ToM Booklet 1 Script
ToM Booklet 1 Script
ToM Booklet 1 Script
Story 1
This is a story about a classroom. These kids are all in X grade [usually try to match this
to the participant’s grade], just like you! It's reading time in this classroom. The teacher,
Mr. Abbott, calls all the kids over to read their books. The children all get up to look for
their books. We're going to see what they do, and help them find their books, OK? Are
you ready?
Common Desires
1. Here is Sam. Sam is choosing between two books. One book is about bicycles, and the
other book is about fire trucks.
You do? That’s great! Sam also likes the book about [that one]! So which book will Sam
choose- the one about bicycles or the one about fire trucks?
Diverse Desires
2. Now here is Laura. Laura is going to pick a book off the bookshelf. Look, there are
two books she can choose between. There is a book that has pictures of fish in the ocean,
and there is a book that has pictures of dinosaurs.
What do you like better, fish or dinosaurs? You do? That's great! But Laura likes [other
one] better. So which book do you think Laura will pick? Fish or dinosaurs?
Diverse Beliefs
3. Here is Jonathan. Jonathan is looking for his book. His book might be under the table,
or it might be behind the reading chair. Without peeking, where do you think the book
is: under the table, or behind the reading chair? That's a good guess! But Jonathan
thinks his book is [other one]. So where will Jonathan look for his book: under the table
or behind the chair?
[If he finds it: Oh great! There's his book! If he doesn't find it: Uh oh. It's not there. Can
you help Jonathan find his book?]
Reference (Easy)
4. Here is Ryan, and Ryan just walked into the room. And here on the bookshelf right in
front of Ryan is a big book about airplanes! And there's another book about airplanes,
over here, on the cabinet, behind Ryan's back, behind the door.
So Ryan just walked in (emphasize) through the door and says "I want that book about
airplanes!" Which book does Ryan want? How do you know?
Where will Madison look first for her book? Behind the chair or under the rug?
Oh, look, here is Madison looking for her book behind the chair. Why is Madison
looking for her book behind the chair?
And where is her book really? Can you help Madison find her book?
Now, when Ethan comes in from outside, where will he look first for his book: up on
the shelf, or behind the coats?
Oh look, here is Ethan reaching for this (Paul’s) book up on the shelf. Why is Ethan
reaching for the book on the shelf?
And now Paul sees Ethan reaching for that book, and he gets really upset. Why does
Paul feel sad?
Is Ethan being mean and naughty for taking Paul's book? Why/why not?
Should Ethan get in trouble with the teacher for taking Paul's book? Why/why not?
Can you give Paul back his book?
Expectations
8. This is William. And everyday this month during reading time, William finds this
big grey book about mountains right here on the rug, and he reads it. Every day this
month, the big grey book about mountains was on the carpet. But today before school,
Mr. Abbott moved the big grey book about mountains over to the shelf, and put a big
grey book about horses down on the rug.
When William comes in, and sees this book on the carpet, what will he think is inside?
Pictures of mountains or pictures of horses?
Reference (Hard)
10. This is Daniel. Earlier today Daniel was reading this book about fruit, and he really
liked the section about oranges. It had pictures of oranges, orange juice, orange trees,
and even the farmers who grow the oranges.
Now Daniel is coming in to get a book. Here on the table is the book about fruit that he
read this morning. And over here, on the shelf, is a book about history with an orange
cover.
So Daniel comes in and says "I want the orange book!" Which book does Daniel want?
Interpretation
11. This is Chloe. And Chloe is playing a really silly game today and not saying any
words all day long. Instead, she’s drawing pictures. So now it’s reading time, and
Chloe wants Mr. Abbott to get a book down from the top shelf for her. Up on the top
shelf is a book about witches, and a book about sailboats. Chloe wants the book about
witches, but she doesn't know how to draw a whole witch, because that’s kind of hard.
So she draws a picture of a witch’s hat, and a picture of a witch’s broom [put these
down separately as you say them].
Which picture should Chloe give to Mr. Abbott, so he will get her the book about
witches and not the book about boats?
Why is this clue better than that one? (If prediction question was answered incorrectly:
Actually, she shows Mr. Abbot this clue. Why is this clue better?)
