Kindergartners read the story "Crayon Box that Talked" by Shane DeRolf. They learned that we should treat everyone with kindness and respect even when they are different from us. They learned that being different is something to celebrate, that we are able make a more colorful picture when we are different than if all the same color. They depicted this by coloring a picture using only one crayon, then coloring the same picture using all of the crayons in their crayon box.
1st graders watched this video below from the website The Ned Show. Students discussed recipes for friendship, and discussed what are the ingredients they are putting into their friendships (i.e. honesty, trust, kindness, etc). Students completed a cut and paste color page of the successful ingredients for friendship.
2nd graders read the book "ONE" by Kathryn Otoshi and discussed how to stand up to bullying or unkind behavior. They each identified that it takes courage to stand up when they see others being treated unkind or being bullied. Students colored a cut-out of the number "1" and put it somewhere to remind them to be the "1" to stand up. Each class received a poster stating "Sometimes it takes just 1--Stand Up" to also help them remember to create a classroom free of bullying or unkind behavior. To hear this book by the author please see the video below.
In 3rd grade, students are listening to the book "Juice Box Bully" by Miranda Dismondy. Students identified ways that bullying was occurring in the book. In the book students are empowered to stand up to bullying and all agree to a promise or contract of behavior that creates a positive school and classroom environment and does not stand by and encourage bullying behavior. Students brainstormed the bullying behavior that is seen in the book. They then decorated a footprint with an empowering action they can choose to be proactive and "Stand Up to Bullying. See the poster below Ms. Fortney's class poster of this activity!
4th graders read the book "Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun" by Miranda Dismondy, a story about having the courage to be who you are. Students identified that the school and classroom environment has to utilize Habit 5: Seek First to Understand and then to be Understood in order to allow students to truly be who they are. In order to accept one another even when they are different, we have to be willing to understand who they are by getting to know them. Students then created a Venn Diagram with a partner to compare and contrast how they are alike and different. 4th grade is my Leadership Spotlight for September; see below for an example of their work.
Students in 5th grade also received a lesson on the book "One" by Kathryn Otoshi. Students spent the lesson discussing who in history was "the ONE" to stand up and make a significant difference in the world. Then students brought this concept to their own life and thought about an individual in their personal life who took a stand and made a difference to them, personally. Students then wrote about how they can be "the ONE" to stand up and make a difference in the life of someone else or even dream as big as being "the ONE" to change the world! They are my Leadership Spotlight for the month of October:
6th graders received a lesson on their reputation. Students learned that they are very much able to shape how others view them by their words, actions, and choices. Students spent time thinking about and discussing what a reputation is and watched the video below, which illustrates how people will speak to our reputation when given a chance. Students were challenged to think about what would others say about them? They then created a reputation wheel on their Chromebooks to help them think about what values they have and what they would like others to say about them--how they are shaping their reputation.
