Parton, Dolly.  (1994). Coat of Many Colors.  NY:  HarperCollins.

 

Musical Connection:  using lyrical words to tell a story

Positive Character Traits & Values:  empathy; honor; family / belonging

 

Dolly Parton’s song, “Coat of Many Colors,” is illustrated in a picture-book story format. The book is based on Dolly Parton’s life growing up in the hills of Tennessee.  She tells the musical story of a little girl growing up who had no winter coat.  So, the mother sews a special coat for her little girl out of rags.  She tells the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors to her child.  Proudly, the little girl wears her coat of many colors to school.  The children at school make fun of the little girl and her coat; but, the little girl tries to tell her classmates that “one is only poor if they choose to be.” The famous words from the song say:  “And though we had no money—I was rich as I could be, in my coat of many colors that Mama made for me.”

 

“Coat of Many Colors” is an exceptional piece to use when examining the character trait of empathy.  To help children understand what it means to portray empathy, teachers are encouraged to involve students by developing a class service learning project.  The project should be neighborhood / community oriented and one that can be completed within the school year calendar.  Service learning projects actively involve students in helping to solve a problem while performing a service to others.

 

            Some generic service learning projects focusing on “empathy” include the following:

 

  • Collecting, packing, and distributing food / staples / dry goods for a local food pantry
  • Singing, dancing, reciting, and performing at a nursing home / group home for residents
  • Corresponding through writing cards and letters and drawing pictures to a resident at a nursing home facility
  • Participating in outside yard clean up or planting bulbs / flowers at homes where physically challenged people reside
  • Making board games / card games for a local hospital to give to children and their families who are facing health crisis’

 

 
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