Skills Building: Teal (PK-5)

Written and Illustrated by Renee Galvin

TEKS: Reading K.5(D); 1.6(D); 2.6(D); 3.6(D); 4.6(D); 5.6(D)

Pre Reading Questions

  1. What does it mean to include someone?
  2. How do you make sure everyone feels included?
  3. What happens when people are left out?
  4. How do you think the person who is left out feels?
  5. Think of a time when you felt left out. How did it make you feel?


Post Reading Questions

  1. Why did Teal want everyone to feel included?
  2. How do you think Teal felt at the beginning of the book?
  3. How do you think Teal’s feelings changed throughout the book?
  4. How did the crayons feel when they were all included on the color wheel? How did this differ from the past?
  5. What changes can we make so everyone feels included?

Creative Enrichment Activity: Collaborative Coloring (Pre-K-5)

Overview: When we work on a team, we need to practice Including others. Teamwork happens when we all join together. Today, we will practice including others as we create a beautiful landscape. This activity will require clear communication, active listening, encouragement, teamwork and collaboration.

Materials

● Large pieces of paper
Crayons

Duration: 30 minutes 

5 minutes – Explain the activity and divide into groups
15 minutes – Draw landscapes
5 minutes – Share drawings
5 minutes – Reflect on the activity

Instructions

  1. Divide students into groups of three and have them spread out at the tables.
  2. Give each group six crayon colors. Assign each child two colors for which they will be responsible.
  3. Tell the students that they are going to draw a landscape. The teacher will choose the same landscape for all the groups to create (e.g., desert, mountain, ocean, etc.).*
  4. Working together, the students will draw different parts of the scene using the colors they were assigned (e.g., the student with the green will draw the grass, while the student with the brown will draw the rock).
  5. Students can help one another by coaching and encouraging their teammates on how/what to draw, but only the person in charge of each color is allowed to use that crayon.
  6. After 15 minutes, have the students clean up and sit in a circle as a group.
  7. Have groups take turns sharing their landscape creations, talking about the process, how they decided what to draw, etc.

*Note: Have all groups do the same landscape for reflection purposes.

Reflection Questions

  • How did it feel to work as a team while only using your two crayons?
  • What challenges or difficulties did your team encounter during this activity?
  • How did you ensure everyone was included?
  • Did anyone feel left out? Why or why not?
  • If we did the activity again, what would your team do differently?
  • What did you learn about inclusion during this process?