Understanding the process that leads to a positive self-concept can develop self-awareness in an individual, helping them to act with clarity and intention. By gaining insight into human behavior and self-concept formation, one can better direct their thoughts and actions.
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce young kindergartners to the Thoughts-Actions-Feelings about Self Circle of Positive Action, which illustrates how one thinks, behaves, and feels leads to the overall sense of self-worth. In this discovery, kindergarten students recognize what produces good feelings about themselves.
An interactive puppet play opens this lesson, captivating the attention of kindergartners with Picks-It Raccoon and Nix-It Panda. Nix-It is the first to engage the students, telling them and Picks-It that his prediction of having a terrible day has come true. Picks-It responds, explaining that their thoughts can determine the kind of day they will have.
Using the wise character of Picks-It in this engaging puppet show, this lesson further elaborates on the circular process of how thoughts lead to actions which lead to feelings. With this fun teaching strategy, kindergartners learn the importance of starting the day with positive thoughts to have positive feelings about themselves and, ultimately, a positive day.
"The purpose of this lesson is to introduce young kindergartners to the Thoughts-Actions-Feelings about Self Circle of Positive Action, which illustrates how one thinks, behaves, and feels leads to the overall sense of self-worth."
After the puppet show, a short story titled "A Good Day for Jerry" follows, telling the tale of a boy named Jerry who wakes up with a mind full of negative thoughts. Thus, everything makes him sad—the snow outside, his room, and his friend Mario who doesn’t want to come over. While Jerry broods over his negative thoughts, his friend Mario finds fun in everything, thanks to his positive thoughts. The snow excites him with the opportunity to build a snowman, so he goes to his friends’ houses, including Jerry’s, and invites them to build a snowman together. The story ends by showing Jerry and Mario spending their best day under the snow, building a snowman, sipping hot cocoa, and feeling happy.
The beauty of this story is its use of the interesting contrast between the two characters to juxtapose how their negative and positive thoughts set the stage for their actions and feelings about themselves. Kindergartners reflect further on the story’s lesson by discussing answers to the guide questions that follow. To reinforce the lesson, a class activity is conducted, and the "Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle" poster is displayed in the room for the remainder of the curriculum.
Positive Action is a social-emotional learning program that offers insights into human behavior and understanding of oneself. To be successful, it employs an approach that
teaches students the interconnectedness of thoughts, actions, and feelings
about themselves. The Thoughts-Actions-Feelings about Self Circle is a great,
easy-to-understand, and helpful visual representation of how positive thoughts
and actions produce good feelings about oneself. Kindergarten students find it to
be an effective guide in improving their self-concept.
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