Lesson Plan #: AELP-FDA0208

Classroom Heart

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Nancy Murphy
Email: nancy_murphy@mtwp.k12.pa.us
School/University/Affiliation: N.C. Schaeffer Elementary School, Lancaster, PA

Date: January 15, 2001

Grade Level: Preschool Education, Kindergarten, 1, 2

Subject(s):

Duration: 20-40 minutes 

Description: This activity gives young children a visual description of how feelings can be damaged by remarks from others. Teachers are encouraged to use this lesson during the first week of school.

Goals:

  1. To understand how statements made to one another can hurt the group as a whole.
  2. To define and provide examples of "compliments."
Objectives:
  1. Students will define "compliment" and use compliments to describe schoolmates.
  2. Students will notice how demeaning remarks can do more damage than expected.
Materials: Procedure:  
[I do this activity in the very first days of school when everyone is feeling good about school and their new classmates.]

Have students sit in a circle. Begin by asking, "How would you feel if someone said something mean to you?" Allow children to think of a time when that has occurred to them. While students are sharing their experiences, fold the red paper in half and cut out a heart shape. Unfold the paper and write each student's name on the heart. Inform students that this heart is now the "class heart." Show the children how beautiful the heart is now.

Have the children share statements that have hurt their feelings. Try to have each child provide one example. Crumple the heart after each statement. Ask, "How does the heart look now? How do you think the heart feels?" Ask students for some statements that might make the heart feel better (compliments). As the children offer compliments, begin to open up the heart. Let the students know that, "Even with the compliments, the heart is not the same as it was. People's feelings can resemble this after others make mean or hurtful statements to them." Discuss as a group how to keep the class heart from getting more tattered and torn throughout the year. Hang up the heart in the classroom to remind students of what happens when they say things which hurt others.

Assessment: Throughout the year, record future comments (both positive and negative) from children. Encourage students to remind classmates of the class heart and its meaning.