Kindergarten – Students colored a Clifford the Big Red Dog coloring page while discussing examples of respect. For additional activities to encourage your student’s positive behavior check out Clifford’s “Big Ideas” at pbs.org and scholastic.org.

First grade – Students created personalized picture frames for their Golden Rule signs. Students were asked to take their art work home and display them somewhere prominent as a constant reminder to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Second grade – Students filled their classroom’s pot of gold with priceless behavior. Each student was given two gold coins. On each coin students wrote actions they could do to show respect. They then taped the coins onto their classroom’s pot of gold.

Third grade – Students created puppet self-portraits. The words “I will use polite words” were written on the back of each puppet.  We used the puppets to practice being respectful in various situations.

Fourth grade – Students brushed up on respect with a fun activity involving toothpaste and popsicle sticks. Students were paired into groups of two. The first student squeezed toothpaste in the middle of a Styrofoam plate. The second student then used the popsicle stick to try to put all the toothpaste back into the toothpaste tube. We then discussed how, like toothpaste, disrespectful actions or words come out easily. Similarly, a disrespectful action or word is as difficult to take back as putting toothpaste back into a tube. This lesson encouraged students to think about the consequences of their words and actions before they speak or take action.

We encourage you to talk with your students about what they learned and to encourage them to practice showing respect.  Our guidance lessons for the next six weeks will focus on “trustworthiness”.

Jennifer Carpenter, LCSW             Erica Robinson
School Social Worker                    Social Work Intern