Good Citizenship (I Am A Good Citizen)

Because there are limited variety or few resources when teaching classroom or character education this year I have come up with read-alouds or scenarios to explain the expected school and classroom behaviors to young children in a friendly manner with some open-ended questioning. The read-alouds are designed to keep the teacher on task. If your school district is like mine, then you will be able to relate to the fast pace that a school year usually begins. I always feel that I do not thoroughly define what is expected to the children or that there are things I should have said but forgot because it was not scripted.

Since we focus on good citizenship initially the scenarios are designed to teach what it involves being a good citizen. There are 11 read alouds such as taking turns and sharing, learning responsibility, taking care of one’s things, respecting others, being honest, exercising control, participating in classroom decisions, working in groups, and going on field trips. Each read aloud comes with a printable that the student can illustrate a picture and write about it. This allows the teacher to get an informal assessment or understand if their students are developing an understanding of good citizenship as they start to practice the acceptable behaviors in school.

A book to read to your class is What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick. There are printables included to go along with the story. This package will work well with children in kindergarten to 3rd grade. I have included visual clues for kindergarteners because I have found that they tend to have spatial issues and at the beginning of the year a difficult time following along.

The following activities are included:

I Am a Good Citizen at Home, School & Community (foldable)

I Can be a Good Citizen

I Am a Good Citizen flipbook

What is a Rule?

The Importance of Rules (cause and effect)

Let’s Makes Some Rules

Following or Not?

The Importance of Helping (cause and effect)

How Can I Solve? (problems in the community)

May I Help?

A Good Citizen (cut-n-paste)

• When I am in the classroom . . .

• When I am in the hallway . . .

• When I am in the cafeteria . . .

• When I am in the restroom . . .

The Right Action

Good Citizen Match

Good Citizen Word Search

Ways to Be a Good Citizen

Being a Good Citizen (read alouds & worksheets)

• Taking turns (read aloud, worksheet, 2 cut-n-paste)

• Sharing

• Completing classroom chores

• Completing classroom assignment (cut-n-paste)

• Taking care of one’s things

• Respecting what belongs to others

• Being honest

• Practicing self-control

• Being kind to others

• Participating in making classroom decisions

• Working well with classmates in groups

• On s Field trip

What if Everyone Did That?/What If Everyone Did Not Do That?

How I Behave in Class! How I Think I Behave in Class!

What if Everyone . . ., I Behave in the Class . . ., What if Everyone Did That?