Session 1: Each of Us Is Important and Special

Lead Teacher: ??

Assistant Teacher: ??

Goals:

• To experience the classroom as a friendly and welcoming place.
• To feel a sense of belonging as unique and important members of a group.

Circle time:

• Brief introduction to the RE structure for the kids: teachers introduce themselves, kids introduce themselves, talk about the activities and topics we will pursue during the year.

Story: You Look Ridiculous Said the Rhinoceros to the Hippopotamus by Bernard Waber, or Arthur’s Nose by Marc T. Brown

Activity:

• Me Collage Place Mats (follow the instructions for preparation on p. 14); I will try and find clear contact paper to finish the mats, but it’s probably alright to just make a regular collage.
• Since all of the teachers will be back in RE, it would probably be a good idea for each teacher to assist one student (with the older students not needing one-on-one help with this task, just occasional encouragement)

Material List:

• Me Collage Place Mats (probably 12 or so prepared for students) – use regular construction paper in cabinets
• Magazines for cutting out pictures to add to collage – in cabinets
• Scissors – in cabinets
• Glue/glue sticks – in cabinets
• Clear contact paper -- mailbox

Session 5: Each Tree Is Special

Lead Teacher: ??

Assistant Teacher: ??

Goals:

• To become more aware and appreciative of trees around them.
• To respect and care for trees as living things.
• To experience a feeling of wonder in our interactions with nature.

Circle time:

Story: The Tree in the Ancient Forest by Carol Reed-Jones

· Discussion based on the book

Activity:

• Go on a nature walk through our church grounds; have children pick a favorite tree. Take Polaroid of tree and of the class in front of the tree; tie a bright yarn around one of the branches to help find it again. Do whatever else strikes your fancy regarding the tree. (all of this is on p. 30 under Circle Time and Activity).
• IMPORTANT: make sure to collect some leaves from class tree for the next session

Material List:

• Bright yarn – in mailbox
• Polaroid camera – in mailbox
• Paper & crayons (if you choose to do bark rubbings) – in cabinets

Session 6: We Must Care for Trees

Lead Teacher: ??

Assistant Teacher: ??

Goals:

• To become more aware and appreciative of trees around them.
• To respect and care for trees as living things.
• To experience a feeling of wonder in our interactions with nature.

Circle time:

Story: The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry

· Discussion based on the book.

· Guided imagery/creative movement activities based on p. 33-34. (pick whichever ones you want to do)

Activity:

• Leaf Prints
• This is really your choice—you can either do the painted leaf prints as described in the Entering Activity on p. 33, or you can do leaf rubbings using crayons instead. The main difference is that one will be much messier than the other. If you want to do prints, let me know ASAP, so that I can get some smocks and newspapers to put down on the floors for you.

Material List:

• Regular paper for leaf rubbings; construction paper for leaf prints – in cabinets
• Crayons/tempura pain – crayons in cabinets, tempera paint in mailbox
• Aluminum tins (for prints) – mailbox
• Brushes (for prints) – mailbox
• Newspaper, smocks – mailbox
• Leaves for printing -- mailbox