1st Grade Classroom Lesson

We started a new lesson in first grade today! We are learning coping strategies for times when we feel sad or mad. All first grade classes will read How Are You Peeling?, a fun book by Saxton Freymann in which all the illustrations are photographs of fruits and vegetables with "faces" showing different emotions. Next we'll read over a list of 36 ideas for what to do when we feel blue and play charades with the ideas. Finally, students will choose their 3 favorite ideas to write and draw in a booklet. 

I am encouraging all first graders to bring their lists and booklets home and store them in a safe place where they'll be able to find them next time they are having a bad day and could use some ideas to feel better. They might need your help reading some of the ideas on the list of 36 (some are a little wordier than others!) and remembering that they can choose helpful coping ideas instead of ones that make them feel worse or make their problems bigger. For added fun, other family members could try some of the ideas the next time they are sad or mad too! 

Second graders will receive this same list of coping ideas in a lesson after the holidays. Kindergarteners will do a lesson on feelings, but I won't be giving them this list because it is too advanced. If you have a kindergartener and would like a copy of the list for your family, please let me know and I will happily send one home with your child!