August 2008

Having a Positive Attitude

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is  positive                 or negative."

-W. Clement Stone, American best selling Author and Founder of Combined Insurance Co. (now a part of Aon Corp.), 1902-2002

August 4^th - 7^th:                 What is a Positive Attitude?

Monday      4-5:30pm   6-7 year olds

1.) Discussion: What is a positive attitude? Why is it important to have a positive attitude?

2.) Worksheet: Which One is the Optimist? - Children will have to decide which person is being more positive in different situations.

3.) Game: Four in a Row - Children will be assigned to either be optimistic or pessimistic. They will then have to respond to different situations and based on their answers will be able to place pieces on the game board. The first with four pieces in a row wins.

Tuesday     4-5:30pm   12-14 year olds

1.) Discussion: What is a positive attitude? Why is it important to have a positive attitude?

2.) Journal Writing Activity: Optimism - Youth will write about how optimistic they think they are. They will also write about how they get through tough situations and how they react to disappointment.

3.) Game: Four in a Row - Youth will be assigned to either be optimistic or pessimistic. They will then have to respond to different situations and based on their answers will be able to place pieces on the game board. The first with four pieces in a row wins.

Wednesday 4-5:30 pm  15+ age group

Same as 12-14 year olds

Thursday    4-5:30 pm  8-9 year olds

          Same as 6-7 year olds

              5:40-7:10 pm 10-11 year olds

            Same as 6-7 year olds

August 11^th - 14^th:              Being Open-Minded

Monday      4-5:30 pm  6-7 year olds

1.) Grant me the Serenity Activity - Children will think about situations that they cannot change and how they can respond to them. We will also talk about situations that they can change and how to tell the difference.

2.) The Good Thing Was... - Children will make up a group story alternating between negative and positive statements. Each child will have to come up with an optimistic answer at least once to help them learn to be more optimistic.            3.) Worksheet: Being Hopeful - Children will have to decide which person is responding to a situation in the most positive way. We will talk about how being positive can affect the way we see and react to situations.

Tuesday     4-5:30pm   12-14 year olds

1.) Grant me the Serenity Activity - Youth will think about situations that they cannot change and how they can respond to them. We will also talk about situations that they can change and how to tell the difference.

2.) The Good Thing Was... - Youth will make up a group story alternating between negative and positive statements. Each child will have to come up with an optimistic answer at least once to help them learn to be more optimistic.

3.) Garbage Art - Youth will be given a variety of items that seem useless and they will create an art project out of it. We will talk about how being open-minded can help in this situations and others.

Wednesday 4-5:30 pm  15+ age group

       Same as 12-14 year olds

Thursday    4-5:30 pm  8-9 year olds

       Same as 6-7 year olds

              5:40-7:10 pm     10-11 years olds

          Same as 12-14 year olds

August 18^th-21st

Intern going away party

To celebrate the fabulous job that our interns (Jen, Amanda, Jordan, Megan, Buck, Jenny, Molly and Kaitlin) have done this summer, we are having a going away party to wish them well. Parties will occur during all KLASSes this week!!

Each KLASS will be making and decorating cookies.

PARENTS-IF YOUR CHILD WOULD LIKE TO BRING ANY SNACKS FOR THE KLASS, PLEASE LET SALLY KNOW!!!

August 18th - 21st:                                    Having a Sense of Humor

Monday      4-5:30 pm  6-7 year olds

1.) Worksheet: The Lighter Side - Children will decide which person is reacting to a situation using humor. We will talk about why humor is important and how to use it.

2.) Looking for Humor - Children will make a list of ways to develop a good sense of humor. We will display the list in the KLASS room as a reminder to have a good sense of humor.

3.) Game: The Good Humor Game - Children will have to react to a situation based on the identity they land on. The identities range from very serious to very light-hearted. They will learn how to react in different ways and in what situations each identity can be useful.

Tuesday     4-5:30 pm  12-14 year olds

1.) Worksheet: Laughing at Yourself - Youth will decide which statements show someone able to laugh at themselves. We will talk about why this is important and how to use it.

2.) Looking for Humor - Youth will make a list of ways to develop a good sense of humor. We will display the list in the KLASS room as a reminder to have a good sense of humor.

3.) Game: The Good Humor Game - Youth will have to react to a situation based on the identity they land on. The identities range from very serious to very light-hearted. They will learn how to react in different ways and in what situations each identity can be useful.

Wednesday 4-5:30 pm  15+ age group

1.) Looking for Humor - Youth will make a list of ways to develop a good sense of humor. We will display the list in the KLASS room as a reminder to have a good sense of humor.

2.) Journal: Sense of Humor - Youth will write about their own sense of humor and how they use it. They will think about situations in which they have used their sense of humor and whether or not it helped.

3.) Discussion of Journal activity - Youth will discuss what they wrote and we will talk about why people have different reactions to different situations.

Thursday    4-5:30 pm  8-9 year olds

Same as 6-7 year olds    

              5:40-7:10 pm     10-11 year olds

Same as 12-14 year olds

Resources:

Character Building Activities for Kids by Darlene Mannix

55 Games and Activities That Teach Good Behavior by Lawrence E. Shapiro

Seals and Plus

Self-Esteem and Conflict-Solving Activities for Grades 4-8  by Beth Teolis