Friendship: Giving and Receiving

This week Earth Group read the story My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems .  This is a story about an elephant named Gerald who is sad and his friend Piggie who dresses up as a clown, robot and cowboy to cheer him up!

As a pre-reading activity, I asked the children to think about why they feel sad sometimes.  The children feel sad when their siblings hit them, when they miss mommy, and when someone breaks their structures.  Then I asked what someone could do to make them feel better.  The children thought that not hitting or yelling and keeping hands "away from their structures" would make them feel better.

After reading the book, I asked the children why Gerald the Elephant was so sad?  There is no explanation for this in the story.  What would you do if you came to school and a friend was sad?  How would you know that the friend was sad?  Here were some of their ideas:

I've seen a boy crying at school a lot and I don't know why he was sad but he was crying so he was sad.  Mary talked to him so he would feel special and not so sad.  Then I asked: What if Mary asked you to help him, what would you do?   I could make him a card or just let him play with my lego speed boat.

I ask what's wrong?  Why are you so sad?  Then I asked: What if the friend was so sad that they couldn't tell you why, what would you do then?  I would get ice or a tissue.

What is it called when we get a tissue for someone or make someone a card?  Caring !  After reading the story the children recalled that Piggie was caring because he dressed up to cheer up Gerald.  Allye noticed that at the end of the story, "Gerald really only wanted to play with Piggie anyways."

The children colouring their books

Matthew sequencing his story

Matthew cutting the pages of his book

The children created their own stories:

Eva: Elephant says- I like Piggie.  Piggie says - Do you want to walk with me?  They walk together.  They are sharing ice cream and then they go to buy some treats.

Damon: Piggie says - Do you want to jump in the pool?  Elephant replies: Yes!  Piggie says - Do you want to play in the park?  Elephant replies, "Yes!!."  Elephant says, do you want to play in the sand table?

On Thursday, we re-read the story and shared the children's friendship stories.  Next week, the children will share a story of friendship again with the puppets they made today.  As there were a few children missing from group today, it will be interesting to see which children will share their puppets next week!

Tada !  Nico's Piggie

Allye's Piggie

Elaine's Elephant and Piggie are already friends !