SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

Activity Title: Star in Our Hearts – Values That Remain

2. Target group

• Pupils in years 1-5 of primary school (adaptable for pre-school).
• Estimated duration: 1 to 2 school hours

3. Form of work

Classroom work, individual work, group activity, discussion

4. Didactic starting points

The concluding part of the story allows pupils to reflect on all the values they have rediscovered through their journey. The emphasis is on understanding that values are not just part of the story but part of everyday life. Pupils reflect on how trust, respect, honesty, mutual help, belonging, and moderation can be lived in the classroom, at home, and in the wider community.

5. Learning objectives

• Recognise and name the values that the pupils learned through the story
• to develop the ability to reflect on one's actions and behaviour
• strengthen the sense of responsibility for group relationships
• develop a sense of belonging to the class and community
• foster awareness that values live in our actions every day

6. Accessories

• glass jars (e.g. from jam)
• Coloured tissue paper or napkins
• Glue
• flomaster
• tealights (can be electric)

7. Course of Activities

The teacher reads the twelfth page and leads a discussion about what has been read. 

Interview questions

• Why did the schoolyard feel different?
• What values did the children discover along the way?
• How can we live these values in our classroom?

8. Art activity: Harbour values

Objective Pupils create a symbol to remind them daily that values shine within them.

Flow:

• Each student will receive a glass to transform into a lantern of values.
• The glass is covered with pieces of coloured tissue paper or coloured napkins (top layer only) to create a coloured lantern.
• The jars can be labelled with one or more values (either with a waterproof marker or by attaching a label to the jar).
• An (LED) candle is placed in a jar.
• When the teacher turns off the lights in the classroom, everyone turns on their little lights together.

9. Movement Activity: Circle of Values

Objective To reinforce the sense of connection and belonging to the group, repeat all values and give them a physical form/sign.

Flow:

• The pupils are standing in a circle.
• The teacher says a value (e.g., respect).
• The student makes a small movement or action that illustrates this value (e.g., extending a hand – shaking hands).
• The next student repeats the movement, and so the movement flows in a circle.
• Another student picks a movement for the second value, and this again runs in a cycle.
• This way, values are given movement and create a chain of values.
• Option: we can add other values and create movements for them, or we can redesign the activity so that a pupil in the centre of a circle demonstrates a movement, and everyone around them repeats it.

This is how the “value chain” is created, spreading around the circle.

10. Conclusion and reflection

Final thought: »The star does not shine in the sky, but shines in each of us when we live our values.«

Let's discuss which values we have learned, which one was closest to us, which one we will need to work on. We can create a plan for developing class values. Everyone can contribute an idea on how they will ensure the lights of values shine within them every day and how they will also spread the magic of values into the world.

Primary School Piran