Kindergarten homeschool: using the flashcard set (once a week)
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. This once a week plan is for kindergarten children in a homeschool group.
about 5 and 6- 5 to 10 minutes missions
- once a week
Using the flashcard set for kindergarten in a homeschool group
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. In this homeschool table, kindergarten children (about 5 and 6) 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 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 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 morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes. 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.
One once a week meeting in the homeschool table
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 homeschool table, the homeschool parent has one sitting with kindergarten children, about 5 and 6. Do not replay a school week. 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.
Open on “The mitten from the lost box.” Tell the group that Mr. Cole, the aide, he looked through the lost box and found a mitten that matched at the lost-and-found box. Put one mitten in sight. Ask all three questions, one at a time: “What did he have to do that took time?” “Why is “thank you for looking” different from “thank you for the mitten”?” “What can you say if he found it but you still feel embarrassed?” Children answer in a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes. Stop answers that are only “they were nice.”
Say the spoken line together: “Thank you for finding my mitten.” Then each child says it to a partner. Hold one card. Ask what the person did. Match the card to the page in the activity book only after the children have said the kindness in their own words. The homeschool parent listens for Mr. Cole's name and for one mitten.
Writing comes only after the line has been said. 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. The sentence they aim for is “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten.” Children who are not ready dictate. The extra pages are for this draft.
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 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 plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes.
The note for Mr. Cole
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 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 kindergarten children during using the flashcard set. 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 kindergarten 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 kindergarten group
Spoken practice about Mr. Cole can start in the homeschool table today. The activity-book template matters when kindergarten children are ready to write “Thank you for looking until you found my mitten..” If a sponsor is funding this homeschool group, parents get a sample letter, and shipping is included on full and partial packages. The leader can ask at no cost.
What Mr. Cole's lesson needs
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. 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 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. 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. Hold one card. Ask what the person did. Match the card to the page in the activity book only after the children have said the kindness in their own words.
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.” 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.
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.