Rhyming Prompt: December 29
When it comes to empathy, kindness, good deeds
You have all the knowledge that anyone needs.
The list that you made yesterday of kind stuff
Will help so many people when life feels too tough.
Today you should pick out one action you wrote
And put it to action. Take a vote
With your folks on the best one for today
And then go ahead and get on your way.
Download the prompts for December 29-31 here as a PDF or here as a Microsoft Word Document (you may have already printed these—I’m just re-posting them here for convenience).
An image of the December 29 prompt printed on cream cardstock with a green border. There is a gold wax impression of a frog in the corner, highlighted in silver. The card is nestled in a lit Christmas tree.
Other Materials:
Your list of brainstormed kindnesses from yesterday.
Suggested Pose:
Where does democracy happen in our house? In the schoolroom, usually, with our daily school bell, beside a chalk board where we generally write out pros and cons. Frantz knows this, of course, so is sitting by the bell waiting for that family vote to take place.
Frantz is sitting beside the brass schoolroom bell holding the daily prompt on his lap.
Activity:
With your child, decide which one of the empathetic ideas you brainstormed yesterday to do first! If possible, do it today, and if not, make a concrete plan for how and when you will do it.
Rationale:
This helps your child see how to take an idea from conception to fruition, and it puts them in the driver’s seat. Since people are generally more likely to do something if they think it was their idea, letting your kids take charge and plan their own empathetic activities encourages them to follow through.
Book Recommendation:
Is there anyone who doesn’t love an otter? Do Unto Otters, by Laurie Keller, is based on the golden rule and is truly adorable. You can watch a read aloud here.
The cover of Do Unto Otters, by Laurie Keller.