Merve Rabia GÜL, Cumhuriyet Primary School Kindergarten, Turkey

 

Week 1: Solidarity / Sharing / Helping Each Other (17-18 April 2025)

🎨 Activity Type: Drama

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Help children understand the concepts of cooperation, sharing, and solidarity.
- Develop empathy and collaboration skills.
- Encourage cooperative behavior in daily situations.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Ask students: “Have you ever shared something important with a friend?”
Create a class sharing box. Everyone lends one item (pencil, eraser, etc.) to a classmate for the day.

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - How did the characters in the book help each other?

·        - Why can sharing be difficult sometimes?

·        - What are the benefits of working together?

·        - Where do we need cooperation in our classroom today?

·        - What would a world without helping others be like?

🎭 Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'We Are Stronger Together'
Students form groups and act as different animals trying to cross a river using each other's strengths. They improvise a solution together and present it.
Reflection questions follow: 'Who needed help?', 'How did you succeed together?'

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Each school performs the drama activity and shares short videos or photos online.
Students view each other's performances and reflect on how their friends collaborated.

🏠 Family Involvement

At home, families share a story about helping or sharing.
Children draw a picture of that moment and bring it to class to share.

📏 Evaluation

Observe children’s cooperation and empathy during drama.
Ask students: 'What did you share this week?'
Create a 'Helpers of the Week' wall in class.

Week 2: Individual Differences / Disabilities

🎨 Activity Type: Art

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Help children recognize and respect individual differences and disabilities.
- Foster empathy by encouraging perspective-taking.
- Promote the idea that differences make us unique and valuable.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Ask: 'Are we all the same?' Discuss physical, emotional, and interest-based differences.
Use sentence completion: 'I am different because…'

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - Why is being different beautiful?

·        - What would be missing if we were all the same?

·        - Does anyone in the story face a difficulty or disability?

·        - How can we communicate with people who are different?

·        - How does it feel to help or be helped?

🎨 Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'My Unique Portrait'
Each child draws a self-portrait highlighting a unique feature.
All portraits are combined into a large class collage titled: 'We Are Different, We Belong!'
Add a class quote: 'Different but together!'

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Each school shares photos of their collage.
Students guess traits of students in the other school’s artwork and exchange video messages on uniqueness.

🏠 Family Involvement

Families talk about their own uniqueness at home.
Students bring a drawing representing a unique family trait.

📏 Evaluation

Observe responses during discussions and drawing process.
Ask students to complete: 'This week, I learned that we are all different because…'

Week 3: Rights / Children's Rights

🎨 Activity Type: Game

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Help children recognize basic rights such as education, play, protection, and care.
- Raise awareness of equal rights for all children around the world.
- Empower children to express their opinions respectfully.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Ask: 'What are things all children should have?' List answers on the board: food, love, play, school, etc.
Discuss the idea of rights — not rewards, but things everyone deserves.

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - Which rights did the book characters enjoy or miss?

·        - Why do all children deserve the same rights?

·        - What can we do if we see someone’s rights not respected?

·        - How does it feel when someone listens to your opinion?

🎲 Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'Rights Run!'
Create a game where students run to the correct corner of the classroom labeled with rights (e.g., Play, Learn, Be Safe) when a scenario is read aloud.
Example: 'A child goes to school every day' → RUN to 'Learn' corner!
End with reflection: Which right do you think is most important? Why?

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Each school records their 'Rights Run' game and shares fun moments.
Students vote on a 'Top 5 Children’s Rights' and share a joint list via Padlet or posters.

🏠 Family Involvement

Families receive a 'Children’s Rights at Home' checklist to review with their child.
Children color a ‘Rights Tree’ where each leaf is a right they enjoy at home.

📏 Evaluation

Ask: 'Which right do you value most?' and collect drawings/posters.
Teachers use a reflection chart to note which rights students understood best.

Week 4: Democracy / Participatory Life

🎨 Activity Type: Poster

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Introduce the idea of democratic decision-making in age-appropriate ways.
- Encourage children to express opinions and vote on class matters.
- Promote active participation and responsibility.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Hold a mini vote on something simple (e.g., Which game to play today?).
Discuss the process: sharing opinions, voting, respecting the result.

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - Why is it fair to vote on decisions?

·        - Have you ever made a group decision?

·        - What would it feel like if only one person decided everything?

·        - What does it mean to have a 'voice'?

🖼️ Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'Our Voice, Our Poster'
Students brainstorm values of democracy (e.g., listening, voting, fairness).
They work in groups to create posters promoting democratic values using drawings, slogans, or comic strips.
Examples: 'Every Vote Counts!', 'We All Decide Together!'

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Both schools present their posters in an online gallery.
Students explain their posters and vote on a joint slogan to represent the spirit of the project.

🏠 Family Involvement

Children discuss with parents: 'When have we made a family decision together?'
Optional: Create a 'family voting jar' at home for fun daily choices.

