for

October

Key Stage 1 teaching materials

Introduction to ElvisThis activity pack is designed for use by schools to promote The St Mungo’s awareness raising campaign, ‘Go Orange for October’, in Key Stage 1.

The resources teach about homelessness using the picture book Elvis.

Elvis was written by Helen Brian, a support worker for the charity. Elvis tells the tale of an elephant, who unexpectedly finds himself homeless. Fortunately, he meets Cilla, an outreach worker, who connects him to the support service offered by St Mungo’s. Helen was inspired to write a story to help explain homelessness to children.

Though a paper copy of the book is not required to use these resources, proceeds from the sale of this book are received by St Mungo’s to continue their work with the homeless communities they serve. Amongst others, the book can be purchased from the following suppliers:https://www.waterstones.com/book/elvis/helen-may-brian//9781838109929

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elvis-kindness-Helen-May-Brian/dp/1838109927

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/elvis-a-tale-of-kindness-and-hope/helen-may-brian/paperback/9781838109929.html

October 2021

What’s included

• Page 5 Activity 1: Exploring what homelessness is and how it might feel

• Page 17 Activity 2: Understanding how St Mungo’s outreach workers support homeless people

• Page 34 Activity 3: Raising awareness of St Mungo’s charitable work and encouraging fund-raising

events

- Page 36 Challenge: Sun catcher

• - Page 41 Challenge: Spreading Kindness

- Page 48 Challenge: Plan an Event (Coins and Numicon activity)

Activity 1

Exploring what homelessness is and how it might feel

Activity 1 plan

Task Overview Comprehension questions followed

followed by empathy role play

activity.

If you are wearing orange on this

day, you might ask the class why you

you are wearing orange and what it

it is raising money/awareness for?

Objectives Develop understanding of the

the issues facing homeless

people

To explore what help they

might need and where they

might get it

Resources required Elvis text provided in the slides

Pre-teaching

Task 1

20 mins

Read the first half of Elvis’ story. Discover how the character became homeless using

using the text and comprehension questions (slides 7-14).

Task 2

15 mins

Guided empathy task (slide 16). Ask the class to close their eyes or bow their head.

head. Read through script, encouraging the children to silently act out the script from

from their carpet space or chair.

When the children re-open their eyes, collect their ideas about how it feels t o be

be homeless and what Elvis’ worries might be.

Task 3

15 mins

Though Task 3 can be completed in the classroom, it is more effective on the

playground where the children experience sitting outdoors.

Role play. Split chn into small groups (4-6). Explain that one child will sit on the floor/a

floor/a bench, while the rest of the group walks past. Like the characters in the story,

story, the people in the park can chat and play amongst themselves but the person

person playing Elvis should be ignored. Ensure that groups cycle roles often to maintain

maintain interest. Teacher to interview the chn playing homeless people to encourage

encourage empathy.

Task 4

15 mins

Still outside… gather the class.

REFLECTION: What does Elvis need at this point in the story? Encourage scientific as

scientific as well as SEMH answers: warmth, shelter, food, water as well as friendship, a

friendship, a hug, somebody to talk to. Where can he get these things? Who could help

could help him?

Task 5

15 mins

Explain that there is a charity, called St Mungo’s, which works to support homeless

homeless people like Elvis. Some people at the charity are called outreach workers.

Meet Elvis

What can you tell me about this character?

What animal is he?

Look at his clothes. What job does he do?

Why is he holding two monkeys?

Elvis is talented.Everybody has a talent. What does talented mean?

What is Elvis’ talent? What is yours?

How do you feel when you use your talent?

Elvis has lost his job.How do you think he feels? Look at the illustration, how do you know?

Can you stand like Elvis? Slump your shoulders and look down.

What might you be worried about now that you don’t have a job?

Elvis’ home was at the garage too.

Now, he is homeless.

What does homeless mean?

How might you feel if you were asked to leave your home and not go back?

Close your eyes.Imagine – like Elvis – you are sat in the park. You have been

sitting on this hard bench all day. Your muscles are aching and

you haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast. You put your

hands on your stomach and hear it gurgle. It’s dinner time and

you really need food.

The sun was keeping you warm, but now it is getting darker

and colder. It will soon be bed time, yet you don’t have a bed

to go to… just this bench. You are wearing all the clothes you

have and you still can’t stop yourself from shivering.

Wait! You see your best friend on the path opposite. You

sniffle and wipe the tears from your face. They will help you!

You wave…

but they hold their nose in the air, like they can’t see you, and

just walk by.

Open your eyes.Was that a pleasant experience?

How might Elvis be feeling right now? Let’s collect our ideas in a word bank.

Activity 2

Understanding how St Mungo’s outreach workers support homeless people

Activity 2 planTask Overview Comprehension questions followed

by empathy role play activity.

