Chrysanthemum Thematic Unit
The beginning of kindergarten is fast approaching and all I can think about is how hard those first weeks (and months) can be. For a teacher it feels like holding 25 corks under the water all at once—all day long. For a kindergartner, it is a scary time. A time to adjust to new space, new adults, new friends, new rules, new structure, and for most, the introduction to the social (and far from perfect) world in which we live. It is the first realization for many 5 years olds that they are not the center of the universe.
I love to use the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henks during these fraught early days. The adorable story teaches so many concepts that can make adaption to a classroom filled with peers a more enjoyable place. Besides teaching the importance of a person’s name, it is a great tool to teach self-awareness, diversity, respect, and appreciation for self and others.
I like to use a planning page like the one shown here to help me get started quickly and to make sure that I have covered all areas of the curriculum. This way everything is included to keep learning focused and fun!
I hope that you find my Chrysanthemum Unit as useful for your first days of Kindergarten as I always do!
Went hand in hand for the beginning of the year...thank you!
Loved the bundle. Wish I would have had more time to do everything!
My students loved the wrinkled heart activity.
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Chrysanthemum Activities To Teach Names and Build Classroom Community
You will want to go back to school with this great thematic unit focusing on name writing, names of classmates, caring, compassion, and friends.
If you love Kevin Henke’s Chrysanthemum as much as I do, you will want to add this cute little mouse to your curriculum!
This cross-curricular thematic unit is strategically linked to academic core standards, is easy to use, and filled with fun!
Math Activities
Measuring Names: Comparing and Contrasting the length of names
The Numbers in my Name: Worksheet
Chrysanthemum’s Numbers: Identifying and Naming Numbers
Literacy Activities
Chrysanthemum's Alphabet: Alphabet Bingo
Name Traders: Reading and Matching the Names of Self and Others.
Character Study: Elements of a Character
Original Songs
Names
Clapping Names
Social Studies
Words Hurt: Compassion and Caring
Rules Poster: Classroom Rules
Portfolio Sample: A Wrinkled Heart
Portfolio Sample: All About Me
Guided Reading
The Mouse Family
Writing
Chrysanthemum word wall card
All About My Name
Name “Entrance” Tickets
Art Projects
Making Chrysanthemum
Guided Drawing: Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum Puppet
© Kathy Crane
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This cross-curricular thematic unit is strategically linked to academic core standards, is easy to use, and fill with fun!
Math Activities
Measuring Names: Comparing and Contrasting the length of names
The Numbers in my Name: Worksheet
Chrysanthemum’s Numbers: Identifying and Naming Numbers
Literacy Activities
Chrysanthemum's Alphabet: Alphabet Bingo
Name Traders: Reading and Matching the Names of Self and Others.
Character Study: Elements of a Character
Original Songs
Names
Clapping Names
Social Studies
Words Hurt: Compassion and Caring
Rules Poster: Classroom Rules
Portfolio Sample: A Wrinkled Heart
Portfolio Sample: All About Me
Guided Reading
The Mouse Family
Writing
Chrysanthemum word wall card
All About My Name
Name “Entrance” Tickets
Art Projects
Making Chrysanthemum
Guided Drawing: Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum Puppet
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