SUBJECT
Early Reading, Arts, Pride and Self-Esteem, Five Senses, Social Skills, Understanding Self and Others

GRADE
Pre-K-K

DURATION
4 Weeks

I'm Special

By Steven Hicks

Children learn best by building upon what they know about the most - themselves. This includes their bodies, their senses, and what makes them special and unique. For many children, the first day of Kindergarten is their first school experience. They will be coming with all sorts of feelings that need to be shared and discussed. With that in mind, we spend this first month talking and sharing about school and ourselves.

OBJECTIVE

Students Will:

Learn the five senses and how they can be used to explore their world.
Begin to acquire early literacy skills.
Tell and draw about how they are special and how they can be whoever they want to be.

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: Making Sense of Our Senses
Lesson 2: I Can Do Anything
Lesson 3: I'm Special Books

REPRODUCIBLES
Five-Senses Mask (PDF)
My Five Senses Journal (PDF)
Five Senses Recording Sheet (PDF)
What Can Boys & Girls Do? (PDF)
I'm Special (PDF)
Family Letter (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

At Back to School Night, the children read/tell about their I'm Special books to their parents.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books for Teaching about Self and Beginning School

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

A Bad Case of Stripes

In a wonderfully illustrated book, a little girl is so concerned with everyone's opinion of her that she stops being herself and spontaneously becomes whatever anyone calls her, whether purple polka-dotted or as striped as the flag.

Kirkus
A good poke in the eye of conformity.

$12.76 You save: 20%
Picture Book | Grades 1-3

A Bad Case of Stripes

Grades 1-3 $12.76

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

Amazing Grace

When Grace finds out her class is mounting a production of Peter Pan, she can't wait to audition for the starring role. But her classmates say Peter Pan can't be a black girl. Watercolor illustrations illuminate Grace's heartbreak and triumph as -- with the help of her family -- she shows everyone that true talent is more than skin deep.

Educational Edge
Grace's efforts will encourage your child to dream and take risks, while promoting tolerance.

$16.99
Hardcover Book | Grades K-3

Amazing Grace

Grades K-3 $16.99

ARTICLE	Believe in Yourself: Lesson plan based on Clifford The Big Red Dog, by Norman Bridwell Woof! Woof!: This lesson will focus on involving children in activities that encourage a sense of community through literature, language, and creative expression.

LESSON PLAN	I'm Special Books Help students feel at home at the beginning of the school year by giving them a sense of what to expect and allowing them to get to know each...

ONLINE ACTIVITY	Make a Word With Clifford Use vowels to help Clifford build three-letter words. Listen to each word you build.

BOOK INFORMATION	My Crayons Talk Talking crayons? Not really! But Hubbard's vibrantly hued crayons are so expressive and creative that they seem to have a voice of their own! Rhymes and pictures jostle and bounce off one another to create as much fun as any box of crayons has ever had!