If you are wearing orange on this

day, you might ask the class why you

are wearing orange and what it is

raising money/awareness for?

Objectives Develop understanding of the

issues facing homeless people

To explore what help they

might need and where they

might get it

Resources required Elvis text provided in the slides

Pre-teaching

Task 1

15 mins

Read the next part of Elvis’ story. Discover the character of Cilla, the outreach worker,

and how St Mungo’s can support Elvis through the comprehension questions (slides 19-

26).

Task 2

20 mins

Worksheet: Spot the comforts in the St Mungo’s shelter (slide 27): you may need to

discuss and define ‘comfort’. Chn circle the comforts in the picture (there is space

around the picture for optional annotations). Challenge the chn to consider how these

comforts meet Elvis’ needs, which we explored in Activity 1.

Answers and prompts are included on slide 28.

Task 3

15 mins

Reflect: Consider what other comforts are provided by St Mungo’s shelters which can’t

be seen in the pictures (slide 29): carpets, rooves, doors with locks, fresh water,

bathroom. Are there any things you are grateful for in your home, which you usually

take for granted?

Task 4

20 mins

Finish Elvis’ story and review (slide 30-33). Encourage the chn to think about whether

any parts of the story surprised them and whether this makes it an important story to

share. Ask the chn to consider who they might share the story with and why.

Share the story: You may wish to share the link to Elvis’ story on Youtube

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlJofY2eiBw), as well as informing parents and

carers of the funds that will be raised for St Mungo’s by purchasing a copy of Elvis.

Remember Elvis?

What can you remember about this

character?

Who is Elvis? What are his talents?

What has happened to Elvis? Was it his fault?

Where is Elvis now and how is he feeling?

Think back to our role

playing activity

Who do you predict

Cilla might be?

Cilla, like many of the outreach workers

at St Mungo’s, used to be homeless.

She says, “I do understand what you’re

going through.”

Elvis is feeling lonely and misunderstood.

Why is Cilla such a good person for

Elvis to talk to?

What can shelter mean?

What sort of shelter is Cilla talking about?

Task:

Look carefully at the illustration.

Can you spot all the comforts

provided by the team at St

Mungo’s?

Think of all the things we thought

Elvis needed when he was sat in

the park.

Which comforts do you think will

Elvis happiest? Why?

Did you spot?

• The cookiesHe won’t be hungry.

• The hot drinksHe won’t be thirsty, but he will be warm.

• The comfy armchairsHe will be able to rest.

• The games to playHe will be entertained.

• The books to readHe can learn new skills.

• The people to meetHe can make friends and speak to people who

understand his worries.

Which comfort do you think will make Elvis

happiest? Why?

Reflect:There are other comforts at the St Mungo’s

shelter, which you can’t see in this picture.

Why might people recovering from

homelessness be grateful for…

• Carpet under their feet?

• A roof over their head?

• A lock on the front door?

• Fresh water?

• A bathroom with a shower?

These things are so simple we can take them

for granted in our own homes.

Is there anything in your home which

you take for granted?

Elvis

How did the story make you feel?

Did you like it? Why/ why not?

St Mungo’s believes that it is important

to share Elvis’ story. Why might that be?

If you were going to share this story, who

would you tell it to and why?

Activity 3

Raising awareness of St Mungo’s charitable work and encouraging fund-raising events

Note to Teachers:

Activity 3 should use the children’s learning about homelessness and the work of St Mungo’s to inform an outcome that will raise awareness of St Mungo’s … and perhaps even raise some funds!

Slides with a black background mark different ‘challenges’ which can be used to raise awareness. These range from simple, classroom-friendly activities to more resource and time-intensive suggestions.

We hope that you will find an activity that suits your class and timetable

If your school shares on social media, please tag us in your posts celebrating finished outcomes and help us to raise awareness!

@StMungos #GoOrangeForOctober

The ChallengeRaise Awareness: SuncatcherSt Mungo’s brings hope to homeless people by bringing them food in the morning and emergency shelter at night. This can be so early that the sun is only just rising or so late that the sun has set.

With this in mind, we challenge you to make a sun catcher to recognise the important work of St Mungo’s at dawn and dusk and all the hours in between.

You will need:

• Black card or paper plate with a simple house shape cut out

• Orange and yellow tissue paper

• PVA glue

• Optional glue spatulas

Note: Tissue paper can be cut into shapes and arranged in a laminating wallet to create translucent art, if cutting shapes out of black card is too fiddly!

Did you notice the sun in Elvis’ story?

Rewatch the story. Notice how the sun’s face changes as it follows Elvis’ story.

What is a sun catcher?To celebrate the sun and St Mungo’s as a sign of hope, we are going to make sun catchers.

