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Friendly Neighbors

Grades: 
K, 1, 2
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Act of Kindness
Compare/Contrast
Community
Neighborhood

In the book, Miss Tizzy, the repetition and days of the week make this warm neighborhood story predictable. Miss Tizzy is generous with the neighborhood children in so many ways. How do the children take action when Miss Tizzy gets ill?

Duration 
PrintOne Thirty-Minute Session
Objectives 
  • define the ways we build community in our neighborhoods
Materials 
  • read aloud copy of Miss Tizzy by Libba Moore Gray
Home Connection 

For a home response to the story, it is natural that children - along with family members - find some way to give a little attention to a neighbor. Challenge children to try one small act of kindness for someone in the neighborhood. The act may be anonymous or not.

Bibliography 

Gray, Libba Moore. Miss Tizzy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. ISBN: 0689818971.

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Ask children what they do with the people in their neighborhood. Can they think of something kind that they or their family has done for a neighbor? Or, can they think of something kind that a neighbor has done for them? Ask them to share any experience and talk about how it made them feel.

  2. Read the book Miss Tizzy, having the children interact with the pages and what the characters in the story are doing. They may join in when language is predictable.

    Ask what they think about Miss Tizzy and how the children gave back to her. Discuss the details.

  3. Practice saying the days of the week. Have children recall the sequence of the events of the story and match the events to the days of the week.

  4. Ask what it means when we say "a good deed done for others will come back to you." Have them give examples from Miss Tizzy.

    Discuss how hard it is to be nice to someone. Does it take a little extra effort or time? Would the results of friendship be worth the extra time or effort?

    The definition of philanthropy is "giving of your time, talent or treasure for others." Discuss why philanthropy is a desirable thing, using examples from the story and real life.

  5. Reflect on whether there are people in our community or in their lives who deserve a little extra attention. Ask each child to think, pair, and to make a plan for something they are going to do for that someone else.

    They should write or draw their plan, carry it out over time, and evaluate how the plan worked and felt. (It may be as simple as a phone call to a lonely relative or bringing a treat to an elderly neighbor.) 

Cross Curriculum 

Students will make a plan and carry it out for doing something kind for someone who needs a little bit of attention.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.1 Define philanthropy as the giving and sharing of time, talent, or treasure intended for the common good.