Positivity Project
Last Week:
Students participated in activities and discussions focusing on the Other People Matter Mindset of knowing my words and actions affect others. Each grade level viewed different videos and participated in different activities and discussion questions. 6th grade students saw a video on how positivity and negativity can impact our self confidence and outcomes. They also discussed ways to spread kindness, and the power of a compliment. They participated in the power shuffle activity and backwards charades on acts of kindness. 7th graders saw videos on acts of kindness. They discussed how actions can be very powerful and the impact of kindness, and how it can spread. They viewed a video on how our words are very powerful and the impact a simple word could have, both negative and positive. 8th graders saw videos and participated in discussion questions on how we are all teaching lessons through our actions and how all of our actions have an impact on others. Students needed to self reflect on what the impact of their actions may be on others. They saw how our words can affect others around us even if we aren’t even speaking directly to someone. The importance of encouragement and how it can affect us was shown through Disney video clips and students own application. Students then participated in various activities including, stand in my shoes and one-step forward, two-steps back. 8th grade Patriot Times also looked at historical figures who used his/her words to create action amongst followers. They then identified the impact, either positive or negative, and how that person taught us that our words affect others.
This Week:
Patriot Times focused on kindness. They discussed how kindness and empathy are related, brainstormed ways that we can encourage the kindness mindset, and how we can bring more kindness into our community. Students were challenged to think of someone they know that could use extra encouragement or support and write them a note of encouragement. Groups created random acts of kindness lists that they would do for others. In each Patriot Time, students were given a list of award categories such as Fantastic Friend, Awesome Attitude, and Most Dedicated. They then nominated individuals and explained the reasons for why they chose that person. Many Patriot Times participated in making cards to send to a Emma, 12 year old Brighton resident battling Leukemia, as well as cards for our troops stationed in Greenland.
Upcoming Weeks:
Week of 12/9 - Humility will be the character strength. Students will begin be completing a humility self reflection to see their own actions and how they can grow as an individual. Patriot Times will discuss the importance of being humble, what that means, and what that may look like. They will practice ¨other-mindedness¨ and role play scenarios showing how someone who is humble may react as opposed to someone who is not.
Weeks of 12/17 and 12/31 - Some Patriot Times will be viewing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer while analyzing the movie using the #OtherPeopleMatter mindset. They will look at which characters have or don't have the #OtherPeopleMatter mindset and how this affects the characters. The movie will be split into three days and after each segment discussions on the Positivity Project character strengths will be applied. Also, during these two short weeks, Patriot Times will be discussing self-control. They will be talking about what self-control looks like and view and analyze examples of self control that are shown from cartoon clips. They will talk about controlling emotions and not letting our emotions control us. Patriot Times will talk about circle of control and circle of no control. They will brainstorm together examples of each then students will make their own then together reflect on the activity.
Home Connections:
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If you would like your family to participate in the card making for either Emma or our troops please send the cards made into school Monday or Tuesday with your child. They will be collected by Patriot Time teachers.
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Ask your child what stuck with them the most from this weeks discussions and activities
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Talk with your child about how they will continue to apply what they learned about the the Other People Matter Mindset on knowing my words and actions affect others
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6th grade parents, ask your child what their “dot” art looked like or what encouraging words they came up with.
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7th grade parents, ask your child what the 8 year old boy did with the $20 they found before entering a restaurant and why. Ask your child what they said they would do if they found $20 in their class discussion.
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8th grade parents, ask your child what encouragement, help, or supports they offered during the stand in my shoes activity.
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Discuss with your child where kindness and humility are on their list of character strengths and where they are on yours if you have taken the VIA survey.
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Create a random acts of kindness list with your family. Ask your child what ideas they brainstormed with their Patriot Time.
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Have your child share their circle of control and circle of no control items with you. Ask your child what they shared in this discussion.
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Talk with your child about if they control their emotions or if they let their emotions control them. Have them give examples.
Winter Break
Please remember that our last day of school before the holiday break is Wednesday, December 19. We will be closed from Thursday, December 20, 2018, through Tuesday, January 1, 2019, with classes resuming on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Poelke
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