Pass+the+Heart

Submitted by Sharon House, First Grade Pass the Heart

Standard: Self Awareness 1B, Social Awareness 3C

Materials: chart paper, marker, small boards for hard surface for writing in laps, white heart (about 6 to 8 inches) for each child and teacher, pencils, skinny black markers, larger hearts in a variety of colors

Time: 45 minutes

Time to Teach: 2nd qtr, after the children know each other well

Goals: To become aware that everyone has different strengths and it’s important for people to recognize their own strengths, as well as other people’s strengths.

Lesson: Chairs for each student and teacher in a circle. Boards, pencils and hearts on the floor in front of each person.

Opening: give a one minute “think time”, ask everyone to think about things they like about themselves (honest, shares, responsible, respectful, safe, positive, good reader, runs fast, etc). Go around the circle, each person says one thing..

Activity: Ask for students to repeat some of the things said and write them on the chart paper. Reread the words/pharases a few times. Everyone puts the board on their lap and writes their name in bold letters in the middle of the heart and draws a box around it. Everyone writes one thing (from the chart for spelling if needed) about themselves anywhere on the heart. When finished look at the teacher for a sign it’s time to go on. Teacher says “pass” and everyone passes their heart once to the right. Everyone writes one thing about the person on the heart and looks at the teacher. Teacher says “pass” and everyone repeats passing the hearts until the hearts have gone around the circle and ends back with the person it belongs to.

Closing: Everyone looks at their heart and quietly reads what was written. Go around the circle with everyone reading one thing someone else wrote about them.

At their tables/desks students trace over their name with a skinny black marker. Everyone chooses a larger heart and glues their white heart on it.

This makes a beautiful bulletin board.

Assessment: Observe students during brainstorming, encouraging everyone to participate. Score the hearts for understanding of individual strengths for themself and others.