Learning Areas: Literacy, ECSEL
What is this activity?
What skills are being enhanced? What knowledge is gained?
What do you need to prepare for this activity?
Step by step guide
What questions can you ask to promote ECSEL thinking and discussions?
How can you extend children’s thinking?
What skills are being enhanced and what knowledge is being gained through this activity?
Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Use the following materials to prepare for the activity:
1. Introduce this activity at circle time by discussing community helpers and all of the people who make your community run smoothly (e.g. fire fighters, librarians, teachers, postal workers).
2. Ask each child to name a community helper and write their response on the board. As they provide their responses, ask them how that person helps the community.
3. When each child has contributed, explain that today we will be choosing a helper in our community and writing Thank You cards for them! Have the class choose a community helper(s) for their Thank You card. Let them know that these cards will actually be delivered to these individuals.
4. Have each child write a note and decorate their card. If age appropriate, support each child in independently writing their thank you card. For children who are still developing their early writing skills, support them in writing what they can, and have them watch as you write the words or phrases they need help with.
5. After each card is completed, ask if any children would like to share their cards with the class. Read the card out loud and discuss how it made the class feel. Proud? Happy? Excited?
6. Create a plan as a class to deliver the cards and mail them out together. Include in the envelope instructions for sending back a response. This is a great way to extend the activity and continue the discussion.
ECSEL prompts are helpful questions or statements you can use to promote children’s thinking about emotions. These prompts are related to this specific activity.
What do you feel when you think of a community helper?
What do community helpers do to help you?
What do you think the community helpers will feel when they read your card?
What would you feel if you received a Thank You card?
Use these questions and statements to extend children’s learning!
1. Is there anyone else in your life you could write a Thank You card for? Why?2. How does being thankful make you feel?3. When do you feel thankful? Has anyone ever helped you before?4. What is something you can do to continue to help your community? What can we do as a class to help our community at school?5. How are you already a helper?6. How do you think being a helper makes other people feel?