Preschool youth club: using the flashcard set (once a week)
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. This once a week plan is for preschool children in a youth club group.
about 4 and 5- 5 to 7 minutes missions
- once a week
Using the flashcard set for preschool in a youth club group
The group uses one large flashcard to talk about a thank-you situation before anyone writes. In this club meeting, preschool children (about 4 and 5) 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 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 one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle. 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
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 preschool children, about 4 and 5. 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 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 one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle. Stop answers that are only “they were nice.”
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 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 youth club plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 7 minutes. one picture and one question, answered out loud in a small circle.
The note for Aunt May
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 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 youth club leader can say with preschool children during using the flashcard set. 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 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 poner el agua.” The English line remains “Thank you for filling the water.”
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 preschool 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 youth club leader 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 youth club preschool group
Spoken practice about Aunt May can start in the club meeting today. The activity-book template matters when preschool children are ready to write “Thank you for giving our pet water..” 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 Aunt May'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 water bowl filled,” also set out a water bowl. 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.
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 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.
Questions leaders ask
Let's Grow a Culture of Thank You.
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Let's help the next generation learn to recognize kindness, appreciate others,
and say “Thank You” with meaning.