Year 1 Bulletin: Wellbeing
Learning Intention
To show kindness, care, and compassion by noticing all the wonderful things about who we are.
Learning Experience Overview
This activity helped the students in understanding that they can be their own BFF (Best Friend Forever). They learned to apply positive self-talk and celebrate what makes them special, strengthening their feelings of Self-Compassion.
Whole
We started the lesson by asking the question: “Who has heard the word BFF before? What does it mean?”
We then brainstormed together: asking the questions:
- What makes someone a really good friend?
What do kind friends do?
Students shared some great ideas like: being kind, helping, sharing, giving hugs, including others, etc. We introduced the idea that there's a friend that is with you every second of every day. They’re with you when you wake up, when you go to school, when you play, and when you sleep. We revealed the idea that their BFF is themselves. We explained that we need to treat ourselves with the same kindness we’d give a good friend.
We then asked the question to the students: “How can you be a good friend to yourself?”
Here are some students examples:
- Saying kind words to yourself
- Taking deep breaths when you’re upset
- Giving yourself a break
- Celebrating something you did well
Small
The students participated in colouring their own BFF Poster that they coloured in. The students decorated it with bright colours, patterns, and drawings that show the amazing things about themselves.
Whole
The teachers shared their own examples of treating themselves like a friend. We talked about how it feels when you’re kind to yourself, and what happens when you forget to do that. We aim to continue to build a classroom culture where self-kindness is normal and celebrated!
To continue the learning at home, from this experience:
Students can continue to finish their BFF poster and can hang it up in their rooms in a visible area for prompting self kindness and compassion.
- Students can reflect on themselves in regards to being kind to themselves in certain situations. Provide daily check-ins with your child on how they are feeling about everyday situations and prompt the question: Are you being a good friend to yourself?”. Remind them about the strategies established in the lesson to assist in their self kindness: Saying kind words to yourself, Taking deep breaths when you’re upset, Giving yourself a break, Celebrating something you did well.
Kind regards,
Jarryd and Stef
The Year 1 Team
jarryd.lamb@education.vic.gov.au
stephanie.lampard@education.vic.gov.au