📏 Evaluation

Teachers reflect on students’ participation in group work and voting.
Students complete: 'Democracy means…' sentence and illustrate it.

Week 5: Cultural Diversity / Peace / Social Life

🎨 Activity Type: Drama

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Raise awareness of different cultures, traditions, and perspectives.
- Promote peaceful communication and respect in diverse communities.
- Encourage expressing emotions and ideas through storytelling.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Show pictures of cultural clothes, foods, or greetings. Ask: 'What do these show us about people?'
Learn to say 'Hello' in 3 different languages.

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - What differences did we see between characters or settings in the story?

·        - How can we show respect to someone from another culture?

·        - What makes a peaceful community?

·        - Have you ever celebrated something different from your own culture?

🎭 Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'Cultural Story Parade'
Children form small groups and act out mini skits that show people from different cultures meeting and solving a problem peacefully.
They can include different languages, customs, and creative costumes or props.

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Each school shares video clips of their drama skits.
Children ask questions about each other’s performances: 'Why did you choose that tradition?'

🏠 Family Involvement

Families are encouraged to share a family recipe or tradition with the class (photo, video, or story).
Create a class 'Culture Corner' from these contributions.

📏 Evaluation

Teacher observes inclusion and respect in student plays.
Students draw a peaceful scene and explain how everyone in the picture is getting along.

Week 6: Empathy / Kindness / Emotional Awareness

🎨 Activity Type: Art

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Help children identify and understand different emotions.
- Teach the importance of kind actions and empathetic listening.
- Foster emotional expression through creative arts.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Show emotion cards (happy, sad, angry, scared, excited).
Ask: 'When do you feel these? What helps you feel better when you're sad?'

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - How did the characters feel during the story?

·        - Who showed kindness in the story?

·        - What can we do when someone is feeling upset?

·        - How do you feel when someone helps you?

🎨 Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'Kindness Cards'
Children design and decorate 'kindness cards' with uplifting messages: 'You’re awesome!', 'You make me smile!'
They secretly deliver them to classmates throughout the week.

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Students create digital 'Kindness Walls' with shared messages or artwork.
In an online session, they read favorite kindness cards aloud to one another.

🏠 Family Involvement

At home, families do a 'kindness bingo' — acts like helping with chores, complimenting someone, or making a thank you note.

📏 Evaluation

Observe children's participation and emotional awareness.
Create a class 'Kindness Meter' to track kind actions during the week.

Week 7: Migration / Refugees

🎨 Activity Type: Game

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Help children understand why people move or flee from home.
- Foster compassion for people in new or challenging situations.
- Build resilience and a sense of global citizenship.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Ask: 'What is it like to leave home and start over somewhere new?'
Show a suitcase and ask: 'If you had to leave quickly, what would you take?'

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - Why did the character in the story have to move?

·        - How do you think they felt in a new place?

·        - What can we do to make new friends feel welcome?

·        - What would you miss the most if you had to leave your home?

🎲 Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'Journey Maze'
Create an obstacle course or board game simulating a refugee’s journey (safe stops, obstacles like ‘Find Food’, ‘Cross the River’, ‘Learn New Language’).
Children play and discuss how it might feel to face these challenges.

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Schools share short messages: 'If a new friend joined our school, we would say…'
Collaboratively create a 'Welcome Book' for new students in both schools.

🏠 Family Involvement

Families share stories of someone who moved to a new place (even grandparents).
Students create a mini passport with stamps representing 'places they’ve been' or 'want to go.'

📏 Evaluation

Reflection drawings: 'How would you help a new classmate?'
Teachers note use of empathy and understanding during gameplay.

Week 8: Cultural Sharing & Project Reflection

🎨 Activity Type: Poster/Presentation

🎯 Weekly Objectives

- Celebrate cultural diversity and friendships formed during the project.
- Reflect on social sustainability values learned.
- Foster pride in personal and group contributions.

📖 Book Selection

Book selection is left to the teacher. A picture book relevant to the weekly theme should be selected.

🧠 Introductory Activity

Ask: 'What was your favorite activity or story?'
Create a memory wall with photos, drawings, and keywords from past weeks.

🗣️ Discussion Questions

·        - What did you learn about other children or cultures?

·        - What social value do you think is most important now?

·        - How can we keep practicing empathy and respect every day?

·        - What are you proud of creating or learning?

🖼️ Main Activity

**Activity Name:** 'Cultural Mosaic Poster'
Each child adds a piece to a large class poster: a flag, food, word, or object from their culture.
Poster title: 'Many Cultures, One Project!'
Include pictures and highlights from the whole project.

🌍 Online Collaboration Activity

Final joint online meeting to present posters, share project memories, and say thank you.
Optional: Sing a jointly chosen 'friendship' song together.

🏠 Family Involvement

Families attend a final presentation event or receive a newsletter recap.
Children take home a 'Project Certificate' celebrating their learning.

📏 Evaluation

Pre- and post-project survey comparison.
Students complete: 'Now I know that social sustainability means…'
Collect feedback from students and parents.