FRIENDSHIP
Circle of Friends
Take a large piece of white paper and cut it into a circle. Let the children paint it with blue and green paint. Take a picture of each of he children. When the painting is dry, tape on a picture of each of the chidren somewhere on the circle. Then they look like they are all standing around the Earth as a Circle of Friends.
FRIENDSHIP SALAD & POEM
Submitted by LauraMarie
I've posted this idea every year since I joined this ring but I love it and so do the kids. Each child brings in a small can of fruit-the kind with out syrup-and as we sing this silly song I made up each child pours their drained can into a big bowl. We stir it up and serve for snack.
Song(sung to hokey pokey)
First we put the fruit in
from all our friends
We stir it up and stir it up
until it blends
Sharing is the fun
that never ends
It's friendship fruit salad
made by friends!
A Wrinkled Heart
Submitted by Tia
I do an activity with my kids that runs along the lines of this "tale". With the kids seated on the floor I start talking about the difference in the things we say that make people feel good or that hurt them. While talking I am cutting out a big heart. After I have it cut out, I hold it up and tell the kids that each one of us starts out with a heart that is as pretty as this one. I ask the kids to start telling me things that a person might say that might hurt another person's feelings. With each response, I fold the heart (any direction....just put a fold in it). Eventually the heart is crumpled in my hands. I tell the children that each time they say something hurtful to someone, they are putting a little wrinkle in that person's heart. We talk about how someone's heart might begin to look like this crumpled heart if people continue to say mean things to them. I then have the kids start to tell me things that they might say to someone to make that person feel good. With each response, I UNfold one of the creases in the heart. Eventually I have pressed out all of the "hurts"....except, of course, for the fact that the wrinkles can still be seen, even though the heart is now all the way unfolded. We talk about how we each have those wrinkles in our hearts from things that people have said to us, and how we want to be careful with what we say so as to not add more wrinkles to anyone's heart. We put that heart up in a high corner of a bulletin board and leave it in plain view all year. Frequently someone will mention it....that their heart is wrinkled like that one,etc. It serves as a great reminder all year long.
BALLOON PALS
You will need: 9-inch round balloons, precut feet shapes, one for each
child; tagboard; yarn
scraps, colored construction paper scraps; markers, glue; scissors
Cut out feet shape and trace it onto tagboard. Cut out the shape including a slit. Slide the tied end of an inflated balloon along the slot to the center of the feet.
Now the balloon can stand up.
while the children use the yarn to add hair, and the paper scraps and markers to add eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.
After all the balloon pals are complete, form a group and ask each child to introduce her pal and describe what she/likes most about her/his new friend.
MUSICAL NAMES
Arrange chairs in a circle. Walk around them to music. Sit when the music stops. Take one chair away. If you don't find a chair to sit in ....stand behind someone who is seated. The standing child tries to name the seated child. Later when there are not enough chairs...stand behind someone who is seated --or in a line behind someone who is seated....try to name the person who is in frontof you...(we'll always help if you don't know!) Continue until everyoneis standing behind 1 seated person.
PAPER-DOLL FRIENDSHIP CHAIN
Submitted by Brenda
One thing I like to do during my "Friends" theme is make a paper doll chain. I give each child a set of 3 connected paper dolls to decorate. We use yarn for hair, wiggle eyes, material scraps for clothes, and crayons to draw faces and stuff. I tell them to make the middle one look like themselves, and the other two are their friends. Then we put them all up along the wall in one long chain. The kids love them...and so do the parents.
OUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Submitted by Debbie
Tune: The Farmer In the Dell
Come join our circle of friends
Come join our circle of friends
Come stay and play today
Come join our circle of friends.
My co-worker created a board to be used with the song. It has a circle of friends in the middle and around the outside it has a large circle of 18 hands. Each hand has a piece of velcro on it.
She also wrote the 16 names of our children and the 2 teachers names on pieces of oaktag. She placed pieces of velcro on the backs of each name.
We sang the song together and then we called 4 children to place their names on the "Circle of Friends" Board. We repeated the song and added 4 more names. We continued that pattern until only 2 spaces were left. We asked the children "who hadn't placed their names on the board?" They figured out the teachers hadn't! We asked if we too could be part of their circle of friends? I want children to think of me not only as their teacher, but also as their friend....someone who cares about them and will keep them happy and safe....as well as "teach" them.
Wanted to share "variations" on the Circle of Friends song and velcro
name board.
1. As the children become more acquainted with each other we will
choose children, but ask other children to identify their
name.......before they add them to the Circle of Friends board.
2. We will add additional verses such as:
Tune: The Farmer In The Dell
Come join our circle of friends
Come join our circle of friends
Come stay and play today
Come join our circle of friends
If your name starts with A
If your name starts with A
Come stay and play today
If your name starts with A
OR: If you have blue eyes
If you have blue eyes
Come stay and play today
If you have blue eyes
OR: If you have a cat
If you have a cat
Come stay and play today
If you have a cat
I think you get the idea.............as you want to learn more about one another create verses to do so. After singing the verse every child that has blue eyes, or a cat, or an A name places their name on the Circle of Friends board.
