This can be a difficult concept for young students to wrap their head around. At a young age it is hard to have a clear picture of the outside world, and realize the things they have to be thankful for. I was embarrassingly old before I realized that some children don't have enough food to eat, money to heat their house, healthy loving parents, or even just a safe place to sleep at night. I want to raise my children to appreciate and realize it is the simple things that make your life great..not the newest video game system, a fancy house or designer clothes. The Connections Academy Blog has great ideas for things to try in your classroom to help your students better understand what it means to be thankful. You may want to try some of these with your family too! Afterall, "It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy."
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Thankful
You're Going to Want These
I spend a fair amount of time on Pinterest and sometimes it even pays off in actual work-related ways. While looking at classroom ideas or maybe it was workshop ideas, I stumbled upon these:
And here is what the teacher that pinned them said,
“Now when I set out a station, I simply review the task with the kids. We decide on what the simple instructions for the task should be. I quickly flip these little babies over and record the directions. Then if students get to the station, but forget the task, they can press the button and hear them again. LoVe it!”
I could see myself using these for lab stations or an activity where I had students rotating tasks. Could really cut down on the, “What are we supposed to do again?” And, those of you that like color coding things….imagine the possibilities!
What else could we do with these? Do share!
For $34.99 you too can have you’re very own classroom set.
Who’s On First – A Quick Communication Activity
Who’s On First – A Quick Communication Activity
Employers continue to cite communication as an important skill for successful careers. Consider using this short 10-minute activity to begin a discussion about effective communication in your classroom or during a student organization meeting. To prepare, ask two students to read through the script prior to the class or meeting. As you select students to act out the story remind them that practice, enthusiasm and careful enunciation are important for success. Have the two students read the following script and then ask them the debrief questions that follow.
Script for Activity:
- Abbott: Alright, now whaddya want?
- Costello: Now look, I’m the head of the sports department. I got know the baseball players’ names. Do you know the guys’ names?
- Abbott: Oh sure.
- Costello: So you go ahead and tell me some of their names.
- Abbott: We have Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.
- Costello: That’s what I wanna find out.
- Abbott: I say Who’s on First, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.
- Costello: You know the fellows’ names?
- Abbott: Certainly!
- Costello: Well then who’s on first?
- Abbott: Yes!
- Costello: I mean the fellow’s name!
- Abbott: Who!
- Costello: The guy on first!
- Abbott: Who!
- Costello: The first baseman!
- Abbott: Who!
- Costello: The guy playing first!
- Abbott: Who is on first!
- Costello: Now whaddya askin’ me for?
- Abbott: I’m telling you Who is on first!
- Costello: Well, I’m asking YOU who’s on first!
- Abbott: That’s the man’s name.
- Costello: That’s who’s name?
- Abbott: Yes.
- Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.
- Abbott: Who.
- Costello: The guy on first.
- Abbott: Who!
- Costello: The first baseman.
- Abbott: Who is on first!
- What happened?
- What was the source of the confusion?
- Where do you see this kind of communication confusion in real life?
- Based upon this experience, what can we do to improve our communication with others?
