Setting up the Classroom

• This lesson sets the stage for universal affective learning in the classroom. Ask the children to tell the ways that they are kind to friends. Guide them with examples, such as sharing with peers and helping the teacher. Discuss how they can be safe at school. Guide them with examples, such as using walking feet, swinging on their bottom on the playground and keeping hands to themselves. Ask how they are responsible at school. Tell them that being responsible at school is when they clean up their work, keep their cubbies tidy and listen to the teacher. Make a poster of the rules -- be kind, be safe, be responsible -- illustrated with photos of the kids following these rules. Use the poster to reteach rules once a week.
  
  

Body Tracing

• This activity gives preschool children an opportunity to showcase themselves and helps them feel like they belong to the classroom community. Cut two pieces of butcher paper the length of each child. Use a marker to trace an outline of each body on one piece of paper. Lay the other piece of paper under the tracing and cut out two body outlines. Staple the outlines together, leaving an open space to stuff it. Stuff it with pieces of paper the child has crumpled up until the body image is big enough to "wear" clothing. Dress the stuffed body in clothing the child's parent has sent for this purpose. Display the stuffed outlines on a wall inside the classroom or in the hallway.
  
  

Conflict Resolution

• This lesson involves role-playing during morning meeting or circle time. Take the children by surprise by setting up a situation where the teacher and teaching assistant or a parent volunteer need to solve a conflict in front of the class. Pretend the teacher has taken the chair the assistant wanted to sit in. The assistant becomes angry and tries to take the chair without explaining how she feels. The teacher says, "It's my chair. I didn't know you wanted it." They come to the conclusion that the teacher will sit in it for circle time, then give the assistant a turn. Explain to the class how the adults listened to each other and made a deal to take turns, so no one got in trouble or missed out on anything.
  
  

Self-esteem

• Set up an interactive lesson with pretend play in a structured setting. Pretend play gives children a chance to be in charge of a situation and gain self-esteem. Set up a play scheme, such as a doctors office or pizza restaurant. Begin the play by giving children specific roles, for example, a doctor, a nurse, a pizza cook, delivery driver or server. Play with the children to get them going on the right track. Act out situations and give them examples of words to say to play their parts. Slowly back out of the play once they have begun working together without adult facilitation.