JDAIM Storytime – Kindness
One of February’s designations is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month. Our focus this week is kindness and ways we can be kind. We read:
When I Care About Others by Cornelia Maude Spelman and illustrated by Kathy Parkinson
and
Kind by Axel Scheffler and 38 illustrators!
Class Activity – Make A Class Kindness Jar!
You have two options for a class kindness jar…
Option 1:
Every time a student in your class does something kind, they can put a pom pom in the kindness jar. Once it’s full, the class gets a prize!
Option 2:
Have students each fill in 3 post-it’s with ideas for a random act of kindness that can be done at school. Each day upon entering class, students pick one post-it from the jar and need to find a way to fulfill that act of kindness before the end of the school day. Ideas could include;
- clean up part of the classroom
- give someone a compliment
- play with someone who is alone
- open a door for someone
- offer to help your teacher with something
- pick up trash in the hallway and put it in the garbage
- listen to someone who is sad or upset
- make a new friend
Peculiar Pets Storytime
Today we read;
I Want A Pet by Lauren Child
The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Hanako Wakiyama
Don’t Take Your Snake for a Stroll by Karin Ireland and illustrated by David Catrow
Creative Writing and Drawing Peculiar Pets Activity
Draw a picture of any animal you think would make a peculiar pet (the sky is the limit… this could be a giraffe, a crocodile, a flamingo) and write what you would name it and what kinds of things you imagine you would do with your peculiar pet. If you would like to share a photo of your work, send them to b.ruel@theojcs.ca and I will post them on this page!
Pizza Storytime
Today we read 3 pizza-themed books! In the comments I want to know your favourite pizza toppings!
Pizza Kittens by Charlotte Voake
Hi, Pizza Man! by Virginia Walter and Illustrated by Ponder Goembel
Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig
Activity – Geometry Pizza!
This cool idea comes from Mrs. Thompson’s Treasures. Cut out the following shapes using different coloured construction paper;
- circles
- squares
- triangles
- rectangles
- ovals
Colour the edges of the paper plate brown to look like crust. Glue your shapes onto your paper plate. Voila, shape pizza!
Tu B’Shevat Storytime – Be A Friend to Trees
Hello everyone and happy Tu B’Shevat! Today we read…
Be A Friend to Trees by Patricia Lauber and illustrated by Holly Keller
Your Assignment:
Where the video asks you to make a list of things made out of wood, and then things made out of paper and cardboard, PAUSE the video and list the items you discover in the comments of this blog post. When the story is done, also comment one thing YOU can do to be a friend to trees.
Tu B’Shevat Storytime – Now I Know Trees
Today we read a beautiful story for Tu B’Shevat. This one is for our younger students. It is called;
Now I Know Trees by Sharon Gordon and illustrated by Irene Trivas
Your Activity: Tree Life Cycle Colouring Page
If you have any difficulty viewing or downloading this colouring page, just contact me and I will email you a copy!
Duck Storytime
Today we read;
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic
Duck Activity
If you have a rubber duck at home, have fun creating a habitat for it using materials you have available at home. Get a plastic bin and use it as a base for a fun rubber duck habitat. Here are some examples using blue playdough and water and slime:

These fabulous ideas are from Fantastic Fun and Learning! https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/duck-pond-play-dough-invitation.html
Another version is using water…
A version using blue slime…
If you have artificial plants, stones, or little pieces of wood you can really jazz it up! Make sure you have your parents permission to use the items you gather.
Self-Esteem Storytime
Today we read;
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow
and
I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow
NOTE: These books have the same illustrator and that wasn’t even on purpose!
Extension Activity:
Draw or write about one thing about you that you think makes you special. Why do you love that about yourself?