Month: October 2019

Lesson Title: I Can’t Believe You Said That – Social Filters

Grade(s): K-5

ASCA Standards:

• PS:C1.11 Learn coping skills for managing life events
• PS:A2.6 Use effective communications skills
• PS:A1.8 Understand the need for self-control and how to practice it

Learning Objectives:

• Define what a social filter is and why it is important

Materials:

• I Can’t Believe You Said That by Julia Cook
• Social Filter PowerPoint

Lesson:

Beginning discussion:

• Have you ever said something that you regretted?
• Has someone ever said something to you that hurt your feelings?

For those of you who have raised your hand, you have experienced what happens when you or someone else doesn’t use their social filter! A social filter is a way that we can decide what we should or should not say. We’re going to read a book called I Can’t Believe You Said That by Julia Cook to learn more about social filters.

Read I Can’t Believe You Just Said That.

Explore the importance of using a social filter and how to practice using this skill with the following PowerPoint:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Filter-Interactive-PowerPoint-2142127

Discussion:

• How can you practice using a social filter at school? Home? Community?
• Why is this important?
• What would happen if everyone used a social filter?

Lesson Title: I’m Trying to Love Math – Letters of Encouragement

Grade(s): K-5

ASCA Standards:

• A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning
• A:A2.2 Demonstrate how effort and persistence positively affect learning
• A:A3.5 Share knowledge
• A:B2.6 Understand the relationship between classroom performance and success in school
• A:C1.6 Understand how school success and academic achievement enhance future career and vocational opportunities

Learning Objectives:

• Students will understand the importance of learning math and its effect on their future
• Students will be able to simplify and share their knowledge on the importance of math and its impact on success with a student that is younger than them
• Students will be able to use encouraging words to help others

Materials:

• Worksheet from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Friendly-Letter-Template-702225

Lesson:

This lesson is best for older students, such as grades 3-5. Begin by introducing and reading the book I’m Trying to Love Math by Bethany Barton.

Discussion:

• Why is it important to learn math?
• Why is it important to learn things, even if it is difficult and challenging?
• What impact does math have on our future?

Ask students if they remember learning something difficult for the first time.

• Why is something difficult the first time you try to learn/practice it?
• What kinds of things help you when something is difficult?
• asking for help
• using resources (teachers, friends, parents, internet, textbook, etc.)
• paying attention
• taking notes
• taking a deep breath or other relaxation techniques
• breaking problems into small pieces
• memorization (multiplication, formulas, and ways to solve problems)
• taking a break
• getting enough sleep
• eating a healthy meal
• perseverance
• encouragement

Explore different ways to encourage people and why encouraging words are important. Share that older students are role models for the younger students in the school and showing that they were able to learn math might help younger students to know that they will be able to learn it too. Ask students to write encouraging words on a paper. Provide an example and remind students what the format of the letter should be (beginning with To a student in ____’s class, introduction, main point, supporting evidence, words of encourage, wrap up/summary, closing).

Share the letters with K-2 classes.

Lesson Title: What If Everybody Did That – Integrity

Grade(s): K-5

ASCA Standards:

• PS:A1.2 Identify values, attitudes and beliefs
• PS:A2.1 Recognize that everyone has rights and responsibilities
• PS:B1.2 Understand consequences of decisions and choices

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the importance of working together for the common good
• Define integrity as a character trait and describe its importance
• Identify a personal goal to pursue integrity

Materials:

• What If Everybody Did That Worksheet
• Pencils
• The book What If Everybody Did That by Ellen Javernick

Lesson:

Discussion:

• What are some things that really bother you? For example, littering, name calling, etc.
• Have you ever wondered what it would be like if everybody did that?

Today we are going to read a story that talks about just that!

Read What If Everbody Did That?

Discussion:

• What would it be like if everybody did whatever they wanted?
• What kind of problems might we have?
• What does the word integrity mean and how does it pertain to this book?
• Why do we have rules and laws?

Hand out a worksheet (see link below) to each student and ask them to complete it based off its prompt. After students complete their worksheet, separate students into groups based on those with the same paper. Ask students to compare answers and when they have an even larger compilation of answers to take turns presenting their ideas to the class.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-If-Everybody-Did-That-Back-to-School-BTS-Book-Project-2472776

Closing discussion:

• Share an experience where someone did something that frustrated you.
• What it would be like if everybody did that
• Why do you think that they made that choice?
• What should they have done instead.

Ask students to consider something that they do that might bother someone else or might not be the best choice, how they are going to intentionally change their behavior, and why this change is important. They can share this in small groups. Example: when people throw their trash out the window it really bothers me. I suppose they did it because they didn’t want to wait to find a trash can. Instead, they should throw their trash in the garbage, even if they have to be patient. If everybody threw their trash on the ground, our world would be covered in garbage and would be an ugly, unhealthy place to live. I am going to work hard on not blurting out in class. If everybody did this, we would never be able to learn because it would be too loud. I will work on this by reminding myself to raise my hand and to practice self-control until I master it. This change is important because it will help my classmates and I to learn better, and my teacher and I might have a better relationship because I will be more respectful by not interrupting..