Page 2 - Affirmation

COURSE: EMOTIONS Teaching tomorrow’s adults how to get along LESSON: AFFIRMATIONS
The Children’s Peace Initiative
INTRODUCTION
It has been said that starting your day with a positive attitude can help make it a good day. If you wake up in the morning and say to yourself, “Today is going to be great day,” it will hopefully be true. Having a positive attitude will put a smile on your face and a smile in your heart space.
An Affirmation is speaking out loud what you hope to achieve. It
reminds you that you are here to do great things as you grow. For example,
you can look in the mirror at yourself and say, “Today I am going to be good listener.” If you keep this affirmation in your mind and repeat it during the day, you will notice that you have been listening and following instructions carefully.
Anything that you want to succeed in requires you to practice. If you want to learn how to ride a bike well, you will have to get on the bike repeatedly and follow the instructions given carefully.
Affirmations will need the same attention. If you say, “I am a good friend,” you will need to know how to be a good friend, and then do your best to be friendly.
Explicit Instructions/Teacher Modeling
• Place the treasure box on the rug in the middle of the floor
• Announce. “Today I brought in container.” What might you call this container?
• The children will tell you that it is a treasure box.
• Ask them what do they think is inside? Some may say treasures, some will say jewels, someone may say, “something very valuable.”
• You can respond by saying not all valuable things are kept in a treasure box. Somethings that are valuable could be an occasion that was incredibly special to you and has now become a memory. Or words like I love you can be treasured. Friendship can be treasured, since it is awesome to have someone in your life that is kind to you, makes you laugh and shares some of the same interest.
• Today, in this box are affirmations. They are being kept in this treasure box because the can be valuable. For example, lets read a few and talk about them.
• After discussing a few affirmations, share with them the activity for the day. Show them the paper doll that has already been clothed with all the trimmings.
• Suggest that none of their dolls will look the same since we are all quite different and unique in our own way.
• Play Song “Worthy” by India Arie
• Allow the children at this time to dress and decorate the paper doll
• Tell them that once they are finished clothing their doll, you have and affirmation that you want all of them to glue on their doll.
• The affirmation is, I AM UNIQUE!
• Explain that unique means being the only one of its kind. Share, that there is no one in the world like
them and there will never be.
• Tell them that today our affirmation is celebrating and respecting our differences.
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