Professional Documents
Culture Documents
‘Helping Nova’ is one of a set of five stimulating stories which embrace the Northern Ireland
Thinking Skills & Personal Capabilities Framework. The story centres round a young boy, Tony, and
his pet dog, Kizzy, who are faced with a problem. These characters help us learn about some of the
challenges we face when solving problems and making good decisions.
You could introduce and use some of the following words with the children relating to Thinking,
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
Now read the story and have fun finding out the problems and choices Tony has and the decisions
he makes. What do you think might happen?
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Liz Weir is a professional story-teller and author who lives in the Glens of Antrim.
Corrina Askin is an art director, illustrator and animator from Co. Tyrone who is based in Belfast.
More details about their work can be found on the Wise Up and Think link at;
www.nicurriculum.org.uk/skills_and_capabilities/thinking_skills_and_personal_capabilities/index.asp
Acknowledgements
Tony Scullion (CCEA) would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their invaluable contribution to this series:
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“Tony!”
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His Mum’s voice reached all the way up to the
bedroom. Tony was just getting to the good bit
in his story. He pretended not to hear.
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Holly was not happy!
“This is all your fault! Y ou said you knew the way back.
“Tony! Come down here at once!”
Now we’re lost!”
Uh-oh! He knew by the sound of his Mum’s voice
“Look, would you wise up. We just need to go a bit
that this time he needed to move fast. He
further and we’ll find the right path.”
jumped off the bed surprising Kizzy who was
curled up on the mat. She woke with a jump.
Her cousin Tony was always so sure of
everything.
“Coming,Because
Mum.” he lived in the city he
really looked forward to these camping trips.
His dog Kizzy loved getting off the lead to run
free in the forest.
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When they reached the kitchen he saw
his Mum looked really cross. What had
he done now?
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Kizzy started to count as she slunk towards
the open door. Tony’s Mum wasn’t finished yet.
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“No, Mum, it wasn’t me. I was reading.”
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Just round the corner a thin brown and
white dog was licking her lips. It had
been a long time since she’d eaten such
a tasty meal.
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Watching her from the wall was a big ginger
cat. He knew everything that went on in the
street. He’d seen her sneak through the hole
in the fence. She came back carrying the tasty
chicken.
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“Hey, you! What are doing hanging round
here?” asked the big ginger cat.
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“I was starving. I got thrown out on the
street. That’s the first bite I’ve had to
eat in two days and my puppies will be born
soon.”
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Kizzy came running up to the stranger.
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“Look, Ginger, we’ve got to help her. What do
they call you, wee dog?”
“Nova.”
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“Stupid sort of name that. Sounds like a
car.”
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“Leave her alone, Ginger. We can’t help the
names they give us. Let’s think how we can
help her. She’s not used to being on the
street like you. Anything could happen to her.
She could starve to death. Or she could be hit
by a car. Or the dog warden could get her.”
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“Or that gang of bad boys might hurt her. I
had a lucky escape!”
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Ginger shivered as he remembered climbing
the high wall to get away.
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“She needs to be warm and have enough food.
Come on, wee dog, I know just the place,” said
Kizzy.
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Tony was heading off to bed and whispered,
“Kizzy, come on girl. Quick! Mum won’t see you
if you come up now!”
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Kizzy knew she’d made Tony sad, but she had
an important job to do.
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When the house was quiet she sneaked over
to the washing basket and pulled out a warm
fleece. It belonged to Tony’s Mum.
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Then she stretched up to the worktop and
sneaked a loaf of bread that was defrosting
for breakfast. She hid the bread behind
her basket, lay on the fleece, and waited for
morning to come.
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As soon as the back door was opened
Kizzy was out. Tony’s Mum went to lift
the post so she didn’t see her favourite
fleece being trailed outside.
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The bread took a second trip. Kizzy knew
Tony would be disappointed not to see her
when he came down but it was her only
chance.
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“Where’s Kizzy, Mum?” asked Tony.
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Tony wasn’t so sure if he wanted to. He ran
off to school without any breakfast.
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Nova was shaking with cold when Kizzy got to
her.
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Nova soon snuggled up on the fleece and was
eating her way through the pan loaf.
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Kizzy thought about the sad look on
Tony’s face. Maybe she should tell him
the truth. What would happen if they
found out what she’d done? When she
looked at Nova she knew she’d done the
right thing. Tony’s Mum would never
agree!
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She wasn’t wrong there. When Tony
got back from school his Mum was
waiting for him in the kitchen. Kizzy
was lying in her basket with her head
on her paws.
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“You’re home then. At last. Wait till you
hear the latest. My good black fleece has
gone out of the wash basket and there’s
a whole loaf of bread missing from the
worktop. There’s only one suspect and there
she lies looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in
her mouth. I never wanted a dog in the first
place and I’m not going to have a thief in
the house. That dog can go back where she
came from!”
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Tony didn’t know what to say. Kizzy lay
looking up at him with her big brown eyes.
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Tony clipped on Kizzy’s lead. She knew he
was cross with her. As they walked down
the street, Kizzy had to make a decision.
She had to let Tony see she was just
helping a friend. Could she trust him to
help Nova?
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As they got close to the garden where
Nova was hiding Kizzy started pulling
Tony towards the gap in the fence.
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When they got to the old shed Tony
gasped as he saw a wee dog and two
tiny puppies lying on what he knew was
his Mum’s best fleece.
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His Mum would go mad if she saw this.
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What was he going to do now?
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He knew he had a tough decision to make.
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Discussion Prompts
How do you think the chicken could have disappeared? Use the starter – What if…
to explore options and ideas. Do you think mum was right to immediately think it
was Kizzy’s fault? What could have made her feel this way?
Think about this problem– what options might Kizzy have? Think about the
choices she might be faced with, and what might happen if Kizzy decided to
choose that option.
Kizzy is faced with a difficult situation. She knew there would be consequences
from her decision. Discuss what the consequences of a different decision might
be. Use the starter – If Kizzy chose to… then…
Have you ever been in a difficult situation? What options did you have and what
were the consequences of the choices you had? How did you decide in the end?
Tony has a tough decision to make. Why do you think it’s a tough decision for him?
Talk together about:
What options Tony could have?
What might affect the choice he makes in the end?
What decision you think Tony should make and why? Remember to think about the
consequences of different decisions.
Think about the feelings Tony could be having when making his tough decision,
and list what they are. Have you ever had these feelings too?
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