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Thinking Problem-Solving & Decision-Making

‘Helping Nova’ is one of a set of five stimulating stories which embrace the Northern Ireland Thinking Skills & Personal Capabilities Framework. The story centres round a young boy, Tony, and his pet dog, Kizzy, who are faced with a problem. These characters help us learn about some of the challenges we face when solving problems and making good decisions.

How the book should be used with children:

• readthebooktoorwiththechildren;• usetheillustrationstosupportthetext;• atkeypointsinthetextyouwillseea.Thisagoodpointtostopandtalkaboutwhatis

happening;• usethepromptquestionsontheinnerbackpagetogiveyousomesuggestions;and• reinforcethekeywordsandphrasesthatareusedwithinthebook.

You could introduce and use some of the following words with the children relating to Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

what if? what would happen if…?decisions problems options choices consequencesif… then…?

Now read the story and have fun finding out the problems and choices Tony has and the decisions he makes. What do you think might happen?

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Liz Weir is a professional story-teller and author who lives in the Glens of Antrim.

Corrina Askin is an art director, illustrator and animator from Co. Tyrone who is based in Belfast.

MoredetailsabouttheirworkcanbefoundontheWiseUpandThinklinkat;www.nicurriculum.org.uk/skills_and_capabilities/thinking_skills_and_personal_capabilities/index.asp

Acknowledgements

Tony Scullion (CCEA) would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their invaluable contribution to this series:

• CarolWeatherall,BelfastEducationandLibraryBoard

• LynneBianchi,CentreforScienceEducation,SheffieldHallamUniversity www.personalcapabilities.co.uk

• MarianHamill,CCEA,PersonalDevelopmentandMutualUnderstanding

Designed and produced by CCEA | Multimedia

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“Tony!”

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His Mum’s voice reached all the way up to the bedroom. Tony was just getting to the good bit in his story. He pretended not to hear.

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Holly was not happy!

Her cousin Tony was always so sure of everything. Because he lived in the city he really looked forward to these camping trips. His dog Kizzy loved getting off the lead to run free in the forest.

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“This is all your fault! Y ou said you knew the way back. Now we’re lost!”

“Look, would you wise up. We just need to go a bit further and we’ll find the right path.”

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“Tony! Come down here at once!”

Uh-oh! He knew by the sound of his Mum’s voice that this time he needed to move fast. He jumped off the bed surprising Kizzy who was curled up on the mat. She woke with a jump.

“Coming, Mum.”

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When they reached the kitchen he saw his Mum looked really cross. What had he done now?

“Was that dog upstairs again? How many times have I told you not to let her in?”

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Kizzy started to count as she slunk towards the open door. Tony’s Mum wasn’t finished yet.

“Did you touch those bits of chicken I left out on the table? I was just going to make a curry when the doorbell rang and now they’ve disappeared.”

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“No, Mum, it wasn’t me. I was reading.”

“Maybe it was that dog of yours?”

“Kizzy was with me all the time. She couldn’t have done it. What if…”

“Don’t talk back… Well, it’s a mystery to me. I don’t see how they could have vanished into thin air. This is starting to be a problem. It’s not the first time things have disappeared. Yesterday it was some bacon. I’m keeping an eye on that dog of yours! Well, there’ll be no curry tonight! You’ll just have to have beans on toast!”

Tony didn’t mind – he liked beans on toast.

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Just round the corner a thin brown and white dog was licking her lips. It had

been a long time since she’d eaten such a tasty meal.

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Watching her from the wall was a big ginger cat. He knew everything that went on in the street. He’d seen her sneak through the hole

in the fence. She came back carrying the tasty chicken.

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“Hey, you! What are doing hanging round here?” asked the big ginger cat.

The wee dog looked scared when he saw the cat’s fierce green eyes.

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“I was starving. I got thrown out on the street. That’s the first bite I’ve had to eat in two days and my puppies will be born soon.”

“That doesn’t give you the right to steal. Here comes Kizzy. She’ll soon sort you out!”

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Kizzy came running up to the stranger.

“Are you trying to get me into trouble?” she growled.

“I’m sorry. My owners didn’t want me and I was starving. It’s hard being out on the street.”

Kizzy knew all about that. Tony had rescued her from the dog pound. She was thinking hard. If she decided to help the stray dog she might get into trouble. She didn’t want to be back in the pound again.

Kizzy saw how scared the stray dog looked.

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“Look, Ginger, we’ve got to help her. What do they call you, wee dog?”

“Nova.”

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“Stupid sort of name that. Sounds like a car.”

The big cat hissed.

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“Leave her alone, Ginger. We can’t help the names they give us. Let’s think how we can help her. She’s not used to being on the street like you. Anything could happen to her. She could starve to death. Or she could be hit by a car. Or the dog warden could get her.”

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“Or that gang of bad boys might hurt her. I had a lucky escape!”

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Ginger shivered as he remembered climbing the high wall to get away.

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“She needs to be warm and have enough food. Come on, wee dog, I know just the place,” said Kizzy.

