consequences of not returning the wallet? A: The consequences of not returning the wallet are that the boy Wil will keep the money and avoid the consequences, but he will also have to live with the guilt of knowing that he stole from someone who trusted him.

Q: Is it ever okay to take something that doesn't belong to you? A: No, it is never okay to take something that doesn't belong to you. Taking something that doesn't belong to you is considered stealing, and it is a serious offense.

Q: What are some reasons why people might steal? A: Some reasons why people might steal include:

Financial difficulties
Lack of opportunities
Peer pressure
Desperation
Greed

Q: How can we make amends for something we've done wrong? A: We can make amends for something we've done wrong by:

Returning what we took
Apologizing to the person we hurt
Making restitution
Changing our behavior to prevent similar situations in the future

Q: What are some benefits of doing the right thing? A: Some benefits of doing the right thing include:

Maintaining trust and respect
Building self-esteem and confidence
Developing a sense of integrity and morality
Avoiding punishment and consequences
Feeling good about ourselves and our actions

Q: How can we teach children the importance of doing the right thing? A: We can teach children the importance of doing the right thing by:

Modeling good behavior ourselves
Setting clear expectations and consequences
Encouraging open communication and honesty
Providing opportunities for children to make choices and learn from their mistakes
Praising and rewarding good behavior

Q: What are some ways to prevent stealing and dishonesty? A: Some ways to prevent stealing and dishonesty include:

Teaching children the value of hard work and earning money
Encouraging open communication and honesty
Setting clear expectations and consequences
Providing opportunities for children to make choices and learn from their mistakes
Building strong relationships and trust with children

Conclusion

In conclusion, the boy Wil's decision to return or not return the wallet is a complex one that raises important questions about morality, integrity, and consequences. By exploring these questions, we can gain a deeper understanding of the importance of doing the right thing and the benefits of maintaining trust and respect.

Additional Resources

Books: "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Movies: "The Boy Who Stole the Elephant" (2013), "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" (2015)
Websites: www.kidshealth.org, www.pbs.org
Games: "The Boy Who Stole the Elephant" (video game), "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" (board game)

Discussion Questions

What would you do in Wil's situation?
Why would you choose to return the wallet or not?
What are the consequences of each choice?
How would you defend your judgment?
Is it ever okay to take something that doesn't belong to you?
What are the consequences of lying or stealing?
How can we make amends for something we've done wrong?
What are the benefits of doing the right thing?

Assessment

Students will be assessed on their ability to answer the questions and complete the activities in the Q&A section. The assessment will be based on the following criteria:

Accuracy and completeness of answers
Depth and insight of responses
Ability to think critically and make connections between ideas
Use of evidence and examples to support answers
Clarity and effectiveness of writing and communication