#4371. First Day Jitters

other, level: 1-2
Posted Wed May 6 11:23:13 PDT 2009 by Shannon Pettus (Shannon Pettus).
Srix ECC, St. Louis Public Schools
Activity Time: 30-40 minutes
Concepts Taught: Understanding of self (nervous feelings, without same friends, etc.)

FIRST DAY JITTERS

AREA: Understanding and accepting myself and others

GRADE LEVEL: FIRST GRADE

OBJECTIVES: - Identify different feelings
someone may experience on the
first day of school
- Acceptance of change (friends,
teacher, room)
- Gain independence
- Utilize problem solving skills

MATERIALS-

BOOKS: First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
First Day of School: Lunch Bunch by Judy
Nayer

Chalkboard
Pencils and Paper

DISCUSSION: This lesson should be done the first week of school.

• Ask children how they felt on the
morning of their first day of first grade
• Have children express the different
feelings/ Does everyone feel this way?
• Tell children they are going to listen
to a story about a boy and girl that may
feel just like them

READ: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: LUNCH BUNCH

• Discuss how Matt felt in the morning and
then as the day went on
• How did Matt overcome the obstacles?
• Who helped him get through his nervous
times?
• What would you put on your list if you
made one like Matt’s?

READ: FIRST DAY JITTERS

• Have you ever felt like Sarah during the
first week of school?
• What did the author want us to believe
about Sarah until the end of the book?
• What was the surprise ending?
• Did you know that teachers can be
nervous too?

ACTIVITY:

 Have children brain storm the things
they like so far about first grade
 Create a list on the chalkboard of their
answers like Matt did with his mother
 Have students create their own personal
lists on a sheet of paper to hang up