FRIENDSHIP SONG
Submitted by Carole
One little friend came in to play
In the classroom one fine day.
He (she) was having so much fun
He (she) called another friend to come.
FRIENDSHIP SONGS AND POEM
Submitted by JLC
If You're Friendly and You Know It
(Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It)
If you're friendly and you know it,
clap your hands.
If you're friendly and you know it,
clap your hands.
If you're friendly and you know it,
and you really want to show it,
If you're friendly and you know it,
clap your hands!
Substitute other "friendly" actions such as "wave hello" or "shake a hand" etc.
Friends
Friends at school
Are big and small.
Friends at school
Are best of all!
FRIENDSHIP BOOK
Submitted by Debbie
A clever idea I found on the internet that I want to try this year.
Make a book patterned after "Brown Bear, Brown Bear".
Take a picture of every child and teacher in your classroom individually
and then everyone together.
On the bottom of the first page write:
Mrs.___________, Mrs._______________ Who do you see?
At the top of the next page write:
I see__(Lisa)_looking at me!
At the bottom of this page write:
___(Lisa)____(Lisa) Who do you see?
Turn the page and continue with every child in the class.
On the last page of the book glue everyone's picture and write: I see my new friends looking at me!
What a fun way to learn everyone's face and name, as well as incorporating early literacy. After reading it several days at school I will have the kids take turns taking it home and reading the book to their parents
FRIENDSHIP
An idea I've used with my K & 1 class is Friendship Hats. The students create wizard type hats as friendship teams. Then after the hats have been created and placed on their heads they can turn their world into a magical place.
1) Pretend you are riding Golden Silverwind through your school. What would the school area turn into in your imagination?
2) Pretend that the friendship hats could let you go anywhere in the world (without flying in a plane!). Where would you go? What would you see? What would you do there?
3) Provide a large sheet of butcher paper. Allow teams to draw their fantasy land using lots of details.
4) Pretend that it is dark outside and you and your teammate have to walk home. From what monsters or other scary things will your friendship hats keep you safe?
I used these exercises after reading "Best Friends" by Steven Kellogg
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MANNERS
THANK YOU SONG
Submitted by Annabelle
The Thank you song .
My son head start class you sing this song right before they would eat lunch. Now he and his sister like to sing it before they eat.
The thank you song
Thank you in the monring
thank you in the noontime
thank you thank you
thank you when the sun goes down.
6 PILLARS
Submitted by Angie
There are 6 simple things that you can use, to be a better person if you choose. 6 simple things, all day long, 6 simple things to make you strong.
1 can you be trusted
2 show respect
3 are you responsible 'cause that's what we expect
4 is for your sharing
5 do you care
6 good citizens, always do their share
6 simple things, all day long, 6 simple things to make you strong.
REMINDER RHYME
Remind your students to listen when others are speaking by teaching them this easy rhyme.
Only one can talk at a time,
So this is what I'll do:
I'll listen like a little mouse
'Til other folks are through.
Magic Manner Dust
Did you know that magic manner dust is available for you to use in your classroom? You may even have a supply in your pocket right now! When students seem restless, explain to them that magic manner dust helps children listen quietly, speak kindly, and act politely. Model this wonder by reaching into your pocket and sprinkling the invisible dust over your
head. After the students observe your polite behavior, encourage them to reach into their own pockets for a handful of manner dust. Sit back and watch the magic take effect!
Manners
We say "Thank you."
We say, "Please,"
And "excuse me,"
When we sneeze.
That's the way
We do what's right.
We have manners.
We're polite.
MANNERS ACTIVITIES
Submitted by Kim
"Where is Thumbkin?" reinforces a polite greeting.
Set up an obstacle course and have the children go through it moving in one direction. Remind the children about politely taking turns -- good practice for children who have trouble waiting for slower children ahead of them.
Have the children practice using the telephone, dailing properly, and how to ask for their friend:
Hello, May I please speak to _________, Also practice how to answer the phone, "Hello" and "I'll get my mother"
Role play answering the door and greeting a friend for a playdate. After the visit, the child says, thanks for coming "; after the visiting friend says, "Thanks for having me."
Explain the purpose of good manners, how good it feels to make other people feel good. Talk about being kind and considerate. As situations come up, talk about some alternatives to cursing, name-calling, interrupting others, telling people to shut up, etc.
Remind the children how good people feel when they give someone a gift and the person shows their appreciation. What are some ways to show your appreciation? "Thank you," "it's beautiful!", "It's just what I wanted,"
"I love it!" Have the children make thank you cards with markers or crayons
for anyone who helps out in the classroom or brings in a special treat.
