Five Meters of Time/Fünf Meter Zeit: Children's Picture Book English-German (Bilingual Edition)
What’s inside...
Bilingual Edition English-German: This book explores what happens when the world unexpectedly pauses for a moment, as a small snail crosses the street in one of the busiest cities, causing traffic to stop for half a day. It delves into the activities people always wanted to do but never had the time for, emphasizing the unexpected gift of time. The book is a bilingual picture book with a human-translated 1:1 English-German translation.
Age
3-5
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if you had five meters of time?
How do the two different perspectives in the story show us the importance of time?
Why do you think the traffic jam seemed so long to the little boy?
How do the characters in the story deal with their frustration in the traffic?
What can we learn from the way the characters interact with each other during the delay?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about how they perceive time in different situations and ask them to share examples.
Discuss the concept of patience and how different situations can affect our feelings and reactions.
Use the story to reflect on family experiences in traffic or delays and talk about the feelings everyone had.
Ask your child to draw what they imagine when they think of 'five meters of time' and explain their thoughts.
Relate the bilingual aspect of the book to any personal or family experiences with multiple languages or cultural perspectives.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The story illustrates patience through the slow-moving traffic jam in a bustling city, allowing children to see the benefits of staying calm in frustrating situations.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by managing their own frustrations in difficult situations at school or home, learning to wait calmly during delays or transitions.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As different characters express their worries and hopes during the traffic jam, the book teaches children to understand and share the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children to be more considerate and understanding towards their friends and family members' emotions and perspectives.
Example Lesson: Time Perception
Explanation: The concept of five meters of time, as explored in the book, introduces children to a unique way of measuring time based on experiences rather than hours or minutes.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to appreciate moments in their daily life, understanding that value sometimes lies in experiences shared with others rather than the clock.
Example Lesson: Cultural Awareness
Explanation: By presenting the story in both English and German, the book offers a glimpse into another language and, implicitly, its culture.
Real-World Application: Children can become more open to learning new languages and exploring different cultures, broadening their global perspective.