Can you help Mr. Abbott get down the book about witches, for Chloe?
Are you ready for another story? This story is about a family and their day at the park.
Here’s mom, big brother Ivan, little brother Joshua, little sister Isabel, and Sprint, the
dog! Are you ready to hear the story?
Common Desires
1. Joshua is deciding what to do first, in the playground. He can go on either the slide,
or on the swings. Which do you like better - the slide, or the swings?
You like [ ] better? Joshua also likes [ ] better, so which one will Joshua choose to do
first?
Diverse Desires
2. Ivan is also choosing what to do first in the playground. He can go in the sandbox, or
on the trampoline. Which do you like better, the sandbox or the trampoline?
You do? That's great. But Ivan likes [the other one] better. So which one will Ivan
choose to do first? The sandbox or the trampoline?
So tell me- where is Ivan right now? [Behind the bush or in the play house?]
(Correct if wrong by repeating last line of story)
Ok, now Joshua is going to come looking for Ivan. Where will Joshua look first for Ivan?
[Behind the bush or in the play house?]
Oh look - Joshua is looking behind the bush. Can you explain - why is Joshua looking
behind the bush?
[OK, now can you put Joshua where Ivan really is?]
Isabel sees Joshua taking that cookie, and starts to cry. Why does Isabel get mad and
start crying?
Is Joshua being mean and naughty for taking Isabel's cookie? Why? Should Joshua get
in trouble with mother for taking Isabel's cookie? Why?
Emotion reminder
5. Last week, when they came to the park, Sprint was playing with a friendly black
puppy. He was really cute and friendly and everyone was having a good time with
him. But then during snack time last week, the black puppy stole Ivan's cookie, and ran
away with it! Now, while the kids are having their snack today, Sprint is running
around playing with the same friendly black puppy. The black puppy comes running
over to the kids, wagging his tail.
How will Ivan feel when he sees the black puppy? Happy or sad?
Will Ivan want to go near the puppy, or far away from the puppy? Why?
Expectation
6. Every week, mother puts milk in this yellow bottle, and brings it to the park for snack
time. But this week, they were all out of milk, and mom didn’t have time to go to the
store to get more, so she put orange juice in the yellow bottle instead. Now it's snack
time, and Isabel wants a drink.
When she sees the bottle, Isabel says "Oh good! Exactly what I wanted!"
What does Isabel think is in the bottle? Milk or orange juice?
Why does she think that?
When Isabel drinks from the bottle, how will she feel? [Will she feel happy or sad?]
Why?
Interpretation
7. Now, snack time is over, and the three kids are playing a new game. Here's how the
game goes: One kid hides, but draws a clue in the sandbox so the other kids can find
them. So Ivan is going first. He draws this clue in the sandbox, and then he goes to
hide. Where do you think Isabel and Joshua should look for Ivan? How did you
know? (Not coded- just introducing the game to the participant).
OK, now it's Joshua's turn to leave a clue, and hide. Isabel and Ivan will then try to use
the clue to find him. Joshua decides to hide behind the drinking fountain. So he draws a
clue like this: here is the bottom metal part of the fountain, and here is lots of water
coming out of it. [drawing looks much more like a tree]. Then Joshua goes to hide
behind the fountain.
When Isabel and Ivan see this clue, where will they look first for Joshua?
Oh look, Ivan and Isabel are looking behind the tree for Joshua - why are they looking
behind the tree for Joshua?
And that’s because earlier in the day, when no one was looking, Isabel took the toy
truck and buried it in the sandbox.
So Joshua looks everywhere and he can't find his toy truck. Mother gets mad at Joshua,
because he lost his truck.
Is it fair that Mother is mad at Joshua for losing his truck? Why?/Why not?
Is mother mad at Isabel? Why/why not?
Is Joshua mad at Isabel? Why/Why not?
When Isabel sees that Mother is mad at Joshua, she goes to the sandbox and digs up the
toy truck, and gives it back to Joshua.
Isabel tells Joshua that she's very sorry, and she gives him a big hug. Joshua gives her a
big hug back, and Mother and Ivan and Sprint join in.
OK, now it's time to go home! That was a good long day at the playground!