We have had a wonderful first five days together! We are getting to know each other, our school, and our expectations well. We have been reading stories about making new friends, using kind words, and being our interesting, unique selves. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Kenkes is one of these stories.
As we read, we discussed the effects that unkind words have on each of us. For a visual, we passed around a real paper heart. As the students in the story said unkind words to Chrysanthemum, we wrinkled up the paper heart. At the end of the story, we tried to smooth out the wrinkles to make it perfect again. The students realized that it was not possible to completely flatten the heart again. Even though we can apologize for unkind words, they can never really be taken back and that wrinkle can stay forever in someone's heart.
Students wrote their name on a bandage and placed it on our paper heart. This was their pledge that they would try their best not to put "wrinkles" in anyone's heart this year at school.
Thanks to...
Thanks to...
....for this terrific idea! It helped us understand the effect that words can have on each other. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.