Living in Harmony
Primary 1 · Social and Religious Studies
Living in Harmony
Lesson 1 of 4
11 min
Let's begin
At break time Keza and Mugisha reach for the same ball.
Keza pulls it one way. Mugisha pulls it the other way. Nobody plays.
Today you will learn how to live well with other people.
Harmony means people get along.
You work together. You play together. You listen to each other.
You can see harmony at school and at home.
Children study at one desk. Neighbours plant trees side by side. Friends play and nobody cries.
Harmony breaks when people fight.
It breaks when somebody pushes in the line. It breaks when somebody calls you a bad name.
Then the work stops. The game stops. Everybody feels sad.
Careful! Living in peace does not mean that nobody ever disagrees. Friends want different things every day. Peace is what you do next.
Worked example
one ball, two children.
Step 1 Stop pulling. Take a slow breath.
Step 2 Talk. Keza says, I want to play too.
Step 3 Find a way for both. Mugisha says, You play first, then me.
Step 4 Take turns. Now both children play, and the ball is not torn.
Fighting leaves one ball and two angry children. Talking leaves one ball and two friends.
You do not need big words to live in harmony.
Greet the people you pass. Wait for your turn at the tap. Lend your rubber.
Small kind things, done every day, are what peace is made of.
Akili and her friends learn to take turns with a toy. A short cartoon in English from Akili and Me.
Tip
Talk it out, do not fight it out
When your face feels hot and angry, stop and breathe first.
Then use your words. Words fix the game. Hands make it worse.
Answer each one, then tap Show answer to check.
Two children want one skipping rope. What can they do?
Answer: take turns. One skips, then the other skips.
Umutoni pushes in front of you at the water tap. What do you say?
Answer: tell her kindly that you were first. Do not push her back.
Is it living in harmony to call a friend a bad name?
Answer: no. Bad names break the peace between friends.
Gatete falls down in the yard. What do you do?
Answer: help him up and ask if he is hurt. That is harmony.
Name one neighbour you will greet tomorrow morning.
Answer: any neighbour you choose. Peace starts with a greeting.
What you learned today
Quick check
What does harmony mean?