To cap off our סליחה (slicha-forgiveness) theme Nitzanimers have begun thinking about the strategy of “Apology of Action”. Apology of Action is a practice of doing something as a way to apologize. When a child knocks over another child’s blocks, instead of simply saying, “I’m sorry,” the child can offer to help rebuild, make an apology card, or do something that will restore the relationship.
We’ve launched into our exploration of Apology of Action by talking about things others do that hurt our feelings. Children’s examples have included: “when my little brother breaks the Lego set that I’m working on” or “when the kids at school say mean things about me.” We’ve also connected these hurts to possible actions others could take to make us feel better. Today children thought about repairing relationships in their discussion.
Morah: What are some things that you could do to help someone feel better if their feelings are hurt?
Child A. (2nd Grade): Give them a present.
Child B. (1st Grade): Make a cool picture for them. Like I can draw really cool helicopters.
Morah: That would be an especially good action if you knew that the person liked helicopters.
Child C. (1st Grade): Help someone up if they got knocked down.
Child D. (2nd Grade): Ask someone what they like to do and make something for them or do it with them.
Here’s one of the lists we’ve been working on. Things that hurt our feelings are on the left and related actions that would help us feel better are on the right.
We’re so excited about the growth that Nitzanimers have had in understanding the theme and in developing friendship skills as an emerging community. Children spent זמן חקירה(zeman chakirah-exploration time) working together to solve puzzles, playing aleph bet bingo together, or helping each other with עברית (Ivrit-Hebrew) challenges.
A first and second grader play aleph bet bingo together.
Two kindergarteners work together on a puzzle.
