ABC Activity Extension

The ABC's take us well beyond pre-reading skills

and simple songs. Once our children and students know the ABC's, the options are endless!

Let's explore ways in which we can

use a basic concept to branch across

multiple learning opportunities!

The ABC's works as a great place to start a new topic, or break a large unit of new information into smaller pieces. Forming an ABC list for a subject area can serve as an inspiration for the teacher, or a brainstorming session for students. Use it to explore a new culture, learn a new language, or dig a little deeper into a subject area of interest! 

(I find myself going back to the ABC's each school year as I work with my children at home to build vocabulary, write, read, and understand new concepts.)

What we have below is just barely the tip of the iceberg as to what you can do with the ABC's. However, the concept transcends itself across ages, content, and meaning. Enjoy! Be inspired and share what direction you have or will take this in!

“ABC's of Community” - (first month of school? new words to use at home with the family?)

A – attitude, acceptance

B - believe

C – communicate, communication, compassion

D – diversity, determination

E – expression, excitement, empathy

F - faith

G - gathering

H - honesty

I – individuality, independence, interdependence, include

J - joking

K - kindness

L – laughter, love

M – meaningful, mindful

N – nonviolent

O – optimism, outgoing

P – patriotism, passion, persevere

Q – quest

R – respect, reassure

S – support, strength

T – trust

U – understanding

V – value

W – worthiness

X -

Y – yin-yang

Z – zen

“ABC's of Emotions/Feelings” - (self expression? vocabulary building? used in conjunction with community building?)

A – anger, agree, anxious, angry, admirable

B - brave

C – cautious, cooperative

D – dismal, dishonest, disappointed, determined

E – embarrassed, exhausted, empathy

F – frustrated, friendly

G – gitty, generous

H – happy, honest, humor

I – invaded, included, intuition

J – joking, joy, jubilent

K – kind

L – loved, lonely

M – mad, mischievous, mindful

N – nervous

O – optimistic, outgoing

P – patient, powerful, pessimistic, proud, persistent, passionate

Q – quiet

R – relaxed, respected

S – silly, serious, sad, small, scared, strong, selfish

T – tired, teased, thankful, truthful

U – unsure, unaware

V – victorious

W – weak, worrisome

X -

Y – yearning

Z -

More possible ABC directions:

“ABC's of Literacy”

“ABC's of Japanese”

“ABC's of Spanish”

“ABC's of Algebra”

“ABC's of US History”

“ABC's of Meteorology”

“ABC's of Music”

One Activity Starter...Sooo Many Uses!

I recently finished reading an amazing book titled, 10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn. There were so many useful ideas and activities to help children (and adults) learn to be self-aware and happy. The premise is that being self-aware helps each one of us get to a calm place when needed, make rational decisions, be kind to others, and be truly happy. (This is a way too simplified explanation. I highly recommend reading the book.)

One activity from the book really resonated with me, so I put it to use at home after reading about it. Here is the loosely translated activity with a variation I added at the end...

The Traffic Signal Game

• Print out a photo of, draw, or create a traffic signal light with green, yellow and red.
• Use the color signals as a guide on any emotion that children need help processing and/or controlling (fear, anger, sadness, etc.).
• green = calm, rational decision-making, fully aware and in control of emotion
• yellow = heightened emotion, considers ways to respond and get back to green
• red = highest level of emotion, time for mindful breathing to calm enough to make decision on how to respond
• Go through the colors with the children discussing examples of each color. Have them explain/show what it may look like, how it may feel, etc.
• Decide where to place traffic signal in room/house where all can use it as a reminder and reference when needed.
• The next time there is an issue, refer to the traffic signal to help the child learn how to talk himself through calming and rational decision-making.

Variation/Addition to Activity:

• Have each child make their own personal traffic signal to put where they wish.
• This encourages the next step of self-awareness and the child helping themselves get to the green when needed.
• Using a clothespin, have the child clip it to the color he/she is in. When the emotions change, the clothespin can move.
• This is a great way to communicate when the words are not coming together, or the child just needs help and doesn't know how to get it out calmly. It also is a tangible and concrete method to help explain the emotions.
• To personalize this, I had my daughter decorate her clothespin the way she wanted and choose a place in her room where she would like to have it.

I have seen this one idea used many ways in schools, but liked this version the most. When I read about this version I immediately thought of toddlers and teens. Many of us know that both groups are virtually the same breed...hehehe...

Has anyone else used an activity like this, had success, experience anything they want to share?

Has anyone else read this book and have any insight, opinion, ideas on other activities mentioned?