Kizzy was back home by bedtime. She curled up in her basket in the warm kitchen thinking of Nova lying in the cold old shed next door. She should be safe enough there for a while. The owner was in hospital. The problem was that she needed to get more food and something for Nova to lie on, but how? Tony’s family had been good to her and she didn’t like stealing from them. She didn’t want to let them down, but what choices did she have? What would happen if she didn’t do anything? Could Nova die?

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Tony was heading off to bed and whispered, “Kizzy, come on girl. Quick! Mum won’t see you if you come up now!”

Kizzy didn’t move from her basket.

“Well, be like that then! I’m away to bed.”

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Kizzy knew she’d made Tony sad, but she had an important job to do.

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When the house was quiet she sneaked over to the washing basket and pulled out a warm fleece. It belonged to Tony’s Mum.

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Then she stretched up to the worktop and sneaked a loaf of bread that was defrosting for breakfast. She hid the bread behind her basket, lay on the fleece, and waited for morning to come.

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As soon as the back door was opened Kizzy was out. Tony’s Mum went to lift the post so she didn’t see her favourite fleece being trailed outside.

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The bread took a second trip. Kizzy knew Tony would be disappointed not to see her when he came down but it was her only chance.

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“Where’s Kizzy, Mum?” asked Tony.

“She went off like a rocket as soon as I opened the door. I don’t know what’s got into her. Usually she can’t wait for me to put out her food.”

Tony was annoyed. He liked spending time with Kizzy before he set off for school. Maybe she didn’t like him any more?

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“You can take her for a good walk after school.”

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Tony wasn’t so sure if he wanted to. He ran off to school without any breakfast.

“Tony, come back here! You need something to eat.”

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Nova was shaking with cold when Kizzy got to her.

“I thought you’d forgotten me. I’m freezing!”

“This will keep you warm!”

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Nova soon snuggled up on the fleece and was eating her way through the pan loaf.

“That’s better! Thanks. I hope you don’t get into trouble with your people.”

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Kizzy thought about the sad look on Tony’s face. Maybe she should tell him the truth. What would happen if they found out what she’d done? When she looked at Nova she knew she’d done the right thing. Tony’s Mum would never agree!

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She wasn’t wrong there. When Tony got back from school his Mum was waiting for him in the kitchen. Kizzy was lying in her basket with her head on her paws.

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“You’re home then. At last. Wait till you hear the latest. My good black fleece has gone out of the wash basket and there’s a whole loaf of bread missing from the worktop. There’s only one suspect and there she lies looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. I never wanted a dog in the first place and I’m not going to have a thief in the house. That dog can go back where she came from!”

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Tony didn’t know what to say. Kizzy lay looking up at him with her big brown eyes.

“But Mum, she’s a great dog. She wouldn’t steal from us, would she?”

“Take her out of my sight. We’ll talk about it when your Dad comes home.”

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Tony clipped on Kizzy’s lead. She knew he was cross with her. As they walked down the street, Kizzy had to make a decision. She had to let Tony see she was just helping a friend. Could she trust him to help Nova?

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As they got close to the garden where Nova was hiding Kizzy started pulling Tony towards the gap in the fence.

“No, Kizzy! We can’t go in there. ”

She was too strong for him and dragged him on through.

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When they got to the old shed Tony gasped as he saw a wee dog and two tiny puppies lying on what he knew was his Mum’s best fleece.

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His Mum would go mad if she saw this.

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What was he going to do now?

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He knew he had a tough decision to make.

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How do you think the chicken could have disappeared? Use the starter – What if… toexploreoptionsandideas.Doyouthinkmumwasrighttoimmediatelythinkitwas Kizzy’s fault? What could have made her feel this way?

Think about this problem– what options might Kizzy have? Think about the choices she might be faced with, and what might happen if Kizzy decided to choose that option.

Kizzyisfacedwithadifficultsituation.Sheknewtherewouldbeconsequencesfrom her decision. Discuss what the consequences of a different decision might be. Use the starter – If Kizzy chose to… then…

Haveyoueverbeeninadifficultsituation?Whatoptionsdidyouhaveandwhatweretheconsequencesofthechoicesyouhad?Howdidyoudecideintheend?

Tony has a tough decision to make. Why do you think it’s a tough decision for him? Talk together about:What options Tony could have?What might affect the choice he makes in the end?What decision you think Tony should make and why? Remember to think about the consequencesofdifferentdecisions.Think about the feelings Tony could be having when making his tough decision, and list what they are. Have you ever had these feelings too?

We all have a story in usRecountastorywherethecharacterisfacedwithadifficultdecision.Note: Encourage the children to consider how the characters would have felt during the story…wouldtheyhavebeenworried,anxious,excitedetc…Drawouttheemotionsthatcharactersinstoriesmightfeelindifferentsituations,explainingandexploringwiththechildren the role of emotion in story telling.

Find additional support and activities for ‘Helping Nova’ at: www.nicurriculum.org.uk/skills_and_capabilities/thinking_skills_and_personal_capabilities/index.asp

Discussion Prompts