On our first day of school, we read the "Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn.  It is a story about a little raccoon who is beginning school for the first time and feeling a little scared to leave what is familiar.  His mom gives him a kissing hand to take to school with him to remember how much she loves him.  Here are a few of the activities that we did on the first day of school to help us feel more comfortable about being away from home.

We made a graph that showed how we felt about coming to kindergarten with happy, straight, or sad faces (from di-cut circles).  Then we made a class book that told how each of us felt.  We can take turns reading the book at home.  We talked about how our feelings have changed at the end of the day and "revised" the graph.

We also made a graph of how we came to school on the first day.

We made a book about Chester called "Chester Loves School."  We practiced using our reading finger (following below each word with our pointer finger as we read) and then each had a chance to read our book to Mrs. Cook.  The "Chester Loves School" reproducible may be found at: Kelli Wilt's Learning Leap.
Click here for pages 1-2
Click here for pages 3-4
Click here for pages 5-6

We also stamped our handprints and glued a small di-cut heart in the center with the following poem as a keepsake from our first day:
Here's a special thing to do
When I am scared of leaving you.
Hold my hand, then kiss it here.
The kiss will help to keep you near.
It will help me through my day,
So I can work and learn and play.

Kissing Hand Links

Kinder Konnect

Little Giraffes

Learning Leap
(click on Units & Themes)

Mrs. Fischer

Kinderhive

Virtual Vine

Teaching is a Work of Heart (1)

Teaching is a Work of Heart (2)