Stand in my Shoes!

In 2nd Grade Social Skills Classes we did a lesson on empathy and respecting human differences. We went over what the word empathy means because we did cover it in the beginning of the school year. It was a great review and many students responded by helping others and it is your friend's feelings. I explained that all of us are different just like our shoes we wear. We all checked each other's shoes out and discovered that we go a lot of places with our shoes. It was a good visual for them to realize that we come from different places. Next I read 'Stand in my Shoes' by Bob Sornson. The book went right along with our theme empathy and helping the students understand why it is important to pay attention to other's feelings. After the book we looked at several different shoe pictures I had up on the screen and created a story about the pair of shoes. Each story introduced someone that was going through a difficult time in their life. I had the students imagine how they could help that person and if they were that person what they could do. They really enjoyed this lesson and come up with some great ideas how they could make the situation better.

No two Alike!

In Kindergarten Social Skills Class we have been talking about how we are all special and unique. We went around the classroom and talked about things that we are really good at. We also shared what we need to practice to get better at. Students began to understand that we all have strengths and weaknesses. Next we read a story called 'No Two Alike' by Keith Baker. The story didn't have a lot of words to it but it created a great discussion of how things around us are different and the students could share their experiences about it. After we read our story we worked on a worksheet called snowflakes of friendship. This worksheet helped students think of different people in their life who are special to them.

The Crayon Box that Talked

In Kindergarten social skills classes we are talking about human diversity and a fun way to talk about this is to read The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane Derolf. Students enjoy this book because we talked about how boring life would be if we had just one color. Students agreed that we like to have lots of colors and all work together just like the crayons in our story. After reading our story we made our own crayons by drawing our self-portrait on them found at Teachers Pay Teachers. We will be hanging these up in our classroom and showing that life is full of colors and we should appreciate all of our differences! 

Unique Monique

Continuing celebrating human differences 1st grade classes listened to a fun book called Unique Monique by Maria Rousaki. This is a great book to let students know that it is what is on in the inside that counts. We finished by working on fun t-shirt worksheet that students could list what personality traits make them unique and special! 

Unique Monique

Kind Hearted Handprints

Our school is participating in the Guinness World Record for the "Most Kind-Hearted Handprints." Each student is to design a unique hand-print. The hand-print artwork will be displayed at the Dignity Health Hospital to break the official record for the Largest Collage of the Cut-Out Handprints! This was a continuation of the Great Kindness Challenge that our school participated in. 

I Like you Just the Way you are!

Today in 1st Grade social skills class we continued our discussion on how important we are and that we do not have to change to have others like us. We read a great book to fit in with our theme of human differences called I like you Just the Way you are by Marcus Pfister. It taught the students that we need to accept students individual qualities. After our story we made the color of me rainbows found at Teachers Pay Teachers. The students had a creative time thinking about themselves and making a beautiful picture that turned out different for each student.

Celebrating Human Differences

This month in our first grade and kindergarten social skills classes we are focusing on human differences. I have all the students close their eyes and picture everyone in the world looking like them! I give them a few minutes to think how they would feel and what they would see. Once students open up their eyes they share what they saw. Some students share how it would be confusing, they couldn't tell people apart, everyone ate the same foods and did the same thing. Students think this is really funny and agree that we like the differences from one another. We talk about the word diversity and how we appreciate the uniqueness in all of us. We do a fun activity to show how we are alike and different by having them stand up if the statement I read describes them (example if you have a brother stand up, if you have a sister stand up, if you have both stand up or neither stand up). This is a fun way for students to build connections with each other and to share some of their experiences. We end with a fun song that students always request and sing along to that talks about how important each student is. The YouTube clip is shown below! 

Pennies for Patients!!

We started our Pennies for Patients Program this week where students and staff can donate money towards The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Pennies for Patients is a great service learning project for students to learn about character education and making a difference by working together to aid thoughts of children and adults. For 3 weeks we have fun days/themes planned to get everyone excited about donating. This year we have Hello Yellow Day to raise awareness, School Spirit Day, Team Jersey Day, Crazy for a cure Hair Day, and Super Hero Day. We have students donate towards a crazy and fun activity they would like to happen at school. Some examples are school wide pajama party, cabin fever day, our principal kissing a goat, a teacher getting duct taped to a wall. Check out Pennies for Patients to learn more how your school can get involved with this great cause!