Skills Building: A Morning with Grandpa (PK-2)

Written by Sylvia Liu and illustrated by Christina Forshay

Pre- Reading Questions

Looking at the cover of this book, what do you think the book is about?
Have you ever heard of Tai Chi? What do you know about it? What do you think Tai Chi might be?
What about yoga? Share what you know about yoga with the group.

Post- Reading Questions

Now you have learned a little bit about Tai Chi! What do you know about Tai Chi now? What did you learn about yoga?
You might already be familiar with yoga and you might have even done it in school! How do you think yoga and Tai Chi are similar?
People all over the world use yoga and Tai Chi to calm their bodies down and move their energy. Why do you think Tai Chi and yoga help calm your body down? If you’ve ever done yoga or Tai Chi, how did you feel afterward?
What is one new thing you learned from this book? What do you think the author of the book was trying to teach you?

Creative Enrichment Activity: Mindfulness Spinners (PK-2)

Overview

Overview: In the book A Morning with Grandpa, Mei-Mei learns about calming down when her body is feeling wiggly and jiggly. In turn, she teaches her grandpa other ways to calm down. In this activity, students will create mindfulness spinners they can use every day to focus, breathe deep and calm themselves.

Download the Template

Materials

Mindfulness Spinner Template (1 per student)
Yarn (One 24in piece per student)
Glue
Pencils
Scissors
Markers

Duration: 40 minutes

5 minutes: Explain Activity and Pass Out Supplies
10 minutes: Decorate Spinners
10 minutes: Assemble Spinners
5 minutes: Clean Up
10 minutes: Share and Reflect

Instructions

Before the activity, print out one spinner template for each student on regular computer paper. Next, cut a 24in piece of yarn for each student.
Gather students together and discuss different ways that we can calm ourselves when we are feeling wiggly or stressed. Explain the activity.
Pass out supplies and give each student a mindfulness spinner template.
Have students use multiple colors to create patterns in bother circles. The more colorful the design, the better the final product.
Once both circles are colored completely, use scissors to cut out both large circles.
Glue both circles together, back to back.
Next, get a sharp pencil. One circle will have two black dots in the middle. Use the pencil to punch two small holes. Make sure that the holes do not touch. Staff will need to assist young students with this step.
Thread yarn through both holes and tie ends of yarn together.
Make sure that the spinner is in the middle of the yarn with equal amounts on either side.
Clean up supplies and gather with spinners.
Teach students to use spinners.
Make sure that the spinner is in the middle of the yarn.
Holding the ends of the yarn on either side of the spinner, rotate yarn in a circular motion and then pull tight, causing the spinner to spin. See this video for a demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JkggCKYdiA
Give students time to practice using their spinner.
Have students share their designs with others and reflect.

Reflection Questions

How do you feel when you watch your spinner go?
When could you use your spinner to calm your body and mind?
Why do you think the mindfulness spinner helps you calm down?
Who can you teach about calming down?
What did you enjoy most about this activity? How did this activity make you feel?

Skills Building: A Morning with Grandpa (PK-2)

Pre- Reading Questions

Post- Reading Questions

Creative Enrichment Activity: Mindfulness Spinners (PK-2)

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