Children practice the same kindness in English and Spanish, with materials that match the language they speak. This Monday–Friday plan is for kindergarten children in a Sunday school group.

Children practice the same kindness in English and Spanish, with materials that match the language they speak. In this Sunday school room, kindergarten children (about 5 and 6) practice with “The blocks back in the bins.” Eli, the classmate, Eli stayed after play and put the blocks back in the right bins. 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 Sunday school teacher leads. Opening and music already take time. The mission is one short block, then the note template only when the group has practiced the kindness out loud. Children answer in a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes. The spoken line is “Thank you for cleaning up the blocks with me..” The note line is “Thank you for putting the blocks away..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
Monday in the Sunday school room belongs to the Sunday school teacher. Look only. Put two bins of blocks where kindergarten children can see it. Name Eli, the classmate, and say the kindness: Eli stayed after play and put the blocks back in the right bins. It happened at the block corner. Ask “Which part of cleanup is easy to leave for someone else?” Stop at 5 to 10 minutes. No note yet. Opening and music already take time. The mission is one short block, then the note template only when the group has practiced the kindness out loud. If they freeze, Scatter five paper squares. Cleanup is not done until the thanks names the bins, not just “helping.”
Sunday school time is limited. The once-per-week missions were written for groups that meet weekly, including church classes. Children can thank family, classmates, and people who serve the congregation. The series still ends with a thank-you note.
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 Sunday school plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a morning-meeting turn, with children repeating one line together before anyone writes.
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 putting the blocks away.” It has to mention the block corner or two bins of blocks, not a general compliment to the classmate.
This is a script the Sunday school teacher can say with kindergarten children during thank you in English and Spanish. It uses “The blocks back in the bins,” 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.
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for cleaning up the blocks with me.” Reply children may hear: “The long ones go in this bin.” Note line to write: “Thank you for putting the blocks away.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por guardar los bloques.”
Say the English line “Thank you for cleaning up the blocks with me.” and the Spanish line “Gracias por guardar los bloques.” on the same kindness. Do not save Spanish for a different week. Children should see that Eli did one thing: Eli stayed after play and put the blocks back in the right bins.
Sunday school time is limited. The once-per-week missions were written for groups that meet weekly, including church classes. Children can thank family, classmates, and people who serve the congregation. The series still ends with a thank-you note. Opening and music already take time. The mission is one short block, then the note template only when the group has practiced the kindness out loud.
Scatter five paper squares. Cleanup is not done until the thanks names the bins, not just “helping.” A child who keeps thanking the Sunday school teacher is avoiding Eli. Send them back to the classmate and the moment at the block corner. Whispering “Thank you for cleaning up the blocks with me.” counts.
Spoken practice about Eli can start in the Sunday school room today. The activity-book template matters when kindergarten children are ready to write “Thank you for putting the blocks away..” If a sponsor is funding this Sunday school group, parents get a sample letter, and shipping is included on full and partial packages. The leader can ask at no cost.
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. 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 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. For “The blocks back in the bins,” also set out two bins of blocks. Teach one kindness, then say the thank-you line in both languages. Children use the book that matches the language they are writing in.
Put one set of toys back where they belong and thank the person who usually does that alone. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Eli'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.
The Sunday school teacher should be able to say the kindness in one breath: Eli Eli stayed after play and put the blocks back in the right bins. If that sentence is fuzzy, kindergarten children will write a vague thank-you. Keep two bins of blocks in reach and keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. Opening and music already take time. The mission is one short block, then the note template only when the group has practiced the kindness out loud.
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.