Thursday, September 10, 2015

Friendship

The theme throughout Room 116 and Fuller Meadow for the month of September is friendship. As a class we read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. This popular tale of a mouse whose name just doesn't fit in, allowed our classroom to discuss character's feelings, author's message and ways to be a good friend. Each time Chrysanthemum was teased, we crumpled up a giant heart. Every time someone did something nice to her, we smoothed the heart out. By the end of the story, the heart was a wrinkled mess that couldn't be completely smoothed out.
The students made the connection that our own hearts can feel wrinkled and crumpled when someone says unkind words to us. After completing the story, students paired up to give each other compliments. We discussed how giving compliments and using kind words are ways to be show friendship.1st graders then signed their names to a band-aid as a way to show that we will all think before we speak because wrinkled hearts are hard to heal.
Before you speak, think and be smart. It's hard to fix a wrinkled heart!

2 comments:

  1. Hi Ms Klipfels class!
    How are you all today? I was just visiting the blog and saw all the beautiful hearts you made. I love them! I am just wondering, how many days are you in school next week? is that greater than or less than the number of days you are in school this week? I just couldn't figure it out and I need your help. Thank you in advance! have a nice long weekend everyone :-)
    Alexandras mom

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  2. Hi Alexandra's Mom,

    This is a great question! Next week we are in school for 4 days and this week we were in school for 5 days. Next week we are in school for less days than we were this week. Next week we have Monday off for Columbus Day. Did you know that Columbus left Spain in three ships? Do you know any of their names?

    Thanks for stopping in and checking out our work :)
    Have a great Columbus Day!

    xoxo,
    Miss Klipfel's 1st Graders

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