Look at the examples below; which do you think is the most effective?

How do you think they are made?

Task:

1. Choose your tissue paper colours and tear them into strips. The strips should be about the same size as your hand. Maybe you could use all orange for St Mungo’s?

2. Use a spatula to thinly spread glue around the outside of your house shape.

3. Carefully, lie your strips across the gap, so that they stick to the glue.

4. Use a little extra glue to stick down any loose edges.

5. Leave your artwork to dry.

Finally…

Remember to display your sun catcher in a place where it will be noticed. This might be a window in your school or at home.

Your artwork is sure to catch people’s attention –as well as the sun – so don’t forget to share what you know about how St Mungo’s helps homeless people.

The ChallengeRaise Awareness: SpreadingKindnessIn the story, Cilla shows kindness to Elvis and helps him to rebuild his life.

We can all spread kindness through our choices and actions every day.

You will need:

• Printed kindness certificates

• Folded A5/A4 paper for card-making

Note: Tissue paper can be cut into shapes and arranged in a laminating wallet to create translucent art, if cutting shapes out of black card is too fiddly!

Outreach workers help to end homelessness by being kind.

Rewatch the story.What kind things does Cilla say and do?Wave when you hear Cilla doing something kind.

How could we spread kindness at home, in school and in our community?

Kindess grid

Cheer up a neighbour

who is elderly/lives

alone by making a card

and delivering it

Comfort a sibling or a

friend when they are

feeling sad by listening to

their worry and offering a

hug

Smile at someone who

is sleeping on the

street

Set the table for your

family to sit down for

tea together

Ask a family member

how they are and if

they need any help

Invite someone who is

on their own to play

with you

Everyone needs a

bit of kindness

sometimes…

Kindness Ideas

St Mungo’s is looking to celebrate

kindness by awarding certificates to people who

reach out and look after the people around them.

Your teacher will be watching for the kind

words and actions you are showing in

school and at home to award you a kindness certificate.

Certificate of Kindness awarded to

……………………………………..For being kind and thoughtful to others

Date………………………… Signed………………………………

Our first act of kindness will be to make a card to show we value somebody.

Think of the grown up you would like to show kindness to (try not to choose your teacher)!

Draw a happy picture on the front.

What makes your person happy?

Elvis’ talent was being a mechanic. Cilla reminded him of his talent.Think of something this person is good at.

Write your message inside.

What else could you write in your card?

Dear _______,

I think you are a

talented __________.

From,

_________

As well as spreading kindness, we hope your card will help people to learn about St Mungo’s and homelessness.

Write St Mungo’s on the back of your card.

Challenge:

Practice explaining what St Mungo’s is to a partner.

What is homelessness?

What does an outreach worker do?

What comforts can you find in a shelter?

The ChallengeRaise Funds: Plan an event

St Mungo’s is a charity. This means we need help from people like you to raise the money we need to help homeless people, like Elvis.

Use the fundraising pack to choose an event.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

You will need:

• Plastic coins

• Buckets/tubs

• Numicon

Note: Tissue paper can be cut into shapes and arranged in a laminating wallet to create translucent art, if cutting shapes out of black card is too fiddly!

Task 1:

At our event, people will pay us with coins.

Let’s practice recognising the coins.

On your table is a tub of coins. I will name a coin. When you find it, hold it up.Can you show me a …?

Task 2:

We need to understand the value of the coins, so we can check people have paid enough.

Let’s practise recognising the value of the coins using numicon.

We will multiply our numicon value by 10: each gap in your numicon is worth ten.

Let’s count to 10 using numicon.

N.B:Task 2 and 3 will only use 10ps, 20ps, 50ps and £1s. Task 3 can include 1ps, 2ps, 5ps and £2s to extend pupils.

Task 2:

Let’s practise recognising the value of the coins using numicon.

Not every numicon has a coin with a matching value.

Can you match different coins to different numicon pieces?

Which numicon pieces don’t have matching coins?

Challenge:Could you combine two ormore coins to match othernumicon values?

Top Tip: Stick matched numicon and coins to the whiteboard to support the independent activity later.

Task 3:

When our fundraising event is finished, we will need to add the coins to find the total amount of money raised.

Let’s practise adding the coins, so we are ready for the big event.

Each of the tubs have different coins inside. Working as a team, can you add up the coins and write your number sentences on a whiteboard.

When you are finished with your tub, swap it for another one.

What would you miss most about your home?

What can we do to help people who have to sleep on the street?

How do you think Elvis feels now he has his own home?

Thank you… Thank you for introducing Elvis to your learners. We hope they enjoyed

learning about him and the work at St Mungo’s.

We are making an awareness raising film and would like to know what the children have

learnt. If you could film their answers to one of these questions and send them to us, we

will include all that we can!