The Two Goats

Name: The Two Goats
Author: Jonathan Bernstein

A story that explores cooperation and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

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♥ This book teaches: Cooperation. choosing the group over the self.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition of Cooperation for 4 - 7 year olds: Cooperation happens when two or more people help each other to make something good happen. It can also apply to animals or parts of a whole that need each other and work together. An example of this is the human body – all the parts work together to make you healthy. In a nutshell: Together we can do more. Summary: One day two goats were crossing a log over a deep chasm, approaching the middle from opposite sides. When they arrived in the middle, they argued about which goat should cross the log first. Each refused to let the other pass. They butted each other and fell into the chasm and died. After some time, two goats faced a similar struggle as they started to cross the bridge at the same time. They wisely worked out a sensible and successful plan that enabled both of them to safely cross the bridge. Lesson Objectives:

Students discuss the definitions of competitive and good sportsmanship; they are able to describe some examples of both good and bad sportsmanship in a competition, with reference to the attitudes of winners and losers.
Students demonstrate better sportsmanship by practicing compliments to fellow teammates and competitors, like, “Great game!” or “I like the way you passed the ball to your teammate.” Teachers reinforce these behaviors during competitions.

Guiding questions:

Why do you think the first two goats fell into the river and drowned?
What could they have done differently to solve the problem of crossing the bridge?
When the second pair of goats wanted to cross the bridge, what did one of them offer to do so they could both get across safely?
Why do you think they decided to cooperate?
Are you more like the first two goats or the wise goat when there’s a conflict?
Would you be willing to let another person go first if you both wanted to go first? Why or why not?
How do you feel when you are around people who are fighting?
Have you ever tried to help people find a way to solve their conflict? What happened?
Can you think of a movie or book in which people who had a conflict were able to come to an agreement?
How does working together make things easier and more enjoyable?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Cooperation means choosing to contribute to something larger than yourself.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

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Cooperation · Family Discussion Guide

The Two Goats

by Jonathan Bernstein

Guiding Questions

Students discuss the definitions of competitive and good sportsmanship; they are able to describe some examples of both good and bad sportsmanship in a competition, with reference to the attitudes of winners and losers.
Students demonstrate better sportsmanship by practicing compliments to fellow teammates and competitors, like, “Great game!” or “I like the way you passed the ball to your teammate.” Teachers reinforce these behaviors during competitions.

Guiding questions:

Why do you think the first two goats fell into the river and drowned?
What could they have done differently to solve the problem of crossing the bridge?
When the second pair of goats wanted to cross the bridge, what did one of them offer to do so they could both get across safely?
Why do you think they decided to cooperate?
Are you more like the first two goats or the wise goat when there’s a conflict?
Would you be willing to let another person go first if you both wanted to go first? Why or why not?
How do you feel when you are around people who are fighting?
Have you ever tried to help people find a way to solve their conflict? What happened?
Can you think of a movie or book in which people who had a conflict were able to come to an agreement?
How does working together make things easier and more enjoyable?

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The Two Goats

Guiding Questions for Parents.

About the Story.

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The Two Goats

Guiding Questions