Kinder - First Grade
Developmental Characteristics
Physical
Enjoy long periods of free play
Developing eye-hand coordination
Enjoy small group cooperative play
May require rest after high-energy play
Improved body coordination; yet still can fall easily
Social Emotional
Eager to receive adult praise
Enjoy dramatic play
Eager to engage in new activities/adventures led by involved adult
Eager to identify with older children
Enjoy exploring new materials and equipment
Can be easily frightened by novel or strange events
Prefer play in small groups
Like responsibilities they can handle
Learning to cooperate with others, but may at times display selfish behavior
Cognitive
Understand language better than they speak
Are interested in present; vague concepts of past/future
Eager to learn
Ask many questions
Define things by their use
Developing a sense of humor
Communicate best within a small group of peers
May need guidance of adult when starting a new task
The Happy Faces
Students practice empathy by noticing when others need encouragement and offering kindness through symbolic “happy faces.”
Clustergrams
Students build empathy and connection by finding shared experiences and acting them out in groups.
Art and Community Activism
Students explore the concepts of community, activism, and art through discussion and creative collaboration, discovering how art can be a tool for change.
Kindness Puppets
A creative activity where students make feeling puppets to explore and express emotions, empathy, and solutions to everyday problems.
Focusing Attention (Second Step Lesson 2)
In this lesson, students learn how to focus their attention by using their brain, eyes, and ears—practicing with a pretend "attent-o-scope" to block out distractions and stay engaged in learning.
