Self-Esteem/Individuality
PreK- I started the lesson by playing the a Sesame Street Video called, "I am Special." In the video, the characters say several ways they are special. Then we discussed that everyone is "special" in many ways. We then read the book, "I Like Myself", and talked about we should be proud of who we are. Then the students drew a picture to illustrate one way they are special.
K- This lesson started with a Sesame Street Video called, "What I am". We talked about we all are very special in many ways. Then I read the book, "Cupcake." The book highlights ways that a cupcake thinks he is too plain compared to all the other cupcakes. So he tries to change his appearance so that he will look more special to others. He figures out he was perfect just they way he was. So the kindergartners got to create their own cupcake by designing it however they wanted and then wrote one way they are special.
1st- We read the book, "I'm Gonna Like Me." The class and I had a discussion that everyone is good at some things and everyone also struggles with some things. We talked about being proud of who you are and being ok with the things you are not so good at. The students then made flowers writing one positive thing about themselves on each petal.
2nd- I read the book, "Giraffe's Can Dance", to the students. We talked about how you have to be confident in yourself to do things that are hard and also be proud of the things you do well. The students then did an activity where they identified 3 things that are difficult for them and then 4 things they do well. The students also drew a picture of something they do well and wrote two sentences explaining their picture.
3rd- The students listened to the story, "Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun." We talked about not changing who you are because of your peers and being proud of yourself. We discussed what self-esteem is and discussed how you can build your self-esteem. In addition, we picked out people in their life that make them feel good about themselves. The students then did a self-esteem silhouette. On the inside of the silhouette they wrote five positive "I am" statements. On the outside of the silhouette their peers wrote positive comments.
K- This lesson started with a Sesame Street Video called, "What I am". We talked about we all are very special in many ways. Then I read the book, "Cupcake." The book highlights ways that a cupcake thinks he is too plain compared to all the other cupcakes. So he tries to change his appearance so that he will look more special to others. He figures out he was perfect just they way he was. So the kindergartners got to create their own cupcake by designing it however they wanted and then wrote one way they are special.
1st- We read the book, "I'm Gonna Like Me." The class and I had a discussion that everyone is good at some things and everyone also struggles with some things. We talked about being proud of who you are and being ok with the things you are not so good at. The students then made flowers writing one positive thing about themselves on each petal.
2nd- I read the book, "Giraffe's Can Dance", to the students. We talked about how you have to be confident in yourself to do things that are hard and also be proud of the things you do well. The students then did an activity where they identified 3 things that are difficult for them and then 4 things they do well. The students also drew a picture of something they do well and wrote two sentences explaining their picture.
3rd- The students listened to the story, "Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun." We talked about not changing who you are because of your peers and being proud of yourself. We discussed what self-esteem is and discussed how you can build your self-esteem. In addition, we picked out people in their life that make them feel good about themselves. The students then did a self-esteem silhouette. On the inside of the silhouette they wrote five positive "I am" statements. On the outside of the silhouette their peers wrote positive comments.
Fairness/Kindness
PreK- In our preschool lesson, we talked about what the word "kindness" means. Also we discussed ways that you can show kindness. We then read the book, "The Kindness Quilt". Then each student made a quilt piece with their hand print and stated one way they could be kind. I then assembled the quilt pieces so each class would have a complete kindness quilt!
K- In kindergarten, we discussed how we show fairness in the classroom and at recess. Then we did an activity on cotton v.s. sandpaper words. We discussed how some words can make us feel like cotton and some words can make us feel like sandpaper. This led me into my lesson on kindness. The class discussed how we can show kindness through words and actions. I then read the book, "A Sick Day for Amos McGee". Last, the students each made a page for a classroom book showing an act of kindness. The pages were then put into a class kindness book!
1st- The first graders described fairness as playing games fair, giving equal amounts, and following the rules. I also used a picture to show them that fairness sometimes doesn't always mean equal it sometimes means giving everyone what they need. Then we did a wrinkled heart activity so the students could visually see what happens to your heart when someone uses unkind words. Next, I shared the book with the class, "Roses are Red, Your Feet Really Stink, so they could see how unkind words make others feel. Then we watched a video called, "One Kindness", so they could see how kindness can be put into action. Last, they filled out a page on how they would keep other people's hearts safe through kindness.
2nd- We started the lesson also talking about the fairness trait. The students discussed what it meant and ways we could show this in many different places at school. Then we discussed how kindness can be shown through kind words. I read the book, "Each Kindness". This book leads to a great discussion on how our words affect others around us. Then I read them a short paragraph called, "The Starfish Story", where it talks about how a boy couldn't make a difference to all the starfish but he could to the ones he was able to throw back in the ocean. Then the students had their peers write kind words about them around their starfish. Next, we watched a video called, "Boomerang". This video shows how kindness can spread and come back to you! The students then brainstormed ways they could spread kindness.
3rd- We talked about what the trait fairness means and how they can demonstrate fairness at school. Then we talked about kindness can be spread through kind words and actions. I read the, "Giving Tree" and we talked about the ways the tree showed kindness. Then we watched the video, "Boomerang", and discussed how we could spread kindness. As table groups, the students discussed ways to show kindness in school, at home, in the community, and to adults. Then the kids were given a kindness challenge to finish by the end of the week.
K- In kindergarten, we discussed how we show fairness in the classroom and at recess. Then we did an activity on cotton v.s. sandpaper words. We discussed how some words can make us feel like cotton and some words can make us feel like sandpaper. This led me into my lesson on kindness. The class discussed how we can show kindness through words and actions. I then read the book, "A Sick Day for Amos McGee". Last, the students each made a page for a classroom book showing an act of kindness. The pages were then put into a class kindness book!
1st- The first graders described fairness as playing games fair, giving equal amounts, and following the rules. I also used a picture to show them that fairness sometimes doesn't always mean equal it sometimes means giving everyone what they need. Then we did a wrinkled heart activity so the students could visually see what happens to your heart when someone uses unkind words. Next, I shared the book with the class, "Roses are Red, Your Feet Really Stink, so they could see how unkind words make others feel. Then we watched a video called, "One Kindness", so they could see how kindness can be put into action. Last, they filled out a page on how they would keep other people's hearts safe through kindness.
2nd- We started the lesson also talking about the fairness trait. The students discussed what it meant and ways we could show this in many different places at school. Then we discussed how kindness can be shown through kind words. I read the book, "Each Kindness". This book leads to a great discussion on how our words affect others around us. Then I read them a short paragraph called, "The Starfish Story", where it talks about how a boy couldn't make a difference to all the starfish but he could to the ones he was able to throw back in the ocean. Then the students had their peers write kind words about them around their starfish. Next, we watched a video called, "Boomerang". This video shows how kindness can spread and come back to you! The students then brainstormed ways they could spread kindness.
3rd- We talked about what the trait fairness means and how they can demonstrate fairness at school. Then we talked about kindness can be spread through kind words and actions. I read the, "Giving Tree" and we talked about the ways the tree showed kindness. Then we watched the video, "Boomerang", and discussed how we could spread kindness. As table groups, the students discussed ways to show kindness in school, at home, in the community, and to adults. Then the kids were given a kindness challenge to finish by the end of the week.