1st grade homeschool: sponsoring this group (Monday–Friday)

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. This Monday–Friday plan is for 1st grade children in a homeschool group.

  • about 6 and 7
  • 5 to 10 minutes missions
  • Monday–Friday
1st grade homeschool: sponsoring this group (Monday–Friday) — children learning gratitude with books and activities

Sponsoring this group for 1st grade in a homeschool group

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this homeschool table, 1st grade children (about 6 and 7) practice with “The mitten from the lost box.” Mr. Cole, the aide, he looked through the lost box and found a mitten that matched. The Monday–Friday calendar is the one that fits: This is the Monday–Friday format from the first half of the Operation Thank You Manual. You see the same children on five school days. Each day is one mission of 5 to 10 minutes. The note is the work of the later days, not of Monday.

The homeschool parent leads. The mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note. Children answer in a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group. The spoken line is “Thank you for finding my mitten..” The note line is “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.

Five 1st grade missions in the homeschool table

Monday does not add a new helper. It stays with Mr. Cole. Look only. Put one mitten where 1st grade children can see it. Name Mr. Cole, the aide, and say the kindness: he looked through the lost box and found a mitten that matched. It happened at the lost-and-found box. Ask “What did he have to do that took time?” Stop at 5 to 10 minutes. No note yet. The mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note. If they freeze, Hide a mitten in a box of paper. Time the search. The thanks has to mention the looking.

Who is in the homeschool table

Home-schoolers use the same missions teachers use in class. The manual, one activity book, and the flashcards fit on the kitchen table. An all-inclusive home-schooler package is available in English and Spanish. Daily schooling can follow the Monday–Friday format. A weekly gratitude block can follow the once-per-week format.

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 homeschool plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group.

The note for Mr. Cole

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 looking until you found my mitten.” It has to mention the lost-and-found box or one mitten, not a general compliment to the aide.

Words to say about Mr. Cole

This is a script the homeschool parent can say with 1st grade children during sponsoring this group. It uses “The mitten from the lost box,” 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 mitten from the lost box”

Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for finding my mitten.” Reply children may hear: “It was at the bottom. Check the name next time.” Note line to write: “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por encontrar mi guante.”

Spanish materials in this group

If any child in the homeschool table 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 encontrar mi guante.” The English line remains “Thank you for finding my mitten.”

Classroom and group notes for the homeschool table

Home-schoolers use the same missions teachers use in class. The manual, one activity book, and the flashcards fit on the kitchen table. An all-inclusive home-schooler package is available in English and Spanish. Daily schooling can follow the Monday–Friday format. A weekly gratitude block can follow the once-per-week format. The mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note.

If 1st grade children stall on Mr. Cole

Hide a mitten in a box of paper. Time the search. The thanks has to mention the looking. A child who keeps thanking the homeschool parent is avoiding Mr. Cole. Send them back to the aide and the moment at the lost-and-found box. Whispering “Thank you for finding my mitten.” counts.

Books for this homeschool 1st grade group

This page is about getting the set into the homeschool table: the manual, one activity book per child, and the 30-card flashcards, so “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten.” can be written about Mr. Cole. 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 encontrar mi guante.” beside “Thank you for finding my mitten..” Email info@cultureofthankyou.com or call 971-265-8262.

What Mr. Cole'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 mitten from the lost box,” also set out one mitten. 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 mitten from the lost box

Thank a family member who searches for a lost shoe, hat, or paper, and name the item. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Mr. Cole'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.

Questions leaders ask

Plan on 5 to 10 minutes. This is the Monday–Friday format from the first half of the Operation Thank You Manual. You see the same children on five school days. Each day is one mission of 5 to 10 minutes. The note is the work of the later days, not of Monday. The mission should not crowd the rest of the homeschool day. Stop at the time limit even if the child wants to keep decorating the note.

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.