Pri Values - Respect & Inclusion 3: Malahat (1/2)

Teacher notes

This is the 3rd lesson in the Year of Values series. In this storyworld, we meet Malahat, an 11-year-old girl living in Baku, Azerbaijan. Passionate about dancing, she dreams of becoming a professional dancer while living with her family in shared accommodation originally built for oil workers. Through scenes of her daily life, her dance training, and celebrations like Nowruz, students gain insight into Malahat’s culture, her resilience, and the power of holding onto one’s hopes even in challenging circumstances. This story invites reflection on respect, cultural identity, and the importance of making space for every young person’s dreams. Guidance: This session can be delivered from the front of the class or on student devices (if available). The lesson invites students to reflect, share, and journal on the value of respect, not as a fixed definition, but as a living, evolving part of how they show up for others. No prior Lyfta experience is necessary. For new users, see the 20-min ‘Rob in Cornwall’ introduction lesson or 45-min ‘How to Use Lyfta’ overview (links below*). Like ALL Lyfta storyworlds, these characters are unique. We don't share stories as being 'typical' or as 'single stories' of people or places. Suggested introduction for each session in Year of Values: Each week, we explore a powerful human story from a different part of the world, using real-life voices and experiences to help us better understand the values that shape our lives. In this session, we’re focusing on the values of respect and inclusion, but not by giving a fixed definition. Instead, we’ll reflect, question, and explore how people like us (and unlike us) live out this value in the real world. This is about growing our awareness of ourselves and others and being aware of the relationship between the two. Together, we’ll develop our own understanding through thoughtful reflection and respectful dialogue. **Lesson objectives:** Students will: - Reflect on what respect and inclusion look like in action - Explore the power of small acts of kindness and visibility - Make connections between personal values and everyday choices - Begin to define what respect means in their own lives. Storyworld values themes: Respect · Inclusion · Responsibility · Connection · Belonging.