Week 8 with the 4s: Forgiveness and flossing

KELDA:
Our four-year-olds had a great week with the story of Joseph and his brothers (...and his Technicolor dream coat)serving as the basis for our lessons. 

We talked about forgiveness, something that all the kids are forced to practice nearly every day, but a character trait most of us had not sat down and discussed. During circle time we talked about things we had done that weren't nice, things that we would hope to be forgiven for. Its a somewhat abstract concept, but through a series of activities and lots of discussion, it was a good way to introduce forgiveness to the kids. 

We watched a short movie on Joseph and his brothers which was helpful to the kids, as even the kid version of this story is a bit long-winded

During snacks, we read "Charming Opal," about a little pig that loses her tooth

Apple slices, mini marshmallows and peanut-butter teeth

After snack, we "painted" with a tooth brush

Then we built mouths using pink Play-Doh and garbanzo beans (ten on top, ten on the bottom

The kids loved this obstacle course, which required them to finish a series of challenges, including bringing me specific items and flashcards, with no clues or reminders along the way. I gave them the cues at the beginning of the course, and they had to remember as they went through.

On day two, the kids acted out the story of Joseph and his brothers. Here Noah is "dad," and Addison is Joseph.

Sweet coat, Joseph

Jack is the brothers, taking away the coat...

...and putting Joseph in a hole. 

Bravo!

Next, we talked about good dental habits, and sorted out food into "good for teeth" and "bad for teeth" categories.

I didn't capture this in action, but the kids had fun stamping our their last names with cookie cutters. Still working on putting the letters in the correct order on their own.

Doing both letter and number connect-a-dots 

Back to the forgiveness theme, we had the kids draw a time they did something unkind that they wished to be forgiven for. Jack drew a picture of him shoving Gus. 

Noah drew a picture of him hitting Jules.

Addison drew a picture of her taking something from Doc. 

Then we washed our hands with the soap, discussing how forgiving and being forgiven helps wash away the unkind things we have done.

As always, it was a great, productive week with the 4s. I loved this lesson in forgiveness, and love that this curriculum helps us talk to our kids about these important values in such a kid-friendly way.