Domain:
Social-Emotional Growth
Competency:
Show kindness, compassion, and respect
🎂
4-6 year olds
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25 to 30 minutes min
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Learning Objective
Children will learn to show kindness and acceptance by recognizing the importance of including others in their play activities.
Learning Resource Synopsis
In 'Strictly No Elephants' by Lisa Mantchev, a young boy and his tiny pet elephant face exclusion when they are not allowed to join the local Pet Club because elephants are not permitted. Undeterred by this rejection, the boy and his elephant set out to create a new club that welcomes all animals, no matter how unusual. This story captures the essence of kindness and inclusion, as the boy learns to embrace diversity and form friendships with others who have been excluded. Through their journey, the story illustrates the importance of acceptance and belonging, showing that true friendship knows no boundaries.
Extended Learning Resources
| Resource & Author | Publication Info | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Family Book | Written by Todd Parr, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | This colorful book celebrates the diversity of families and encourages acceptance and inclusion of all kinds. |
| All Are Welcome | Written by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman, published by Alfred A. Knopf | This joyful picture book follows a group of children through a day in their school where everyone is welcomed with open arms, emphasizing diversity and inclusion. |
| National Geographic Kids: Just Joking Animal Riddles | Published by National Geographic Kids | This book of animal-themed jokes and riddles encourages children to laugh and connect over shared humor, fostering a sense of inclusion and friendship. |
Vocabulary List
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Being nice and helping others. | It is kind to share your toys with friends. |
| Help | To do something nice for someone else. | You can help by holding the door open for a friend. |
| Play | To have fun with friends using toys or games. | We can play with blocks together. |
| Friend | Someone you like to spend time with. | My friend and I like to play outside. |
| Welcome | To make someone feel good to be with you. | We welcome new friends to join our game. |
Prompt
Essential Question: "How can we make everyone feel welcome and happy when we play together?"
Today, we're going to think about ways we can make everyone feel happy and included when we play together. Let's imagine how it feels to be part of a big, joyful circle of friends where everyone feels welcome.
Anticipatory Set
- Begin by asking the children to close their eyes and remember a time when they felt really happy playing with friends. Encourage them to think about what made that moment special.
- Show the children a picture of a diverse group of animals playing together. Ask them to imagine the sounds and feelings in that scene—like laughter, kindness, and fun.
- Invite the children to share one idea about how they can help others feel included during playtime. Encourage them to think about kind words or actions.
Teacher Tips
- Use a calm and soothing voice to help children visualize and connect with their happy memories.
- Ensure all children feel comfortable sharing by reminding them that every idea is important and welcome.
- Encourage students to listen to each other's ideas, fostering a sense of community and respect.
Learn
Today, we're going to read 'Strictly No Elephants' by Lisa Mantchev. It's a story about a boy who finds a wonderful way to make sure everyone feels welcome and included. Let's see how he and his tiny elephant create a special place for all their friends.
Interactive Engagement
- What do you notice about the boy and his elephant? How do you think they feel when they aren't allowed in the club?
- I wonder what the boy and his elephant might do next. What do you think they could create that's special for everyone?
- As we see the different animals in the story, can you think of a time when you played with someone new or different?
- Look at this picture. How do you think the characters are feeling right now? What clues do you see that tell you how they feel?
- Why do you think it's important for the boy and his friends to make a club where everyone is welcome?
Teacher Tips
- Use gentle, expressive voices for characters to help children feel the emotions in the story.
- Pause occasionally to allow children to look closely at the illustrations and share their observations.
- Encourage children to share personal stories or feelings related to the theme of inclusion and friendship.
Ask
Now that we've heard the story, let's think about what it feels like to welcome everyone when we play. How can we make sure no one feels left out, just like the boy and his elephant did?
Discussion Questions
- Can you think of a time when you wanted to play with someone new but weren't sure how to ask? What happened?
- How do you think the boy and the elephant felt when they started their own club where everyone was welcome? Why do you think that might be?
- What are some things we can do to make sure everyone feels like they belong in our playtime?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage children to share personal stories by modeling with your own simple example. This helps them connect their experiences to the story.
