First/Second Grade Activities

  1. Listen Buddy by Helen Lester-----We talk about listening with our eyes and ears. I have a tape of sounds that we listen to and try to figure out what they are. We sing “Are you listening ---are you listening---to your teacher---to your teacher---who is speaking---who is speaking---hands on lap eyes on her.”
  2. Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus----We do a check list called “I Am Unique” where the students check which choice applies to them. (for example: right handed, left handed----neat, messy---- freckles, no freckles----like outdoors----likes indoors)
  3. Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes----We make a list of possible worries. We talk about what we can do that will help us when we feel worried about something.
  4. Smile a lot!by Nancy Carlson-----We make a list of things that make us smile.
  5. Dandelion byDon Freeman----We talk about the importance of being ourselves. What do you like about yourself?
  6. The Happy Hedgehog by Marcus Pfister----I have hedgehog puppet. We have short discussion about hedgehogs. (why they are called hedgehogs, what they like to eat) We read the story and then draw a hedgehog. (step by step drawing) The students then write what made the hedgehog happy and what is something that makes them happy.
  7. Elmer----This is a good story about self acceptance and diversity. We make a patchwork elephant. We sing “Celebrate Me!”. (
  8. Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom DeLuise----This story is about appreciating uniqueness. The students draw pictures of themselves and write about the things they do best.
  9. Little Engine that Could retold by Walty Piper----We color a train and in the puff of smoke from the smoke stack we complete the sentence frame “I can______”.
  10. Franklin Fibs by Paulette Bourgeois----We talk about other stories about telling the truth like “Pinocchio”. We talk about telling a lie usually leads to more lies and has a domino effect. We answer questions like: What does it mean to be an honest person? Have you ever been lied to? How did it feel?
  11. Franklin is Bossy by Paulette Bourgeois----We list ways that we can be friends and how can make a new friend.
  12. Tops and Bottoms adapted and illustrated by Janet Stevens----This is a good story to talk about making a plan to solve a problem and setting goals. We talk about how to write a good goal and what it would include. (goal - timeline to complete, and how are you going to make it happen)