Character Connections

Bat Loves the Night

In this informative story about bats, readers learn just how helpful bats can be despite their spooky reputation.  Hopefully, the students will have more TOLERANCE for bats as they read interesting facts about them. This story encourages an appreciation for the uniqueness of bats and provides an opportunity to become more aware of the DIVERSITY of the animal kingdom. Transferring this understanding to people who are different will help develop ACCEPTANCE of others. The readers will become aware of how mother bats show COMPASSION for their young in the way they care for them.  In addition, RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT can be emphasized due to the contributions bats make.  Bats are also a great example of careful listening and focus which is an important aspect of RESPECT FOR LEARNING.

ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSION STARTERS:

Respect for the Environment: After discussing the contributions bats make, give each student a template of a bat. Ask them to write something they have learned about bats on the template. Students may then decorate and make an informative display on a wall or bulletin board.

Compassion: Discuss how the mothers care for their batlings. Ask students how their parents care for them and how members in their family show compassion toward each other.

Diversity, Tolerance, and Acceptance: Ask students if their opinion of bats has changed since hearing this story. Discuss the unfairness of making hasty judgments about others before we really get to know them.

Respect for Learning: Discuss how bats use echolocation and how it helps them. Ask students to compare and contrast how people listen to how bats listen.