In this live, online community circle, students will practice social-emotional skills and explore a variety of virtues such as patience, kindness, and perseverance through story time, meditation, and crafts. This is an ongoing course that occurs weekly. Students can enroll and unenroll at any time.

Each week, community circle will begin with a check-in giving everybody time to share and connect. The teacher will read a story and ask students reflection questions about the reading to provoke thought and encourage community sharing. We will practice a meditation related to the virtue learned in the story and finish with a fun craft that ties together our learning.  

The story, meditation, and craft will rotate each week. The teacher will list an outline for 4 weeks of classes at a time so parents will know well in advance of craft materials their child will need for class. Parents are welcome to buy the books read in class but it is not required. 

Schedule:
 October 4th: The Very Impatient Caterpillar

This week we will read a story about a caterpillar who has difficulty remaining patient while he transforms into a butterfly. We will talk about the virtue of patience and discuss ways we can be patient in our day-to-day lives. We'll practice some meditation exercises that promote patience and make a butterfly craft. 

Materials needed: Pipe cleaners, pom-poms, googly eyes, popsicle stick, and glue.

October 11th: Moody Cow Meditates

This week we will read a story about a moody cow who has a bad day and struggles to control his anger. His grandfather comes over to help and teaches him how to calm himself down using a mind jar. We will make our own mind jars in class and practice deep breaths while we watch the sparkles float to the bottom of our jars. We will share our feelings, discuss the virtue of temperance, and talk about managing our anger in healthy ways.

Materials needed: Jar with lid (You may consider plastic over glass for small children)
                              Glitter (The more colors the better. Smaller sparkles work well)
                              Water to fill up the jar
                              4 drops of clear liquid dish or hand soap
                              Bottle of glycerin 

October 18th The Little Engine that Could

This week we will read a story about a little engine that worked hard, had a positive attitude, and refused to give up. We'll discuss the virtues of optimism and perseverance, practice meditation with positive affirmations, and we'll make our own "I think I can. I know I can" train. 

Materials needed:  Poster board (your child can choose the size)
                              Construction paper (the more colors the better!)
                              Markers
                              Child scissors 
                              Glue

October 25th:  Room on the Broom

This week we'll read a fun, rhyming Halloween story about a witch that makes room for others and in the end, they return the favor by helping her too. We'll talk about the virtues of helpfulness and friendliness and make our own broomsticks. 

Materials needed: Paper towel roll
                              Brown Paper Bag
                              Paint (Optional)
                              Twine or string 
                              Star Stickers 
                              Glitter, stick on jewels, or anything else you'd like to use to decorate your broom
                              Scissors
                              Glue

November 1st: The Grumpy Ladybug 

We'll read a story about a grumpy ladybug who doesn't want to share and just wants to fight, but she learns the hard way that being kind and sharing with others is the right thing to do. We'll talk about sharing, kindness, and shifting our mood. 

Materials needed: Toilet paper roll 
                             Construction paper (red and black)
                             White paper
                             Black Marker 
                             Scissors
                             Glue

November 8th: Jonathon James and the What If Monster?

This week's story is about a boy who worries too much. His worry monster is only asking "What if', but Jonathon finally turns it around and starts questioning his worries and imagining positive future scenarios. We'll define worry, discuss ways to cope, and make worry monster and worry warrior puppets. 

Materials needed:  2 Paper Bags 
                               Paint (optional)
                               Markers
                               Construction paper 
                               White paper

November 15th: The Giving Tree

This week we will read a story about a tree that loves a little boy so much that she will give everything she has to make him happy. We will discuss the virtues of generosity and service and share about ways that we have helped others or others have helped us. We will practice a gratitude meditation and make a giving tree craft.

Materials needed:  Green, red and brown construction paper
                               Markers
                               Child scissors
                               Glue