google.com, pub-8985115814551729, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Free Printable Lesson Plans: emotional health
Showing posts with label emotional health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emotional health. Show all posts

Funny kids bedtime books to tame a child's fear of monsters


Hello my friends of the Omschool. Did you know, teacher Omi wasn't always an adult? I was a little kid who was often scared of the dark and of the monsters which I was sure inhabited it. But I learned, from my emotional support books how to conquer some of those fears. Books provide what we call bibliotherapy. By reading certain books and stories we find help for mental health issues, such as fear. Kids books offer bibliotherapy by showing children in similar situations safely resolving struggles. And when they use humor, all the better. If your child fears monsters, likely its worse at night. Here are funny kids bedtime books on taming fear of monsters. 

Harry and the Terrible Whatzit (Dick Gackenbach) We kids believe that the basement is a place where awful things live. My grandma used to tell me to fetch a can of peaches for her while she counted. As if THAT was going to help! I'd run so fast I tripped up the stairs. So I really feel for Harry, when he worries that his mother has been taken or worse by a terrible whatzit in the basement. Our brave hero goes looking for her and finds that you can't judge a monster by its two heads. Absolutely hilarious denouement! 

There's a Nightmare in my Closet (Mercer Mayer) Who hasn't been afraid of the thing in the closet and been told "there's nothing there"? My grandfather humored me and closed the door but even then, I knew as did the kid in this book that I was right, there's something inside! But good news for us when IT turns out to be more afraid of us than we are of him.  I absolutely love the annoyed look on the kid hero's face as he comforts the crybaby creep! Here are some free printable lesson plans on Nightmare in the Closet. 

There's Something in the Attic (Mercer Mayer) Along with the dreaded basement, the attic is another scary place where frights of all kinds lurk. In another case of  mistaken monster identity, it appears there IS something in the attic as we've suspected but he identifies as the fearful rather than the feared. And it takes a brave cowgirl to calm him. 

There's a Monster Under my Bed (James Howe) Monsters have a lot of hiding places and under a kid's bed is their favorite. My preferred monster-prevention method was to cram so much under the bed that a monster wouldn't fit. But Simon can't so he must face the under-bed-dwellers, man to monster. You'll love the outcome. 

Little Monster series. Mercer Mayer really knows his monsters and there could not possibly be a cuter monster than Little Monster unless it's his (sometimes annoying) little sister. Kids can address monster fears by seeing that he's just one of the gang. And Little Monster has to do some bully-busting of his own with big Yally who also turns out to be not as brave as he presents. 

Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak) What is is with monsters not living up to their reputations? In this classic story, Max not only tames but rules the whiny baby wild things! Because really kids are the most wonderfully wild things of all. 

Go Away, Big Green Monster! (Ed Emberley) The monster in this interactive book is real and really scary UNTIL a child takes him down to size. My youngest daughter loved dismantling Big Green Monster and telling him not to come back unless SHE said so. 

Read these books to your kids before bed or in the classroom at school. Allow for lots of discussion. And see my other articles for more bibliotherapy on bullies, conflict resolution and more. 

Best bibliotherapy books for kids on bullying prevention


Kids going back to school need more than just a notebook and a #2 sharpened pencil. They need to learn safety skills and essential to the toolkit are ways to deal with bullying. First, it's important to understand bullying. The bully stereotype is the Charles Atlas ad, where the big guy kicks sand in the little guy's face while the dismayed girl looks on. Bullying prevention was stereotypical too. "Frail, puny" boys were exhorted to build up their muscles, take on the bully and impress the girl. 

Dubious motive aside, it wrongly implies that "might makes right." Coping with bullies is about inner fortitude not brute strength. Even the term bullying prevention can be misleading. It suggests that the bullied are responsible for making bullies stop bullying. But bullying happens to people in all sizes, colors, abilities and orientations.  Kids don't do anything to make themselves targets. Bullies bully because they can. True bullying prevention tells bullies they can't and punishes them when they do. Having said that, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. 

 Here's a list of children's literature books on bullying to teach kids what bullying is, what it feels like and what to do if they are bullied. Bullying prevention happens in clever, avant-garde ways. Through gentle bibliotherapy for kids, children see bullying for the cowardice it is. These children's literature books on bullying help kids laugh at bullies and diffuse the pain and get past victimization to the find the chutzpah they need to deal with their bullies.

"Hooway for Wodney Wat" by Helen Lester. Poor timid Wodney Wat (Rodney Rat) can barely "squeak clearly" to his friends, let alone to big mean Camilla Capybara. But when the mouse-sized hero is forced to take on Camilla, rodent to rodent, everyone at P.S.182 School for Rodents hears the bully buster loud and clear. This is one of the most endearing children's literature books on bullying ever.

 "The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig" by Eugene Trivizas. This fractured fairy tale gets my vote for funniest of the children's literature books on bullying. And therein lies the bibliotherapy for kids. There's a lesson to be learned when three gentle, peace-loving little wolves teach one pyromaniac pig bully to dance. 

"A Bargain for Francis" by Russel and Lillian Hoban. The redoubtable Francis badger brings off a scathingly brilliant coup over her devious, double-dealing frenemy Thelma. Bully buster Francis gets the prize for best plot twist in children's literature books on bullying. Here are realistic free printable coloring pages of badgers for kids to enjoy. 

