Preschool youth club: noticing kindness (once a week)
Children point to a real kindness before they are asked to say or write thank you. 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
Noticing kindness for preschool in a youth club group
Children point to a real kindness before they are asked to say or write thank you. In this club meeting, preschool children (about 4 and 5) practice with “The hand at the bus step.” Ms. Grant, the bus driver, she waited with her hand near the rail while a child climbed the step. 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 waiting while I got on..” The note line is “Thank you for waiting at the step..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for this group and this kindness.
What Ms. Grant'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 hand at the bus step,” also set out the rail by the steps. Show the moment first. Ask what the helper did with their hands. Accept the action before you ask for the polite words.
If the books are not here yet, preschool children can still say “Thank you for waiting while I got on.” in the club meeting. A sponsor request is free for the leader. Shipping is included on full and partial packages, and the leader is called before anything ships.
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.
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 Ms. Grant
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 at the step.” It has to mention the bus door or the rail by the steps, not a general compliment to the bus driver.
Words to say about Ms. Grant
This is a script the youth club leader can say with preschool children during noticing kindness. It uses “The hand at the bus step,” 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 hand at the bus step”
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for waiting while I got on.” Reply children may hear: “You are welcome. Find your seat.” Note line to write: “Thank you for waiting at the step.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por esperarme en la puerta.”
Home work after The hand at the bus step
If you ride with a family driver, thank them for one exact part of the ride, such as waiting at the curb. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Ms. Grant'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.
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.
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.
If preschool children stall on Ms. Grant
Set a chair as the step. One child climbs slowly. The other child practices the one-sentence thanks before the climber sits. A child who keeps thanking the youth club leader is avoiding Ms. Grant. Send them back to the bus driver and the moment at the bus door. Whispering “Thank you for waiting while I got on.” counts.
Books for this youth club preschool group
Spoken practice about Ms. Grant can start in the club meeting today. The activity-book template matters when preschool children are ready to write “Thank you for waiting at the step..” 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.
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 esperarme en la puerta.” The English line remains “Thank you for waiting while I got on.”
Questions leaders ask
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and say “Thank You” with meaning.