TK - First Grade

Developmental Characteristics

Physical

  • Enjoy long periods of free play

  • Developing eye-hand coordination

  • Enjoy small group cooperative play

  • May require rest after high-energy play

  • Improved body coordination; yet still can fall easily

Social Emotional

  • Eager to receive adult praise

  • Enjoy dramatic play

  • Eager to engage in new activities/adventures led by involved adult

  • Eager to identify with older children

  • Enjoy exploring new materials and equipment

  • Can be easily frightened by novel or strange events

  • Prefer play in small groups

  • Like responsibilities they can handle

  • Learning to cooperate with others, but may at times display selfish behavior

Cognitive

  • Understand language better than they speak

  • Are interested in present; vague concepts of past/future

  • Eager to learn

  • Ask many questions

  • Define things by their use

  • Developing a sense of humor

  • Communicate best within a small group of peers

  • May need guidance of adult when starting a new task

Lessons

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 2: Uplifting Others (TK-2)

Students build a Friendship Web by tossing yarn across a circle while saying something positive about the person they throw it to, then watch a Charlotte's Web storytime video, color and cut out a farm animal to glue on a popsicle stick, and use their puppet to practice walking up to peers and asking them to play.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 1: Positive Self Talk (TK-2)

Students play Counting to 10 — working together as a class to count without overlapping or repeating numbers — then listen to a read-aloud of I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont, practice a guided mindful breathing minute, and complete an affirmation worksheet with a self-portrait to share with the class.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 6: Celebrating Growth (TK-K)

Students take turns walking around the circle in a Confidence Parade — striking a proud pose while classmates clap and cheer — then decorate a personal Confidence Certificate with their name and an affirmation about something they've accomplished to take home.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 5: We Can Do It! (1st-5th)

Students play the Partner High-Five Challenge — practicing a clap-then-high-five rhythm with a partner, adding speed and pattern variations before switching partners — then collaborate on a large butcher paper mural drawing scenes of friends helping each other, each signing their name on the finished "We Can Do It!" mural.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 5: We Can Do It! (TK-K)

Students play the Partner High-Five Challenge — practicing a clap-then-high-five rhythm with a partner, adding speed and pattern variations before switching partners — then collaborate on a large butcher paper mural drawing scenes of friends helping each other, each signing their name on the finished "We Can Do It!" mural.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 4: Positive Self-Talk (TK-K)

Students play the Mirror Game in pairs — mirroring each other's slow movements, then pairing affirmations with matching poses ("I am brave!" with arms raised strong) — then fill a heart worksheet with drawings and words about what they love about themselves.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 3: Sharing with Pride (1st-5th)

Students dance freely during the Confidence Pose Parade (freezing in their strongest confident pose when the music stops), then play Bravery Freeze Dance — freezing in response to confidence challenges like "Freeze like a superhero!" — before taking turns leading the class in their own brave pose for everyone to copy.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 3: Sharing with Pride (TK-K)

Students dance freely during the Confidence Pose Parade (freezing in their strongest confident pose when the music stops), then play Bravery Freeze Dance — freezing in response to confidence challenges like "Freeze like a superhero!" — before taking turns leading the class in their own brave pose for everyone to copy.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 2: Growth Mindset (1st-5th)

Students draw and decorate a "Brave Brain" worksheet with things that help them keep trying (friends, practice, courage), then act out how to fix playful "oops" moments (spilled crayons, drew on the wrong paper) one at a time while the class cheers "We can fix it!"

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 2: Growth Mindset (TK-K)

Students draw and decorate a "Brave Brain" worksheet with things that help them keep trying (friends, practice, courage), then act out how to fix playful "oops" moments (spilled crayons, drew on the wrong paper) one at a time while the class cheers "We can fix it!"

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 1: Celebrating Strengths (1st-5th)

Students strike "Confidence Poses" responding to fun prompts (brave superhero, proud artist, kind friend), then draw and decorate a "Confidence Juice Box" worksheet — filling it with the people, activities, and moments that make them feel strong and brave — and share one "ingredient" with the class at the end.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Week 1: Celebrating Strengths (TK-K)

Students strike "Confidence Poses" responding to fun prompts (brave superhero, proud artist, kind friend), then draw and decorate a "Confidence Juice Box" worksheet — filling it with the people, activities, and moments that make them feel strong and brave — and share one "ingredient" with the class at the end.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Who Am I?

Students will learn what a self-portrait is and create their own — building self-confidence by giving voice to who they are and what they like about themselves.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Garden of Greatness

Each child makes their own paper flower with a picture of themselves in the center and one talent written on each petal. All the flowers come together to form a class "Garden of Greatness" on the wall—a visible reminder that every child brings something to the room.

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Self Confidence Gina Patterson Self Confidence Gina Patterson

Drawing Feelings

Students practice self-awareness by checking in with how they are feeling right now and using colors, shapes, and lines to draw it. Sharing is invitational, and the activity builds the language and confidence to name big feelings.

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