And then star pose! Remember to reiterate that ultimately, we are striving for being ‘un-stickable’. Chair pose next this is where the Wemicks sit when they visit Eli. Then, move to table pose because that is where Eli creates all of his masterpieces. Maybe start out by having the kids reach all around them in a v-shaped sitting position, picking up their dots and stars. I would use this part of the story to create a sitting-to-standing pose sequence that reiterates the message of Punchinello’s error in focusing on his dots versus starts, and how Lucia kindly guides him to visit Eli, the woodworker, in his woodworking shop. Lucia does not have any stars or dots, and Punchinello is fascinated by this. Get On Your Feet: The middle of the story crosses the paths of the dot-burdened young Wemick, Punchinello, with another Wemick, Lucia. In other words, are they labeling themselves or letting other people define them? How does that feel? When might this happen? Do you do this to other people? Discuss if they put their own stickers on, or if they allowed other people to put them on. In the beginning of ‘Special’, the focus is clearly on this definition of being mostly stars or mostly dots, but we see by the middle of the story that what really matters is understanding we are loved no matter the definitions that are placed upon us by others. Neither define us, in light of being loved for simply being. Yes, it requires a vulnerability, but the desired outcome is one in which stars and dots are no matter. Eli explains to Punchinello that if he is not bothered by what the other Wemmicks think, then the star and dots will not stick to him either.Īfter reading the book with your students, here are some activities to explore the lessons more fully…Ĭircle Time: This floor time would allow for a discussion of what each person in your class feels their stars and dots would be (stars being their best attributes, and dots being their weakest).

Punchinello doesn’t want any stickers on him either so Lucia tells him to visit their maker, Eli. One day he meets a Wemmick named Lucia who doesn’t have any gold stars or gray dots because they don’t stick to her.

A Wemmick named Punchinello always tries his best to receive gold stars from the other Wemmicks but only receives gray dots for not doing well enough.

The Wemmicks walk around all day and give each other either a gold star or a gray dot sticker. If you haven’t read this book, here is a brief summary from Teaching Children Philosophy…In a village, there live many different Wemmicks. I believe it will resonate wildly with your little yogis. You Are Special by Max Lucado is an amazing book, one to be considered for sharing in yoga class.

You are special lucado