“No one can do anything, but everyone can do something!” The children started their SSDB Journey by singing and dancing to the official SSDB Song, Step by Step. Children were introduced to the four core values that we will be exploring, Kindness, Love, Care and Respect. We discussed how we can represent each value through our actions towards or friends and family. “We can say thank you when teachers give us food,” or “We can help our friends to keep the toys,” these are some of the actions they shared on how to show respect and kindness respectively.
After brainstorming many other actions that reflect the 4 core values, children were invited to make a pledge. They made a pledge to do actions that represent the 4 core values. One of the children pledged to “show love to my family by giving them kisses”. They wrote their pledges down on a pledge card. Their pledge cards were displayed in the classroom to remind them of the pledge that they have made.
Children also made an SSDB Bracelet that had icons that represent the 4 core values – Heart (Love), Spade (Care), Club (Respect) & Diamond (Kindness). Their bracelet was made from cut straws with the icons drawn and with letters S S D B, written on it. Children weaved the straw cut outs and ensured that they had all 4 icons and letters in their bracelet. Once their bracelet was done, they wore it on their wrists proudly!
We continued our SSDB launch in the afternoon where children listened to a story titled, ‘Have You Filled a Bucket Today?’ by Carol McCloud. Through this story children were introduced to the concept of bucket filling. Children reflected how acts of kindness, love, care and respect would fill their invisible buckets whereas unkind acts were deemed as bucket dippers.
Children continued to explore bucket filling through activities using technology and outdoor equipment. Children sort bucket filling and dipping actions into two categories, bucket fillers and bucket dippers. Using the Mimio interactive whiteboard, children used the pen to drag the actions into the different categories. Then using a ball with pictures of bucket filling and dipping actions, children sort by throwing it into the respective bucket filler and bucket dipper baskets. Through these activities children were more aware of how their actions can affect themselves and others.
And that marks the end of our SSDB Launch but the beginning of our learning journey!
