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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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 5: Kind Words (3-5)

Students play Kind Words Echo — repeating compliments back in calm, loud, and silly voices — then write or draw a compliment for a classmate or family member on a Compliment Card to give away.

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 5: Kind Words (TK-2)

Students play Kind Words Echo — repeating compliments back in calm, loud, and silly voices — then write or draw a compliment for a classmate or family member on a Compliment Card to give away.

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 3: Walking in Someone’s Shoes (2nd-5th)

Students play Shoe Shuffle — removing one shoe, mixing them in the center, then guessing whose shoe they picked up and discussing similarities and differences with that person — then decorate a shoe outline with personal clues (favorite color, something they like, and what makes them feel happy or calm).

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 3: Walking in Someone’s Shoes (TK-1)

Students play Shoe Shuffle — removing one shoe, mixing them in the center, then guessing whose shoe they picked up and discussing similarities and differences with that person — then decorate a shoe outline with personal clues (favorite color, something they like, and what makes them feel happy or calm).

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 2: Feelings Charades (2nd-5th)

Students play Emotion Freeze Dance — dancing freely until the music stops, then freezing in a full-body pose matching the feeling called out — then color a Feelings Wheel, choosing their own color for each emotion section (happy, sad, mad, scared, tired, silly).

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 2: Feelings Charades (TK-1)

Students play Emotion Freeze Dance — dancing freely until the music stops, then freezing in a full-body pose matching the feeling called out — then color a Feelings Wheel, choosing their own color for each emotion section (happy, sad, mad, scared, tired, silly).

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 1: What is Empathy? (2nd-5th)

Students play Feelings Face Shuffle — making the facial expression that matches each emotion called out (happy, sad, surprised, scared, etc.) — then look at 4–6 pictures of children and discuss what feeling each child is showing and what might help them.

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Empathy Gina Patterson Empathy Gina Patterson

Week 1: What is Empathy? (TK-1st)

Students play Feelings Face Shuffle — making the facial expression that matches each emotion called out (happy, sad, surprised, scared, etc.) — then look at 4–6 pictures of children and discuss what feeling each child is showing and what might help them.

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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!"

Read More