SOCIAL SCIENCE

Lekuton made a decision that affected how others viewed him. He decided to run for help during the lion hunt even though he might appear to be a coward. What if everyone in his village gathered after the lion hunt to discuss what happened? What do you think they would say about him? Imagine that you are part of the discussion in the village, and have the discussion with a group.

Different viewpoints make discussions interesting.

• 1 Choose a Viewpoint Tell your viewpoint to the group. Was what Lekuton did brave? Or did he act cowardly?

• 2 Share Your Ideas Share your reasons for your viewpoint. For example, “I think Lekuton was brave because he went to get help.” Use examples from the story to support your reasons.

• 3 Listen and Respond to Other Viewpoints Listen carefully and respectfully to others in the group to hear their viewpoints. Build on others’ ideas. For example, “When you said that Lekuton gave his spear to his brother, that reminded me that Lekuton wanted to help. So, I do not think he was a coward.”

• 4 Notice Any Bias Some people in the discussion might have a bias. A bias is a particular or personal reason for thinking one way. Someone who has a bias usually makes his or her decisions or judgments based on emotions, not facts. For example, Lekuton’s mother might say he was brave without hearing the facts. As his mother, she may have a hard time thinking anything negative about her son.

  If someone in the discussion has a bias, it is better to ask a question about his or her thinking than say something like, “You are wrong!” For example, you might ask Lekuton’s mother “Why do you think he was brave?”

• 5 Tell What You Discovered Summarize your discussion for the class. Did you change your point of view, or did it stay the same after your discussion? Tell what you discovered about the different viewpoints and reasons for each person’s viewpoints.