NCJ Number
158437
Date Published
1996
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video uses humor, songs, puppets, and a ventriloquist to teach children (grades K-5) how to resolve conflict constructively.
Abstract
As the video opens, Groark, a dragon puppet, appears with his ventriloquist friend McGee, to put on a show of song and comedy for a group of children. Groark, however, still has his mind on an argument he had with his friend Essie prior to coming to the show. Using a puppet dramatization, the video provides a flashback to what happened between Groark and Essie. For a science-fair project, Essie and Groark are attempting to build a robot who will enforce litter laws. Essie wants a smart and friendly robot, but Groark wants an intimidating and scary robot. They argue and refuse to work together on the project. After expressing their argument in a song, Groark leaves the scene. After telling this dramatized story to the children, McGee suggests that the children provide Groark with some advice on how to handle his conflict with Essie. Among the suggestions are to incorporate both the ideas of Essie and Groark in the robot, find the points of agreement and compromise on disagreements, and respect one another's ideas. The children suggest that Groark go back to Essie, apologize to her, and find points of compromise so they can continue to work together on the project. Groark then leaves the show to find Essie, and their reconciliation is dramatized in both action and song as Groark applies the children's advice in building the robot with Essie. The video closes as Groark returns to McGee and the children to tell them about the resolution of the conflict. McGee and Groark then sing a song about friendship. A discussion guide accompanies the video. For other videos in the series, see NCJ-158436 and NCJ- 158438-40.