What is the significance of being unique, and how does it affect one’s daily activities? Is it an essential concept for kindergartners to learn?
Feeling unique improves one’s self-concept. It fosters a sense of self-confidence that improves one’s response to normal daily challenges, such as discouragement and social interactions. Helping kindergartners recognize their unique qualities increases their sense of self-worth, allowing them to achieve happiness.
In this lesson, kindergarten students learn that believing they are unique and special is a positive action that can improve how they see themselves and their overall well-being.
The lesson begins with a fun and immersive audio story titled "A Strange Visitor. In this tale, while Miska Monkey, Jareef Giraffe, and Leonard Lion rest under the shade of a nice tree by the watering hole one fine morning, a special friend bounces his way toward them. The beloved jungle friends are too stunned to speak at the sight of a strange animal with a long and wonderful tail that makes him bounce so high. His name is Kipper Kangaroo, and it is the jungle animals’ first time seeing a friend like Kipper.
"Feeling unique improves one’s self-concept. It fosters a sense of self-confidence that improves one’s response to normal daily challenges, such as discouragement and social interactions."
Kipper Kangaroo also finds the jungle friends strange but amazing. It is his first time seeing a monkey, a giraffe, and a lion. He tells them how special and unique their qualities are, which the animal friends don’t always notice. Miska Monkey, Jareef Giraffe, and Leonard Lion feel happy about themselves after being reminded they are unique.
Flannel board figures are used in the story-telling to keep kindergartners engaged. This is followed by a class discussion that underlines how easy it is to forget that they are special until someone else points it out. Through this, kindergartners realize that reminding themselves of their unique qualities can make them feel good about themselves.
As a lesson reinforcement, students participate in an SEL activity where they list all the qualities that make them unique. They are provided with the "I Am Special" activity sheet where their parents can write their positive qualities. This is added to their “All About Me” booklet.
Overall, this lesson is important for kindergartners to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. By helping them recognize what makes them unique, they can develop a positive self-concept that can help them empower their greatness and manage themselves.
Pasela is a digital product presented by Positive Action.
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