Preschool Sunday school: using the flashcard set (Monday–Friday)
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. This Monday–Friday plan is for preschool children in a Sunday school group.
about 4 and 5- 5 to 7 minutes missions
- Monday–Friday
Using the flashcard set for preschool in a Sunday school group
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. In this Sunday school room, preschool children (about 4 and 5) practice with “The book held open.” Ms. Brooks, the librarian, she held a book open and waited while a child found the page. 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 one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle. The spoken line is “Thank you for helping me find the page..” The note line is “Thank you for waiting while I found the page..” 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 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.
Plan 5 to 7 minutes for preschool. Most preschoolers dictate. The adult writes the name and the short line. A child who wants to mark the page can draw the helper and trace the words Thank you. The Sunday school teacher holds the manual. Children hold the line about Ms. Brooks once they can say what happened to a picture book open to the right page.
Words to say about Ms. Brooks
This is a script the Sunday school teacher can say with preschool children during using the flashcard set. It uses “The book held open,” 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.
Sunday school teacher: “We are going to thank Ms. Brooks. Ms. Brooks is the librarian. Here is the kindness: she held a book open and waited while a child found the page. It happened at the library corner. Look at a picture book open to the right page.”
Five preschool missions in the Sunday school room
On Monday, preschool children (about 4 and 5) stay with “The book held open.” Look only. Put a picture book open to the right page where preschool children can see it. Name Ms. Brooks, the librarian, and say the kindness: she held a book open and waited while a child found the page. It happened at the library corner. Ask “What did she do with the book while you were looking?” Stop at 5 to 7 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, Hold a book open yourself and freeze. Ask what kindness the freeze is showing.
Age tips for preschool (about 4 and 5)
Preschool children can learn why thank you matters before they write much. They need a picture, a person, and one clear kindness. A long talk loses them. The leader shows the moment, the children say a short line, and the group stops while the words still feel friendly. For this Sunday school plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 7 minutes. one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle.
The note for Ms. Brooks
The note can be a dictated sentence. The child supplies the person’s name and the kindness. The adult prints it on the activity-book template so the child can see that spoken thanks and written thanks are the same idea. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for waiting while I found the page.” It has to mention the library corner or a picture book open to the right page, not a general compliment to the librarian.
Copy-ready lines for “The book held open”
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for helping me find the page.” Reply children may hear: “I am glad you asked. Take your time.” Note line to write: “Thank you for waiting while I found the page.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por esperar mientras encontraba la página.”
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 preschool children stall on Ms. Brooks
Hold a book open yourself and freeze. Ask what kindness the freeze is showing. A child who keeps thanking the Sunday school teacher is avoiding Ms. Brooks. Send them back to the librarian and the moment at the library corner. Whispering “Thank you for helping me find the page.” counts.
What Ms. Brooks'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 book held open,” also set out a picture book open to the right page. 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.
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 esperar mientras encontraba la página.” The English line remains “Thank you for helping me find the page.”
Home work after The book held open
Thank a family member who reads one page with you and waits when you lose the line. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Ms. Brooks's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” The note can be a dictated sentence. The child supplies the person’s name and the kindness. The adult prints it on the activity-book template so the child can see that spoken thanks and written thanks are the same idea.
Books for this Sunday school preschool group
Spoken practice about Ms. Brooks can start in the Sunday school room today. The activity-book template matters when preschool children are ready to write “Thank you for waiting while I found the page..” 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.
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.