: Jamie
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8 
Focus: Conflicting emotions
Resources: Video recording on laptop computer

Questions/instructions:

This activity uses the computer.
We are going to watch a video about a boy named Jamie. Click the Jamie button.

forget

Video voiceover:
[George Vlamakis (2003); What About Me?; Michelle Anderson Publishing Pty Ltd; Melbourne; Australia]

(Jamie in corner)
Jamie was angry. It was the second night in a row that he was not going to see his mum. She was at the hospital AGAIN, looking after his sick sister Susie. Staying at home with Dad was OK, but Jamie missed his Mum. Dad’s cooking tasted funny, and he missed not having his Mum read a book to him at bedtime. Jamie spent most of his day in his own room feeling upset and sad.
(Jamie looking in to room)
Susie’s room was next to Jamie’s but he didn’t like going into her room any more. It was filled with presents and Get Well cards. Everyone was always thinking about his sister because she was sick, and she was getting all the attention. Jamie was worried about his sister too, but he also felt fed up with everyone fussing over Susie all the time, whilst he felt left out. 		(Jamie with Dad in kitchen)
“Do you want to play?” Jamie asked his Dad.
“No Jamie, I’m busy!” answered Dad. “I’m making some chocolate crackles to give to Susie in hospital tomorrow.”
(Jamie running to room and punching pillow etc.)
“Nobody cares about me!” Jamie shouted. Tears started to well up in Jamie’s eyes. He ran to his room, punched the pillow and started to cry.
(Jamie on computer)
Jamie spent the next two days in his room, playing computer games by himself and feeling miserable. Dad knew that something was wrong.


% responses
y4
y8
1. Why is Jamie feeling so miserable? Tell me all the reasons that you can think of.    
 
his mum was in hospital looking after his sister
31
30
he wasn’t going to see his mum/ he missed his mum
48
49
his mum couldn’t read to him at bedtime
17
13
dad’s cooking tasted funny
15
22
his sister was getting all the attention/he felt left out
85
94
his sister was sick/he worried about his sister
20
23
Jamie is having a really hard time because his sister is so sick. When people are having a difficult time they often have lots of different feelings and emotions.

2. What feelings and emotions do you think Jamie might be having? Tell me as many as you can think of.


concern/worry for his sister
13
27
jealous of sister and the attention she was getting
11
29
sad/upset/teary/miserable
90
91
left out/lonely/unimportant
33
49
angry, fed up with fussing/situations
73
84
Overall understanding of Jamie’s situation:
very good/excellent
6
19
good
33
48
moderately good
43
29
poor
18
4
3. Jamie is really unhappy. What could Jamie do to help himself feel better? Tell me all the ways that you can think of.
 
talk about the situations and his feelings to other people (parents, teacher, friends)
21
32
do something to help/cheer sister
29
49
try to understand/accept why Suzy needs extra attention at present, and that it doesn’t mean he is not cared about
4
12
go to hospital to see Mum
33
38
Total score:
11–19
6
18
8–10
27
44
5–7
49
32
0–4
18
6
Subgroup Analysis:
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
Year 8 students scored substantially higher than year 4 students on understanding Jamie’s situation.
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