First Grade

African saying- “If the fingers of the hand quarrel you cannot pick up the spoon.”

I use this with my students to demonstrate the importance of cooperation. I invite them to draw faces on each of the fingers and tell them that the fingers were not getting along. Each one wanted to do all the work. They didn t want to help each other and share. I then ask them to pick up the spoon with one finger. We then talk about what the problems are and why they are unsuccessful.

Now the fingers agree that it is best for each one to do a little and share the job. Now try to pick up the spoon. We talk about the difference. Another option if you don t want to have children draw on their fingers is to use smiley face stickers.

Lesson on Compassion-Paper heart

The children trace or draw a heart and proceed to cut it out. Have each of the children describe the paper heart. Talk about how this is representative of each of their hearts. Initiate a conversation about things that happen that hurt their heart and crumple a piece of the heart. Continue with examples until the paper heart is totally crumpled up. Talk about how at the end of the day someone notices how upset and miserable they are. They then listen to all the things that happened and bring all the people together to say I m sorry. As each of the children apologize, uncrumple the heart. Each time they spread it out and press it as hard as they can. Teach them that even though everyone was sorry the creases didn t completely go away. Now you can use the phrase Did you leave a crease on someone s heart? or the children can tell about someone who creased their heart.

Victoria Tierney

First Grade

John Young Elementary

Orlando, FL 32837

– Victoria Tierney