[MaryMac]

I really want to implement this concept with my 5th graders this year and I came across this read aloud that I thought was worth sharing. It is long but I think it will really get the importance of this message to the kids. (Hope this attachment works

[Judy24]

I wondered if you knew that this exact story was made into a movie with the same title. It's actually pretty good.

[JRichard]

I teach "Pay It Forward" to my 8th graders. I bought a "Clean Films" version of the movie and show it to them. I always cry at the end

The concept was very successful with my kids. At 13 and 14, they are starting to become more politically and socially aware...and are excited and willing to make changes and take risks.

The website for the movie is very good and has some lessons. There is also a website for the foundation that has a lot of good PIF stories.

http://www.payitforward.com
http://www.payitforwardfoundation.com

Jenny

[MaryMac]

I have seen the movie and still don't understand why it had to end like it did. Jenny, do you know how I can get a clean version, and do you think it would be appropriate for 5th graders?

[BookMuncher]

Check out:


www.givinggame.com

It's a pay it forward world wide game that I think would be so cool for a little bit older kids... it's free, too!

[JRichard]

I think they made it end that way so it wasn't too "sweet and perfect" and thus, unrealistic. I felt like it was a very realistic ending, although it wrecks me everytime as a mom (same thing with AI).

I bought the video on cleanfilms.com. The clean version removes the sex scene and all of the cuss words. However, I think it's probably still too heavy for first graders (deals with abuse and alcoholism).

I had heard of the giving game before. I will probably use this with my kids instead of the cards Pay It Forward has on their site.

Jenny

[MaryMac]

Thanks for the great idea. It is perfect for what I had in mind for my 5th graders!

To Jenny - Thanks for the Cleanfilms website too!