"Ira Sleeps Over" by Bernard Waber. Ira loves his teddy Ta-Ta. When he's invited stay the night at his friend Reggie's house, his bullying big sister convinces him that "Reggie will laugh" at boys with bears. But Ira and Ta-Ta have the last laugh on sister. 

"The Bully of Barkham Street" by Mary Stolz is a tender, heart-jerking look at how a bully is grown. It's bullying prevention from the roots up. In this bibliotherapy for kids, children may find themselves sympathizing with the bully. 

"Mouse Soup" by Arnold Lobel. Fox wants to make soup out of Mouse, but Mouse pulls a Scheherazade and makes mincemeat of Fox. Children will howl as the bully gets his comeuppance.

 "The House on East 88th Street" by Bernard Waber teaches people not to judge a bully or a bully buster by his cover. You couldn't ask for a kinder crocodile than Lyle, but the neighbor cat Loretta is terrified that he's a bully. Read how Lyle befriends the fractious feline. For more bibliotherapy for kids, read Lyle's other adventures in diplomacy too. Here are some free printable crocodile coloring pages just for fun. 

"Thomas the Tank Engine" by Rev. W. Awdry. A little engine is alternately bullied then the bully. Will rascally Thomas ever learn that bigger isn't always better? Kids learn many important lessons watching cheeky Thomas epically fail and then rethink his choices. Here are some free printable Thomas the Tank Engine activities. 

"Emil and the Detectives" by Erich Kastner. Young Emil is stalked by some very fierce men with nasty intention, but this sensible, prescient but boy takes them on and saves the day. 

"Go Away Big Green Monster" by Ed Emberley. In what might be the most interactive bibliotherapy for kids (and a beloved favorite of our daughter Emma and her nephew Lucian), children take down a monster of a bully one piece at at time! Read these books for kids to explore creative bully buster ideas. 

Best wishes for a wonderful 22-23 school year! 

Free Printable Health, Hygiene Lesson Plans


It's happened again. Just when you thought you knew the roster of classes you would be teaching this year, they thrown a new one at you. What do you do for lesson plans at the eleventh hour? Or maybe you are a new teacher in need of lesson plans to get your classroom of to a good start? Or maybe you've taught the same material for so long that you want to gag and flog the publisher with a stick? If you find yourself in need of lesson plans for a new class or supplemental material, then you have found the right place. I have a two blogs on which I post all the free lesson plans that I can find on the internet.
www.freelessonplans4u.blogspot.com has an assortment of lesson plans from my teaching career, homeschool days and also from other teachers.
Here is a new free printable teaching lesson plans website that I just discovered while researching for an article. www.kidshealth.org has entire free printable lesson plans. These lesson plans are all based on subjects for health class. There are lesson plans for all grades, preschool through twelfth grade. Each age category has a separtate link. Each grade level has covers three basic areas of health, geared to the age of the student. There are segments on: The Human Body, Health Problems and Personal Health adjusted to the needs, abilities and maturity of the students. Each lesson includes free printable teacher's guide, games, activities, handouts and experiments. Some lessons also contain a study guide, student quiz and answer key. Here is a scope and sequence for each grade level. Perfect for special needs students and special education health classes. Great for homeschoolers, too!
Preschool:Healthy Habits (available in English and Spanish)
Pre-K-2nd Grade:
-Human Body
---Body Parts
Bones, muscles, joints
Mouth, Teeth
Skin
---Body Systems
Cardiovascular
Digestive
Respiratory

---Body Functions
Hearing
Sleep
Vision
-Health Problems
---Infections, Diseases and Conditions
Asthma
Diabetes
-Personal Health
---Puberty and Growing up
Conflict Resolution
Empathy
Self-Esteem
---Hygiene
Germs
---Fitness
---Nutrition
Breakfast
Energy Balance

Grades 3-5

-Human Body
---Body Parts
Bones, Muscles, Joints
---Body Systems
Cardiovascular
Digestive
Immune
Respiratory
---Functions
Sleep
-Health Problems
---Infections, Diseases, Conditions
Asthma
Eating Disorders
Bird Flu
Obesity
---Drugs
Alcohol
Tobacco
-Personal Health- same topics as the K-2nd grade syllabus, geared to 3-5th graders.

Grades 6-8

-Human Body
---Body Parts
Mouth and Teeth
Skin
---Systems
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
---Body Functions
Sleep
Visions
-Health Problems
---Infections, Diseases, Conditions
Asthma
Bird Fu
Diabetes
Eating Disorders
HIV and AIDS
Obesity
Skin Cancer
---Emotional Health
Depression
Stress
Drugs
Alcohol
-Personal health
---Puberty and Growing Up
Conflict Resolution
Puberty
Self-Esteem
---Nutrition
Breakfast
Food Safety
School Lunch
---Fitness
Fitness
Sports Safety
---Hygiene
Germs

Grades 9-12

-Human Body
---Body Parts
Bones, Muscles, Joints
Mouth, Teeth
Skin
---Body Systems
Cardiovascular
Digestive
Respiratory
---Body Functions
Sleep
-Health Problems: Same topics covered as in 6-8th grade with different activities geared toward high school students.
-Personal Health: Same topics covered as in 6-8th grade with different activities geared toward high school students.
As you can see this is a very complete set of free printable lesson plans.