Description

Are you looking for an engaging lesson plan that combines Social Emotional Learning (SEL) themes with a beloved picture book? Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is a perfect choice for teaching empathy, self-acceptance, and kindness in the classroom.

This resource is ideal for 3rd-6th grade teachers and school counselors who want to build self-awareness, foster inclusion, and address the effects of bullying through meaningful, student-centered activities. With this lesson plan, you can seamlessly integrate SEL into your literacy block while encouraging important discussions about individuality and respect.

Aligned with the CASEL competency of Self-Management, this lesson plan explores Chrysanthemum’s powerful themes of self-esteem, resilience, and compassion. The activities are designed to help students reflect on the story’s key messages, develop empathy, and connect lessons from the book to their own experiences.

This resource includes a variety of activities to spark critical thinking, promote understanding, and build a classroom culture rooted in kindness and inclusion.

What’s Included in the Lesson Plan:

• A “Before Reading” activity and discussion questions.
• “During The Reading” discussion questions.
• “After The Reading” comprehension questions, activities, SEL-focused lessons, and critical thinking prompts.

Highlights of the Student Activities:

• Empathy in Action: Reflection activities to help students understand Chrysanthemum’s emotions and connect with their own experiences.
• Role-Playing Scenarios: Encourage students to practice kindness and inclusion in real-world situations.
• Creative Extensions: Art and writing prompts to explore individuality and self-expression.
• Character Growth Analysis: Activities focused on resilience, self-acceptance, and overcoming challenges.
• SEL Skill Development: Includes working definitions and real-life applications of key SEL concepts like self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills.

Specific Skills Covered

• Notice and Wonder T-Chart
• Character Traits Extension Activity
• Reflection Prompts: “A Time When…” and “What Makes Me, Me!”
• Brainstorming Kindness: Collaborative classroom discussions
• Literary Elements: Explore themes, characters, and conflict resolution
• … and more!

This resource empowers students to build empathy, embrace diversity, and foster respect while developing critical literacy skills. Whether you’re teaching SEL lessons or looking for an engaging way to discuss individuality and inclusion, Chrysanthemum is the perfect choice!

YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS RESOURCE IN DIGITAL FORM HERE:

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✅ Download the preview to see how comprehensive this resource is!

One of the most significant needs in our schools and in our classrooms is access to an appropriate and meaningful SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) curriculum. Students need to be able to work through the five competencies of SEL: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making (© CASEL 2017).

This product is a part of The SEL Bookshelf™ Curriculum Series.