In this activity, your students will identify recent changes they have experienced and label them as big changes or small changes.
Prep: On the board, make a rating scale and label one side “small changes” and the other “big changes.”
Prompt: Ask your students to think about recent changes in their lives. You may want to share a few examples like:
- Sitting in a different seat in class
- Having a substitute teacher
- Having indoor recess because of bad weather
Students will think of a few of their own examples, write them on this worksheet (or on post-it notes), and tape their changes to the board where they think they belong on the scale.
This is a great opportunity for you to gain insight into how your students view and internalize everyday changes. Note: Changes can feel different for every person experiencing them. Even if it’s a small change for one student, it may feel big for someone else.
Suggested discussion questions:
- How did you feel when this change happened?
- Was this an exciting change? Or a change that made you feel scared or nervous?
Additional resources:
Lesson:
Books:
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- Not-So-Brave Penguin by Steve Smallman
- Worry Says What? by Allison Edwards
- Saturday Is Swimming Day by Hyewon Yum
- When I Feel Scared by Cornelia Maude Spelman