Educational activity based on the short film L'herbe verte
Participate in discussions constructively, position their contributions in relation to those of others, put forward arguments, draw on knowledge, and observe the usual rules of communication.
L'herbe verte © Jean Michel Trauscht
TitleL'herbe verte
ThemeAnimals, Freedom
Genre & keywordsComic, cow, animals, meadow, fence, escape
Age (for the film)3-9 years
Duration02 min 24 s
DirectorJean Michel Trauscht
MusicAlban Lelièvre
ProductionJean Michel Trauscht (France, 2010)
Philosophical debates.
In the short film, the cows have a golden opportunity: to leave their pen. However, out of fear of the unknown, yet they refuse to make their escape. This is a chance to debate the notion of freedom, but also the preconceptions that sometimes curb our curiosity and stop us from overcoming our fears.
Why are the other cows afraid, and why do they refuse to leave their pen?
Why not present Plato's allegory of the cave from Book VII of The Republic (around 400 BC), one of the best-known texts in Western philosophy? This allegory can be explained simply without addressing all the philosophical concepts and can become a genuine topic for debate for students (from 6-9 years old) who will be thrilled to tackle a concept that the “big kids” study.
In a cave, chained men have lived since their childhood who only see before them the shadows of statuettes of men and animals projected on the walls. (show the diagram of the cave to help make the situation clear). For these men, the shadows of objects on the wall of the cave are therefore the only real world and if one of them were to emerge from the cave, dazzled by the sun, he would surely prefer to return to the cave where he was born, the only world he knows. If, however, this man were forced to stay outside, he would eventually get used to it and prefer the light of the sun to the darkness of his cave.
Now accustomed to the light, what would happen to him if he went back down into his cave?
“Wouldn't his eyes be blinded by the darkness when he suddenly came out of full sunlight? [...] Would not the cavemen laugh at his expense and say that having gone up there he came back with his eyesight ruined, so that it is not even worth trying to climb up there? »
Following the presentation of the allegory, compare it with the cows in the short film then hold a debate based on the students' personal experience.
Activity sheet written by: Christophe Defaye
