๐ Understanding Sharing for Preschoolers
Sharing is a complex social-emotional skill that preschoolers are just beginning to develop. It involves understanding fairness, empathy, and delayed gratification. These concepts can be abstract and challenging for young children, making it essential to approach the topic with patience and age-appropriate activities. This lesson provides a framework to introduce and reinforce sharing in a playful and engaging way.
๐ฏ Objectives
- ๐ค Define Sharing: Children will be able to define sharing in their own words.
- ๐งธ Identify Sharing Behaviors: Children will be able to identify examples of sharing and not sharing.
- ๐ Practice Sharing: Children will actively participate in sharing activities with their peers.
- ๐ Understand the Benefits of Sharing: Children will recognize that sharing can lead to positive social interactions and feelings.
๐๏ธ Materials
- ๐งธ Toys: A variety of toys that are appealing to preschoolers (blocks, cars, dolls, puzzles). Ensure there are enough toys for small groups, but not one for every child to promote sharing.
- ๐ Storybook: A children's book about sharing (e.g., "The Rainbow Fish").
- ๐ผ๏ธ Pictures/Visual Aids: Pictures depicting sharing and not sharing scenarios.
- ๐ต Music: Upbeat music for transition times and games.
- ๐จ Art Supplies: Paper, crayons, markers for a collaborative art activity.
โ๏ธ Warm-up (5 mins)
- ๐ Greeting Song: Start with a welcoming song to set a positive tone.
- ๐ฃ๏ธ Sharing Circle: Gather the children in a circle and ask a simple question related to sharing, such as, "What is something you like to share?" Encourage them to share their answers with the group.
๐งธ Main Instruction (20 mins)
- ๐ Story Time (5 mins): Read the storybook about sharing. Pause during the story to ask questions like, "How do you think the characters are feeling?" and "What could they do differently?"
- ๐ผ๏ธ Visual Aid Discussion (5 mins): Show pictures of children sharing and not sharing. Discuss what is happening in each picture and ask the children to identify which actions are examples of sharing. Encourage them to explain why.
- ๐ค Sharing Activity (10 mins):
- ๐งธ Toy Sharing: Divide the children into small groups and provide each group with a limited number of toys. Encourage them to take turns playing with the toys and to share them with each other.
- ๐จ Collaborative Art: Provide a large sheet of paper and art supplies. Encourage the children to work together to create a collaborative drawing, sharing the art supplies and space.
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Assessment
Observe the children during the sharing activity. Look for instances of sharing, turn-taking, and cooperation. Note any challenges or difficulties the children may be experiencing. Ask open-ended questions to gauge their understanding of sharing, such as, "Why is sharing important?" or "How does sharing make you feel?"
Further Activities:
- ๐ฎ Sharing Games: Play games that require sharing and turn-taking, such as "Pass the Parcel" or "Simon Says".
- ๐ฑ Gardening Activity: Plant seeds together and share the responsibilities of watering and caring for the plants.
- ๐งโ๐ณ Cooking Activity: Prepare a simple snack together and share the ingredients and tasks involved in the process.