John Locke on Should Emma keep the teddy bear or leave it?

By John LockeCharacter Development2 min readGrade 4.2
Classroom
Intermediate

Overview

Emma found a big, soft teddy bear on the playground. Her friend Lucas saw it too.

The Choice

Should Emma keep the teddy bear or leave it?

Quick Stats

Grade Band
Grades K-2
Reading Level
Level 4.161586770717207
Word Count
234 words
Published
Mar 23, 2026

The Dilemma

Emma found a big, soft teddy bear on the playground. Her friend Lucas saw it too. Emma really wants to keep the teddy bear because it feels like a special treasure. Lucas thinks they should leave it there in case the person who lost it comes back to find it. "But I found it first!" Emma says. "What if no one comes back for it?"

Values in Tension

This dilemma explores the tension between two important values:

Individual Rights
vs
Loyalty

Consider how these values might conflict or complement each other in this situation.

Your Options

A

Emma keeps the teddy bear.

B

Emma leaves the teddy bear.

Questions for Reflection

Take a moment to consider these questions. There are no "right" answers – the goal is to explore different perspectives and develop your own reasoning.

  1. 1

    How would keeping the teddy bear make Emma feel?

  2. 2

    How might the person who lost it feel?

  3. 3

    Why is it important to think about other people's feelings?

  4. 4

    What if Emma lost something important to her?

  5. 5

    How can they know if someone is looking for it?

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Philosophical Perspective

Insights from John Locke

Take a moment to form your own thoughts first, then click to explore philosophical perspectives.

Related Topics

individual rights
community responsibility
Portrait of John Locke, the English Enlightenment philosopher

John Locke1632-1704

John Locke (1632-1704) was a highly influential English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most important Enlightenment thinkers. Known as the 'Father of Liberalism' and founder of British empiricism, he profoundly impacted Western pol…

Empiricism
Liberalism
Development of Empiricism (Tabula Rasa)
Explore how John Locke informs this dilemma and discover additional ethical puzzles shaped by their ideas.
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