At the table, unfold a napkin and place it on your lap, for the children to imitate. Also demonstrate how to politely ask for food to be passed.
TABLE MANNERS (Sung to: Frere Jacques)
Chewing quietly, chewing quietly
Do not slurp, do not slurp,
We must say excuse me,
We must say excuse me
When we burp,
When we burp.
TABLE MANNERS (Poem)
The Goops they lick their fingers,
The Goops they lick their knives;
They spill their broth on the table cloth -
Oh they lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they chew while eating,
And loud and fast they chew;
That's why I'm glad I'm not a Goop - are you?
by G. Burgess
Friends
(Twinkle twinkle tune)
We say, "Thank you. We say, "Please."
We don't interrupt, We don't tease.
We don't argue. We don't fuss.
We listen when folks talk to us.
We share our toys, we take our turn
Good manners are easy for us to learn.
How Nice I Am (Sung to "How Dry I Am")
How nice I am; I've learned to be.
I raise my hand before I speak.
How nice I am; I've learned to be.
Sit in my chair most properly.
How nice I am; my best I do.
I use the words "please" and "thank you."
How nice I am; try to be kind.
I wait my turn and stay in line.
How nice I am; I've learned to be.
I say, "Sorry" and "Excuse me!"
How nice I am here at my school.
I try to live "The Golden Rule."
Role Playing Activities: (for older pre-school & school age children)
These activities will give the children a chance to decide what would be best to do in a given situation and act it out. The children should be encouraged to either agree or disagree with the actors' solution to the problem given them.
Two children are sitting at a table coloring. One child needs a crayon that is out of his/her reach. It is within the reach of the other child. What should the first child say to the other child nearest the crayons?
(Choose two children to act this out.)
The children are in line at the drinking fountain. Another child asks the second child in line to let him/her have "cuts" in line. What should that second child in line do? (As many children may role-play this activity as the teacher desires).
The teacher is giving directions and one child in the class has a question to ask about the directions being given. What should that child do?
It's a cold day outside and one child has a sweater and a coat. Another child has no sweater or coat and is wearing a short-sleeved shirt. What should the first child do in this situation? (Choose two children to act out this situation. Either use a real sweater and coat or just pantamime putting them on.)
MANNERS SONG
Tune: Happy and YOu Know It
When my grandpa gives me something,
I say "thank you".
When my grandma gives me something,
I say "thank you".
I can see it makes them happy
When I say it so politely
Yes, good manners mean to always
say "thank you"!
If I spill my drink at lunch
I say "I'm sorry".
When I break something of yours
I say "I'm sorry".
I can see it makes you happy
When I say to so politely.
Yes, good manners mean to always
say "I'm sorry"!
If I bump into someone
I say "excuse me".
If I need to unterrupt
I say "excuse me".
I can see it makes people happy
When I say it so politely
Yes, good manners mean to always
say "excuse me"!
SUPER MANNERS
(Sung to I'm a Little Teapot)
I have super manners. Yes, I do.
I can say "Please," and "Thank You," too.
When I play with friends, I like to share.
That's the way I show I care!
MANNERS POEM
We say, "Thank you."
We say, "Please."
We don't interrupt or tease.
We don't argue. We don't fuss.
We listen when folks talk to us.
We share our toys and take our turn.
Good manners aren't too hard to learn.
It's really easy, when you find.
Good manners means
JUST BEING KIND!
HAND WASHING
Submitted by Mary mtharp@ais.net
With the arrival of the cold and flu season in our classroom we are washing our hands more than ever. Our class made a poster that hangs in our bathroom to remind us to do a good job washing, this is what we did. I took a picture of each child washing his/her hands. Each child had lots of soapy bubbles on his/her hands that we named "Bubble Buddies." I attached the photos to a piece of posterboard and then wrote at the top "Did you see your Bubble Buddies today?" The kids like to see their pictures and always try to make lots of bubbles on their hands and get their hands really clean just like they did in the photo.
Title: Sharing Lesson
Submitted by Lauren
I always read "Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree" to my pre-kindergarten class. I have a tree branch that I put into plaster of paris. On the tree I hang, plastic baggies filled with 2 chocolate chip cookies in it. I let a child pick a bag off the tree and open the bag and eat one cookie and give one cookie to a friend. They seem to understand how to share a little better after this fun cookie tree project.
Title: Helpfulness
Tune Down in the Valley
submitted by Carol
When we are helpful with hand and heart
ev'ry one is happy then, doing his part.
When we are thoughtful, when each one tries,
Lovely things can happen then, like a surprise.
We will then have a discussion at Circle time. I will ask the questions:
1. How can we be helpful with our hands?
2. How can we be helpful with our heart?
3. What is teamwork?
4. Can you name some professions that are part of a "team"?
5. How do we have teamwork in our classroom?
6. What nice things can happen when everyone is helpful?
7. How do you feel when you have been helpful? |
