Social Emotional Learning During School Closure 6.1.2020

Suggested activities can be repeated and you can choose what to enjoy at any time during the week.

I hope you enjoy them!

Activities to Choose From For All Grades

Mindfulness Activity The Breathing Book

This is a preview of The Breathing Book by Christopher Willard. This is a book about learning about your breath! There are a couple of familiar mindfulness exercises presented in a slightly different way than the way your child may have practiced them. (Take special note of "Kind Wishes!") Enjoy!

Miss Twiggley's Tree

This is an all time favorite of Mrs. Hunt's! It is a story about a shy woman, Miss Twiggley and what she and the town folks learn about kindness. (Preview! She lives with a dog named, "Puss" and bears in a tree!)

All about Empathy Worksheet

This is a fun worksheet to learn about empathy. After reading "Miss Twiggley's Tree", ask your child what they learned about kindness and empathy from Miss Twiggley and the people from the town. Extension, ask your child to identify the "Size of the Problem." Ask your child if the hurricane is a small, medium or large problem. (Small - easy to fix with just a little bit of help; medium - harder to fix and one probably will need an adult; large - will take a lot of people, a lot of time, and a lot of work to fix.) Does the reaction of the character's in the story match the size of the problem? And why? or why not?

Kindness Recipes

Remember the "Listening Recipe?" (Hint, the ingredients that go into becoming a good listener: Stop; Look; Listen and Think about what the person is saying.) Well, here is are recipe cards for kindness! Think about the ingredients that go into being kind to one another and how you as a family practice each ingredient every day.

Kindness Recipe - Girl

Kindness Recipe - Boy

Feeling Mad? Worried? or Confused? Here is a poster with fifty "tools" or strategies your child can do (with parent permission) to help their brain and body feel calm.

50 Coping Tools Checklist

Print out the poster and hang someplace where everyone can share! How many strategies do you know or recognize? How many does your child know? Pick "tools" you and your family would like to try? Practice the new "tool" when everyone is calm and focused. The more your child practices, the easier it will be to use the strategy when it is most needed.

Connection to last week's SEL page: Print the "How Are You Feeling?" chart and have your child use it to communicate feelings. You can also ask your child, "what color would the rain be? Or the tornado?..." How Are You Feeling chart

Home School Psychologist, Empathy - Together At Home

Adam Parker leads us in song on empathy and caring for others. Have your child learn the words and sing along with the song! (You can turn on transcripts to see the lyrics.) Ask your child, "How did Miss Twiggley show empathy and compassion toward the mayor's wife in "Miss Twiggley's Tree?" Talk with your child about ways to show empathy and compassion toward others, even if they made a mistake like the mayor's wife (who eventually apologized for her mistake as we all make them from time to time!)

Make connections to activities from last week!

Yoga Animal Poses

This little booklet offers a fun and easy way to stretch and encourages mindfulness. Yoga with Animals Take a break from your "job" and do an animal pose. (Don't forget to breath!) Let Mrs. Hunt know which pose is your favorite at lisa_hunt@wrsd.net ?

Remind your child about the concept of gratitude and the many ways people can show gratitude throughout the day. Dr. Chris Willard on Gratitude How did the town's people feel about Miss Twiggley's tree when the hurricane flooded the town?

Thought Bubble Should I say it or just think it? Use the chart below to help your child think before saying or doing something that might hurt others (even if by accident!) Thought Bubble Chart Should the mayor's wife in "Miss Twiggley's Tree" have said what she did or just think it? And Why?

How are you feeling?

Use this chart (see link below) to help describe how you are feeling and from that create an "I message". (e.g., "I feel....when...because...I want..."

Yoga With Animals For Kids