Working Together Part 2

SEL Domain(s): Relationship Building

Relational Risk: Low

Recommended Grades: K-3

*Lesson may need to be modified to meet the specific needs of students

Description:

Teach children about teamwork, empathy, and creativity through group discussions and storytelling.

Materials Needed:

• Book: Clifford’s Busy Week by Norman Bridwell (physical copy or digital version for read-aloud)

• Chart paper or whiteboard (for group brainstorming, retelling the story, or listing teamwork ideas)

• Markers or dry erase markers

• Printed vocabulary cards or visuals (optional, to support language development)

• Sticky notes (for students to share feelings or ideas during discussion)

• Drawing paper and crayons/colored pencils (optional extension: students can draw their own teamwork stories or scenes from the book

Steps:

1. Introduction: Discuss Teamwork

• Explain the Concept:
  Introduce the idea that working together can achieve great results.

  • Example: "Have you ever worked with friends to clean up or play a game? How did it feel?"

2. Sharing Feelings: Losing Something Special

• Prompt Discussion:
  Discuss how it feels to lose a favorite toy or item.

  • Example: "What did you lose, and how did you feel? Did someone help you feel better?"

• Encourage Sharing:
  Highlight how friends and teamwork can make challenging situations easier.

3. Pre-Reading Activity: Clifford’s Busy Week

• Visual Predictions:
  Show illustrations from Clifford’s Busy Week by Norman Bridwell.

  • Ask: "What do you think is happening in these pictures?"

• Vocabulary Check:
  Identify key terms and discuss words children might already know. Introduce new words in a fun, simple way.

4. Storytime: Read Aloud

• Read the Book:
  Read Clifford’s Busy Week aloud, focusing on themes of teamwork and problem-solving.

• Check Comprehension:

  • Retell the story in their own words.

  • Identify and discuss the roles of the main characters.

5. Post-Reading Discussion

• Create a New Title:
  Encourage creativity by having children suggest new titles for the story.

• Teamwork in Action:
  Discuss how Emily Elizabeth and Clifford worked as a team to find Clifford’s toy, Squeaky.

  • Ask: "How did teamwork help them solve the problem?"