Every year Mr. Bender carefully selects a book for each month of the school year. These books are always connected by a particular theme which changes from year to year. This year’s is a really powerful theme, but we aren’t going to tell you what it is just yet.

At the end of each month, we will share the Book of the Month with you in the hopes you will discuss it further with your children. And while you’re at it, see if you can figure out Mr. Bender’s theme!

November’s book was, Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson. In the story, “Chloe and her friends won’t play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe’s teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she’d shown a little kindness toward Maya.”

Here are some ways you could discuss this book at home:

• Send Kindness into the World this Holiday Season! Here are some ideas:
  • Color a Smile: Children of any age can color a picture for a person and need and mail it off – it’s a fast and easy way to do some good!
  • Operation Christmas Child: It isn’t too late! Fill a shoebox with a small gift and toiletries then send it off to a child in need!
  • A Million Thanks: Send a thank you letter to a member of our military.
  • 10 Kid Friendly Volunteer Service Projects
• Random Acts Brainstorm: Brainstorm some ways you can show kindness to others. Challenge your family to practice these acts of kindness during the month of December and share your experiences.
• Kindness Rock: Repeat the activity Chloe’s teacher did in the book. Fill a large bowl with water and show your child a stone/rock. Ask your child to think of something kind they have done and instruct them to then drop the stone into the water and watch their kindness form a ripple. Discuss what it means to have a ripple effect of kindness.
• Discuss the acronym T.H.I.N.K.:  Discuss how your child can apply this acronym in day to day life to help them “think” before they speak and act.
  • T = Is it True?
  • H = Is it Helpful?
  • I = Is it Inspiring?
  • N = Is it Necessary?
  • K = Is it Kind?
• Character Traits: This printable has you generate character traits for Maya and Chloe and support them with evidence
• Point of View: This is a Point of View activity where you can sort POV cards by character.
• Discussion Questions:
  • 1. Make a list all of the attempts that Maya makes to reach out to the other girls to be friends with them. How do Chloe and her friends respond to each attempt?
    2. When Andrew makes fun of Chloe after Maya whispers something to her, Chloe hastily tells Andrew, “She’s not my friend.” How do you think Maya felt when she heard Chloe say this? What could Chloe have said to Andrew instead?
    3. Kendra comes up with a hateful nickname for Maya—“Never New.” Is it Maya’s fault that she is not able to afford brand new clothes? Is that any reason for the girls not to befriend her?
    4. When Ms. Albert gives Chloe the rock to drop into the bowl, Chloe cannot think of one nice thing she has done. Make a mental list of the ways that you have showed kindness at school or at home this week. Share one or more of the ways you have shown kindness.
    5. What is something that you can do tomorrow to be kinder than you were today?
    6. Albert says that “each little thing that we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world.” Explain what she means. How can one kind act turn into a million kind acts?
    7. Chloe never got another chance to be kind to Maya. If Maya came back to school, what could Chloe do differently? What should she say to Maya?

Here’s a brief article about Giving Tuesday for kids by DOGOnews .

After shopping for deals in stores on “Black Friday, or online on “Cyber Monday,” Americans and people worldwide, are preparing for “Giving Tuesday.” Now in its fifth year, the global event that is celebrated annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is the brainchild of 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City and the United Nations Foundation.

As the name indicates, #GivingTuesday is meant to jump-start the charitable season and therefore observed by raising funds for local nonprofits and schools, organizing food and clothing drives, and conducting random acts of kindness. In 2015, 700,000 people from 71 countries came together to donate $116.7 USD million in cash. An additional $1.08 million USD was spent on gifts.

While the easiest way to participate is by donating to your favorite charity, #GivingTuesday can be celebrated in many other ways. You can give back by volunteering at your local shelter or food bank, or even by donating blood. If all else fails, a purchase from the growing number of organizations that give a portion of their sales to charity will do the trick.

But perhaps the best way to celebrate the day is by helping those nearest and dearest to you. Assist a family member with a simple chore like folding laundry, cooking dinner, or even reading to a younger sibling. No matter what you do, be sure to share your good deed on social media and inspire others to celebrate #GivingTuesday as well!

PS11, let’s continue to talk about how we can be kind to each other every day. Here are some ways we can continue being K&G all year round!

Every year Mr. Bender carefully selects a book for each month of the school year. These books are always connected by a particular theme which changes from year to year. This year’s is a really powerful theme, but we aren’t going to tell you what it is just yet.

At the end of each month, we will share the Book of the Month with you in the hopes you will discuss it further with your children. And while you’re at it, see if you can figure out Mr. Bender’s theme!

October’s book was, “Plant a Kiss,” Below you will find a trailer for the book.

Ways to talk about this book at home:

• This website has great activities for grades K-2 like a Kindness Garden and a Rhyming Word Game
• Create your own Plant a Kiss Seed Packet with this printable.
• The Author of Plant a Kiss, Amy Krouse Rosenthal is pretty cool, check out her website. You can learn about her other adult and children’s books, watch her videos, and even write her a letter!

Happy Thanksgiving PS11! Below are some Thanksgiving resources!

National Geographic Kids: Gives the backstory on the first Thanksgiving, debunks some myths, and more!

Thanksgiving Mini-book: Lower grade parents, if you would like your child to make a book about things they are thankful for, this is an easy way!

NPR – How to Talk to Kids About Thanksgiving: Want your children to look at Thanksgiving with a more critical eye? Check out this article by NPR.

Bet You Didn’t Know: This video shares interesting and quirky facts about Thanksgiving!

Enjoy!

Is your 4^th grader confused about the difference between food chains and food webs? How about physical versus behavioral adaptations? Maybe they want to learn more about human impact on the environment?

Here are some resources from our 4^th Grade Ecosystems Unit to explore at home!

Ecosystems

• Ecology and Behavior

Food Chains and Webs

• Brainpop: Ecology and Behavior – Food Chains
• Science Bob – Food Chains and Food Webs
• Sheppards Software – Producers and Consumers

Animal Adaptations

• Scholastic – Animals
• PK Life Science – Behavioral and Physical Adaptations  (Check out all of the sections on the left)

Human Footprint:

• Nat Geo – Human Footprint Interactive
• Nat Geo. – Mapping Out the Human Footprint 

Mark your calendars! On November 14th we will experience a super moon-and the moon will appear bigger and brighter than it has been in over 70 years!! To get the best views of the moon, try to find a dark place without too many lights or buildings. The piers or the park might be good places to try. If you get some good pictures bring them or send them to Mrs. Griffith. She would love to see them! To learn more check this out!