FRIENDSHIP

Since it is the week before Valentine's Day and the big day is on a Monday, I have decided that our class will do some activities and read some books about being a good friend. We always do a big unit on friendship and getting to know one another at the beginning of the year but now there seems to be some little groups formed in our large class and I thought it might be a good idea to remind the students how to be respectful of others. We will end our week with a few Valentine's books and activities which will include making Valentine card holders.

Today, I read the book A Friend Like You. I can't remember the author and I will try to let everyone know tomorrow. Anyway, after reading the book, the class helped me fill out the "Friends" tree map from Kim Adsit's unit. The tree map says "Friends like to.... can... are...."

The kids came up with some awesome answers like, "Friends are sorry when they do something wrong" and "Friends can hug." We did this activity before lunch and it must have really stuck with some of them. I over heard the students using kinder words and one of the girls that brought her lunch said to me, "I told everyone that brought their lunch today that I liked their lunch boxes." Awwwww, how sweet!!

I was thinking afterwards that the lesson went really well, sooooooo... I have decided to read Do You Want To Be My Friend? by Eric Carle tomorrow and then do a "Friends" tree map that reads "Friends don't like to... can not... are not...." to help remind the students and get them to think about actions that may hurt other's feelings. I know you are all hearing the song, "Why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends....." right about now! I will post a picture of the new tree map when it is finished.