- Use open body language and nodding to show you are listening, which encourages children to express their thoughts and feelings comfortably.
- Invite quieter children to share by asking them directly but gently, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued in the discussion.
Navigate
Circle of Friends: Inclusive Playtime Adventure
Inspired by 'Strictly No Elephants,' this activity helps children understand the value of inclusivity and acceptance. Children will collaborate to create an inclusive play environment, echoing the story's message of forming friendships and embracing diversity.
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Teacher Tips
- Encourage children to use their imagination and creativity when including different animals in their play.
- Facilitate discussion by asking open-ended questions, such as 'How did it feel to include someone new?'.
- Reinforce positive behavior by acknowledging acts of kindness and inclusion during the activity.
- Adapt the activity by introducing more complex scenarios as children become more comfortable with the concept of inclusion.
Share
Invite the children to gather in a circle to reflect on their journey of kindness and inclusion, highlighting how they've learned to welcome others in play. Emphasize the key ideas of friendship and acceptance, and celebrate the ways in which they have grown together.
Reflection Questions
- Can you share a moment when you helped someone feel welcome while playing? How did that make you feel?
- Think about the boy and his elephant. What is something you learned from their story about being a good friend?
- How can we use what we learned today to make sure everyone feels happy and included in our games tomorrow?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to express their thoughts through drawing or using toys to demonstrate their ideas.
- Use sentence starters like 'One thing I learned is..' to help children articulate their thoughts.
- Acknowledge each child's contribution by nodding or offering a simple 'thank you,' reinforcing their confidence in sharing.
UDL Strategies
Representation
- Begin with a storytelling session where the Kindness Puppet narrates a short story of inclusion using a mix of voice modulation and imagery from the book 'Strictly No Elephants' to connect the narrative to the activity.
- Create a visual timeline or storyboard with images depicting the steps of including others in play, which can be referred to throughout the activity. Use drawings or icons to clearly convey actions such as 'invite,' 'share,' and 'play together.'.
- Introduce a tactile element by using animal toys that are part of the story. Encourage children to feel and interact with these toys, linking the story to tangible objects to enhance understanding.
- Use a projector or tablet to show short clips or animations that demonstrate acts of kindness and inclusivity, providing a dynamic visual representation of the concepts.
Action & Expression
- Encourage verbal expression by inviting each child to describe how they would feel if they were included or excluded, helping them articulate their understanding and feelings.
- Provide materials for a craft activity where children can create a 'Friendship Bracelet' using colorful beads, symbolizing inclusion and unity, offering a hands-on way to express the lesson's theme.
- Facilitate a role-playing segment where children can act out scenarios of inclusion using their chosen animal toys, allowing them to explore expressions of kindness in a safe and imaginative context.
- Set up a digital board or app where children can drag and drop icons to create a 'Kindness Scene,' offering a tech-based method for expressing understanding and creativity.
Engagement
- Introduce the Kindness Puppet with an engaging backstory and a distinctive voice or character trait, making it a memorable element that children will look forward to interacting with.
- Incorporate a 'Kindness Song' that children can sing every time the puppet is passed, creating a sense of ritual and excitement during transitions.
- Offer a variety of animal toys and allow children to choose which toy they would like to use to demonstrate inclusion, fostering a sense of autonomy and personal connection to the activity.
- Include a mystery box with different props related to inclusivity, such as sharing tokens or smiley face stickers, which children can explore before their turn, keeping curiosity and anticipation high.
Assessment Criteria
Formative Assessment
- Observe how children use kind words and actions while interacting with the Kindness Puppet and peers, noting any expressions of empathy or attempts to include others.
- During the activity, listen for children making suggestions or taking initiative to include an animal toy or peer, highlighting collaboration and inclusive play.
Summative Assessment
- Have children create a collaborative mural depicting their inclusive playtime adventure with the Kindness Puppet, looking for representations of shared activities and interactions with peers.
- Facilitate a group discussion where each child shares one way they can continue to include others in daily play, assessing their understanding of inclusivity through their responses and examples.
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