Kindergarten Sunday school: 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 kindergarten children in a Sunday school group.

  • about 5 and 6
  • 5 to 10 minutes missions
  • once a week
Kindergarten Sunday school: sponsoring this group (once a week) — children learning gratitude with books and activities

Sponsoring this group for kindergarten in a Sunday school group

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this Sunday school room, kindergarten children (about 5 and 6) 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 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 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 Sunday school room

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 Sunday school room, the Sunday school teacher has one sitting with kindergarten children, about 5 and 6. Do not replay a school week. 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.

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 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 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 Sunday school teacher listens for Aunt May's name and for a water bowl.

Who is in the Sunday school room

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.

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 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 note for Aunt May

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 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 Sunday school teacher can say with kindergarten 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 Sunday school room 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 Sunday school room

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.

If kindergarten 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 Sunday school 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 Sunday school kindergarten group

This page is about getting the set into the Sunday school room: 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.” 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

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. 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.

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Let's help the next generation learn to recognize kindness, appreciate others,
and say “Thank You” with meaning.