1st grade after-school: sponsoring this group (once a week)

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. This once a week plan is for 1st grade children in a after-school group.

  • about 6 and 7
  • 5 to 10 minutes missions
  • once a week
1st grade after-school: sponsoring this group (once a week) — children learning gratitude with books and activities

Sponsoring this group for 1st grade in a after-school group

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this after-school room, 1st grade children (about 6 and 7) practice with “The water bowl filled.” Aunt May, the family member, she filled the pet’s water bowl when it was empty. The once a week calendar is the one that fits: This is the once-per-week format from the second half of the manual, written for groups and clubs that do not meet daily. One meeting carries the mission. A single home task goes in the activity book. Do not try to compress five school days into one hour.

One once a week meeting in the after-school room

This is the once-per-week format from the second half of the manual, written for groups and clubs that do not meet daily. One meeting carries the mission. A single home task goes in the activity book. Do not try to compress five school days into one hour. In the after-school room, the after-school leader has one sitting with 1st grade children, about 6 and 7. Do not replay a school week. Children have already been in school. Skip silent copying drills. Say the line, act the kindness, and write only the note the program is building toward.

Who is in the after-school room

After-school groups are tired. The mission has to be shorter than the day’s homework help and more concrete than a talk about character. Flashcards give the group something to look at. The weekly format fits programs that do not meet every weekday.

Age tips for 1st grade (about 6 and 7)

First graders are ready to connect spoken manners with a written note. They can explain, in a simple way, that thank you is for a real person who did a real thing. A first-grade teacher, Laura H, said her children used please and thank you all the time once they knew the power behind the words. For this after-school plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group.

The note for Aunt May

Use the How To Write A Thank You Note template in the activity book. First graders fill the greeting, one sentence about the kindness, and a closing. The adult helps with names and leaves the kindness sentence to the child. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for giving our pet water.” It has to mention the floor by the pet bowl or a water bowl, not a general compliment to the family member.

Words to say about Aunt May

This is a script the after-school leader can say with 1st grade children during sponsoring this group. It uses “The water bowl filled,” a practice situation for this plan. It is not a list of the 30 printed flashcards. Those cards stay in the set and match the activity book. Use this script when you need the words in the room.

Copy-ready lines for “The water bowl filled”

Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for filling the water.” Reply children may hear: “The bowl was empty. You can help next time.” Note line to write: “Thank you for giving our pet water.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por poner el agua.”

Spanish materials in this group

If any child in the after-school room speaks Spanish at home, order the Spanish activity book for that child and keep the same situation. The Spanish line for this plan is “Gracias por poner el agua.” The English line remains “Thank you for filling the water.”

Classroom and group notes for the after-school room

After-school groups are tired. The mission has to be shorter than the day’s homework help and more concrete than a talk about character. Flashcards give the group something to look at. The weekly format fits programs that do not meet every weekday. Children have already been in school. Skip silent copying drills. Say the line, act the kindness, and write only the note the program is building toward.

If 1st grade children stall on Aunt May

Show an empty cup beside a full cup. Ask which one needed a person. A child who keeps thanking the after-school leader is avoiding Aunt May. Send them back to the family member and the moment at the floor by the pet bowl. Whispering “Thank you for filling the water.” counts.

Books for this after-school 1st grade group

This page is about getting the set into the after-school room: the manual, one activity book per child, and the 30-card flashcards, so “Thank you for giving our pet water.” can be written about Aunt May. The leader asks on Find a Sponsor at no cost. Alison Gilham matches a sponsor or takes a chosen group in any U.S. state, then calls the leader before shipping. Payment is due when the package is ready. Groups over 30 add books in tens. Spanish copies use “Gracias por poner el agua.” beside “Thank you for filling the water..” Email info@cultureofthankyou.com or call 971-265-8262.

What Aunt May's lesson needs

The Operation Thank You Manual is 98 pages. The first half is the Monday–Friday classroom sequence. The second half is the once-per-week sequence for clubs. Each child needs Why and How To Say “Thank You,” the classroom edition: a saddle-stitched activity book with situations for saying thank you, the How To Write A Thank You Note template, and extra pages to practice. The flashcard set has 30 cards, 8.5 by 11 inches, colorful, with rounded corners. The cards mirror the activity book so the group can look at one situation before writing. The manual, the activity book, and the flashcards are available in Spanish. The MISSION Reminders Supplement can be added when some children speak Spanish. Extra activity books are sold in packs of 10. For “The water bowl filled,” also set out a water bowl. If the books are not in the room yet, practice the spoken mission anyway, and tell families how a sponsor or an order supplies the printed set.

Home work after The water bowl filled

Fill or notice one bowl or cup at home and thank the person who usually does that job. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Aunt May's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” Use the How To Write A Thank You Note template in the activity book. First graders fill the greeting, one sentence about the kindness, and a closing. The adult helps with names and leaves the kindness sentence to the child.

Before Aunt May comes up in the after-school room

The after-school leader should be able to say the kindness in one breath: Aunt May she filled the pet’s water bowl when it was empty. If that sentence is fuzzy, 1st grade children will write a vague thank-you. Keep a water bowl in reach and keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. Children have already been in school. Skip silent copying drills. Say the line, act the kindness, and write only the note the program is building toward.

Close by repeating the spoken line “Thank you for filling the water.” once more. The note target remains “Thank you for giving our pet water..” First graders can write two or three sentences with spelling help. They should name the person and the kindness instead of stopping at “Thanks for everything.” Children have already been in school. Skip silent copying drills. Say the line, act the kindness, and write only the note the program is building toward.

Questions leaders ask

Plan on 5 to 10 minutes. This is the once-per-week format from the second half of the manual, written for groups and clubs that do not meet daily. One meeting carries the mission. A single home task goes in the activity book. Do not try to compress five school days into one hour. Children have already been in school. Skip silent copying drills. Say the line, act the kindness, and write only the note the program is building toward.

Let's Grow a Culture of Thank You.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, organization, business, or individual looking to make a difference, there's a place for you in the Culture of Thank You.

Let's help the next generation learn to recognize kindness, appreciate others,
and say “Thank You” with meaning.