Kindergarten youth club: sponsoring this group (Monday–Friday)

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. This Monday–Friday plan is for kindergarten children in a youth club group.

  • about 5 and 6
  • 5 to 10 minutes missions
  • Monday–Friday
Kindergarten youth club: sponsoring this group (Monday–Friday) — children learning gratitude with books and activities

Sponsoring this group for kindergarten in a youth club group

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this club meeting, kindergarten children (about 5 and 6) practice with “The stop at the crosswalk.” Mr. Diaz, the crossing guard, he held the sign and waited until every child was on the curb. 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 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 helping us cross..” The note line is “Thank you for waiting until we were all across..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.

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.

Plan 5 to 10 minutes for kindergarten. Kindergarten children can copy a short sentence and draw the person they are thanking. Many still need an adult to spell a name. The classroom activity book gives extra space so the first note is not squeezed onto one line. The youth club leader holds the manual. Children hold the line about Mr. Diaz once they can say what happened to the stop sign.

Words to say about Mr. Diaz

This is a script the youth club leader can say with kindergarten children during sponsoring this group. It uses “The stop at the crosswalk,” 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.

Five kindergarten missions in the club meeting

Keep Monday inside 5 to 10 minutes in this youth club group. Look only. Put the stop sign where kindergarten children can see it. Name Mr. Diaz, the crossing guard, and say the kindness: he held the sign and waited until every child was on the curb. It happened at the crosswalk. Ask “What did he watch before he let you go?” Stop at 5 to 10 minutes. No note yet. 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 they freeze, Draw a curb line on the floor. Nobody says the line until both feet are on the safe side.

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. Diaz

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 waiting until we were all across.” It has to mention the crosswalk or the stop sign, not a general compliment to the crossing guard.

Copy-ready lines for “The stop at the crosswalk”

Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for helping us cross.” Reply children may hear: “You are welcome. Stay on the curb until I say so.” Note line to write: “Thank you for waiting until we were all across.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por ayudarnos a cruzar.”

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. Diaz

Draw a curb line on the floor. Nobody says the line until both feet are on the safe side. A child who keeps thanking the youth club leader is avoiding Mr. Diaz. Send them back to the crossing guard and the moment at the crosswalk. Whispering “Thank you for helping us cross.” counts.

What Mr. Diaz'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 stop at the crosswalk,” also set out the stop sign. 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.

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 ayudarnos a cruzar.” The English line remains “Thank you for helping us cross.”

Home work after The stop at the crosswalk

Thank the adult who walks you across a street or a parking lot, and name the place. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Mr. Diaz'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.

Books for this youth club kindergarten group

This page is about getting the set into the club meeting: the manual, one activity book per child, and the 30-card flashcards, so “Thank you for waiting until we were all across.” can be written about Mr. Diaz. 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 ayudarnos a cruzar.” beside “Thank you for helping us cross..” Email info@cultureofthankyou.com or call 971-265-8262.

Questions leaders ask

Plan on 5 to 10 minutes. 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. 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.

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