3rd grade homeschool co-op: 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 3rd grade children in a homeschool co-op group.

  • about 8 and 9
  • 5 to 10 minutes missions
  • once a week
3rd grade homeschool co-op: sponsoring this group (once a week) — children learning gratitude with books and activities

Sponsoring this group for 3rd grade in a homeschool co-op group

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this co-op class, 3rd grade children (about 8 and 9) 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.

The co-op teacher leads. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book. Children answer in a brief discussion the children can lead, with the adult keeping it on one kindness. The spoken line is “Thank you for filling the water..” The note line is “Thank you for giving our pet water..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.

One once a week meeting in the co-op class

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 co-op class, the co-op teacher has one sitting with 3rd grade children, about 8 and 9. Do not replay a school week. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book.

Open on “The water bowl filled.” Tell the group that Aunt May, the family member, she filled the pet’s water bowl when it was empty at the floor by the pet bowl. Put a water bowl in sight. Ask all three questions, one at a time: “How can you tell a bowl needs water?” “Who is the thanks for, the pet or the person who carried the water?” “What other home job is easy to miss?” Children answer in a brief discussion the children can lead, with the adult keeping it on one kindness. Stop answers that are only “they were nice.”

Say the spoken line together: “Thank you for filling the water.” Then each child says it to a partner. 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. The co-op teacher listens for Aunt May's name and for a water bowl.

Who is in the co-op class

A co-op class may meet once a week with children from several families. That is the once-per-week half of the manual. Each child still needs an activity book. Families can mix English and Spanish copies when the co-op is bilingual.

Age tips for 3rd grade (about 8 and 9)

Third grade sits at the top of the program’s age band. Children can explain why thank you matters and write more of the note themselves. Missions still last 5 to 10 minutes so they do not crowd reading and math. Community thank-yous fit well at this grade. For this homeschool co-op plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a brief discussion the children can lead, with the adult keeping it on one kindness.

The note for Aunt May

They draft, then check three parts: who, what the person did, and a closing that is not a joke. The extra practice pages in the classroom book are for the draft. The note that goes out can be copied clean. 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 co-op teacher can say with 3rd 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 co-op class 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 co-op class

A co-op class may meet once a week with children from several families. That is the once-per-week half of the manual. Each child still needs an activity book. Families can mix English and Spanish copies when the co-op is bilingual. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book.

If 3rd 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 co-op teacher 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 homeschool co-op 3rd grade group

This page is about getting the set into the co-op class: 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.” They draft, then check three parts: who, what the person did, and a closing that is not a joke. The extra practice pages in the classroom book are for the draft. The note that goes out can be copied clean.

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. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book.

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