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 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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Relationship Building Gina Patterson Relationship Building Gina Patterson

Week 5: Friendship Skills (1st-5th)

Students play Follow the Leader — taking turns leading the group through simple motions (clap, stomp, jump, spin) that everyone copies — then pair up for a Partner Share Game where one partner talks for 10–20 seconds about a simple prompt while the other practices active listening, then they switch roles.

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Relationship Building Gina Patterson Relationship Building Gina Patterson

Week 5: Friendship Skills (TK-K)

Students play Follow the Leader — taking turns leading the group through simple motions (clap, stomp, jump, spin) that everyone copies — then pair up for a Partner Share Game where one partner talks for 10–20 seconds about a simple prompt while the other practices active listening, then they switch roles.

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Relationship Building Gina Patterson Relationship Building Gina Patterson

Week 3: Kindness Signals (1st-5th)

Students play the Mirror Game — taking turns leading a line of classmates through a series of moves everyone copies — then practice "kind signals" in pairs, with two students facing each other in the circle and choosing a kind gesture (thumbs-up, high-five, smile) to give each other while making eye contact.

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Relationship Building Gina Patterson Relationship Building Gina Patterson

Week 3: Kindness Signals (TK-K)

Students play the Mirror Game — taking turns leading a line of classmates through a series of moves everyone copies — then practice "kind signals" in pairs, with two students facing each other in the circle and choosing a kind gesture (thumbs-up, high-five, smile) to give each other while making eye contact.

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Clustergrams

Students move around the room to find classmates who share the same answer to each statement (same breakfast, shoe size, favorite food, etc.), cluster together, and act out a mime representing their group before the next statement is called.

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Problem solving Gina Patterson Problem solving Gina Patterson

Creative Coloring

Students each receive one color and must collaborate to create a single picture together, using only their assigned color with no trading allowed, then reflect on what they learned about teamwork.

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