Kindergarten homeschool co-op: thanking a classmate (Monday–Friday)
Children thank a classmate for a real kindness from this week, using the classmate’s name. This Monday–Friday plan is for kindergarten children in a homeschool co-op group.
about 5 and 6- 5 to 10 minutes missions
- Monday–Friday
Thanking a classmate for kindergarten in a homeschool co-op group
Children thank a classmate for a real kindness from this week, using the classmate’s name. In this co-op class, kindergarten children (about 5 and 6) practice with “The seat saved for a new child.” Amina, the classmate, Amina saved a seat and told a new child where to put a coat. 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 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 morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes. The spoken line is “Thank you for saving me a seat..” The note line is “Thank you for showing me where to sit..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
Words to say about Amina
This is a script the co-op teacher can say with kindergarten children during thanking a classmate. It uses “The seat saved for a new child,” 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.
co-op teacher: “We are going to thank Amina. Amina is the classmate. Here is the kindness: Amina saved a seat and told a new child where to put a coat. It happened at the first day in a new group. Look at an empty chair.”
co-op teacher: “A thank-you that fits is ‘Thank you for saving me a seat.’ Say it with me.” The group repeats it. Then one child says it alone. If they drop the kindness and only say “thank you,” ask what Amina did, and have them put that piece back in the sentence.
co-op teacher: “Someone might answer, ‘You can sit here. The hooks are by the door.’ We do not mock that voice. We say it so children hear that thank you lands on a person.” Ask kindergarten children, who are about 5 and 6, to try the line looking at a partner. a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes.
The note for Amina
The adult writes the helper’s name if needed. The child copies “Thank you for” and then adds a few of their own words or a drawing of the kindness. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for showing me where to sit.” It has to mention the first day in a new group or an empty chair, not a general compliment to the classmate.
Age tips for kindergarten (about 5 and 6)
Kindergarten is the right moment to make thank you a habit, because morning meeting already asks children to look at one another. The language stays simple enough for early readers. Missions stay short so they fit circle time without replacing the rest of the day. For this homeschool co-op plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes.
Five kindergarten missions in the co-op class
Keep Monday inside 5 to 10 minutes in this homeschool co-op group. Look only. Put an empty chair where kindergarten children can see it. Name Amina, the classmate, and say the kindness: Amina saved a seat and told a new child where to put a coat. It happened at the first day in a new group. Ask “What is scary about a first day that a seat can fix?” Stop at 5 to 10 minutes. No note yet. 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 they freeze, Leave one chair open. A child may whisper the thanks to Amina only. Whispered thanks still counts.
Copy-ready lines for “The seat saved for a new child”
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for saving me a seat.” Reply children may hear: “You can sit here. The hooks are by the door.” Note line to write: “Thank you for showing me where to sit.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por guardarme un lugar.”
If kindergarten children stall on Amina
Leave one chair open. A child may whisper the thanks to Amina only. Whispered thanks still counts. A child who keeps thanking the co-op teacher is avoiding Amina. Send them back to the classmate and the moment at the first day in a new group. Whispering “Thank you for saving me a seat.” counts.
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.
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.
Home work after The seat saved for a new child
Tell your family about a time you were new, and thank them for one thing they did that day. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Amina's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” The adult writes the helper’s name if needed. The child copies “Thank you for” and then adds a few of their own words or a drawing of the kindness.
What Amina'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 seat saved for a new child,” also set out an empty chair. Name the kindness first, then the classmate. The classmate’s only job is to hear it. They do not have to make a speech back.
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 guardarme un lugar.” The English line remains “Thank you for saving me a seat.”
Books for this homeschool co-op kindergarten group
Spoken practice about Amina can start in the co-op class today. The activity-book template matters when kindergarten children are ready to write “Thank you for showing me where to sit..” If a sponsor is funding this homeschool co-op group, parents get a sample letter, and shipping is included on full and partial packages. The leader can ask at no cost.
Questions leaders ask
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.