Kindergarten youth club: running the missions (once a week)
The adult leads a predictable Operation Thank You mission that children can recognize from one meeting to the next. This once a week plan is for kindergarten children in a youth club group.
about 5 and 6- 5 to 10 minutes missions
- once a week
Running the missions for kindergarten in a youth club group
The adult leads a predictable Operation Thank You mission that children can recognize from one meeting to the next. In this club meeting, 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 youth club leader leads. Attendance may change week to week. Begin with a one-sentence reminder of last week’s kindness so a new child is not lost, then do today’s mission. 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 club meeting
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 club meeting, the youth club leader has one sitting with kindergarten children, about 5 and 6. Do not replay a school week. Attendance may change week to week. Begin with a one-sentence reminder of last week’s kindness so a new child is not lost, then do today’s mission.
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. Follow the manual’s order. Do not invent a new craft. The child’s work is the mission and, at the end of the series, the note. The youth club leader 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 club meeting
Clubs and community youth programs can run the program without a full school week. The package is the same three parts: the Operation Thank You Manual, activity books, and the 30-card flashcard set. Alison coordinates shipping to the leader.
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 youth club 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 youth club leader can say with kindergarten children during running the missions. 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 club meeting 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 club meeting
Clubs and community youth programs can run the program without a full school week. The package is the same three parts: the Operation Thank You Manual, activity books, and the 30-card flashcard set. Alison coordinates shipping to the leader. Attendance may change week to week. Begin with a one-sentence reminder of last week’s kindness so a new child is not lost, then do today’s mission.
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 youth club leader 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 youth club kindergarten group
Spoken practice about Mr. Cole can start in the club meeting 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 youth club 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 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 mitten from the lost box,” also set out one mitten. Follow the manual’s order. Do not invent a new craft. The child’s work is the mission and, at the end of the series, the note.
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
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and say “Thank You” with meaning.