Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Identify one thing that makes them unique.
Practice fine motor skills through tearing paper and gluing.
Express positive feelings about themselves.
Listen to a story and identify the main character's feelings.
Materials
Procedure (30 minutes)
(5 mins) Introduction: Gather the children and ask, 'What is your favorite animal? What makes it special?'. Explain that today's story is about a girl who learns that being different is wonderful.
(10 mins) Story Time: Watch the read-aloud video of the book about Jane and her Jungle of Individuality or read the book aloud.
(5 mins) Discussion: Ask simple questions like 'How did Jane feel at the beginning of the story?' and 'What did the animals in the jungle teach her?'.
(10 mins) Unique Animal Craft: Give each child a piece of construction paper. Have them tear or cut other colored paper to create their own unique animal, just like in the jungle. They can add googly eyes and other decorations. As they work, ask them what makes their animal special.
(5 mins) Show and Tell: Allow each child to show their unique animal and share one special thing about it.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Students will define what it means to be a kind friend.
Students will identify unique qualities in their classmates.
Students will contribute to a collaborative classroom display celebrating individuality.
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutess optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Warm-up: Ask students to share one thing that makes them special or a 'quirk' they have.
(10 mins) Watch Read-Aloud: Play the read-aloud video of 'Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality' or read the book aloud.
(10 mins) Circle Time Discussion: Discuss Jane's journey and how the jungle animals were all different but lived happily together. Ask students how they can be kind to friends who are different from them.
(15 mins) Kindness Canopy Activity: Create a large tree trunk on a wall or bulletin board with brown paper. Give each student a green paper leaf. Have them write or draw one unique thing about themselves or a classmate and their name. Attach the leaves to the tree to create a 'Kindness Canopy' that celebrates the whole class.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author about writing the story or about the Amazing Critter Rescue Crew's next adventure.
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Students will practice empathy by considering others' perspectives.
Students will understand the impact of words and actions on others' feelings.
Students will brainstorm positive solutions to situations involving teasing or exclusion.
Materials
Scenario cards (teacher-made)
Procedure (45 minutes + 29 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Introduction: Ask students if they've ever felt like Jane in the story. Discuss the meaning of the word 'empathy'.
(10 mins) Watch Read-Aloud: Play the read-aloud video of 'Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality' or read the book aloud.
(15 mins) Empathy Map: On chart paper, draw a large outline of a person. Label sections with 'Feels', 'Thinks', 'Says', 'Does'. As a class, fill in the chart for Jane at the beginning of the story and then again at the end to show how her feelings and thoughts changed.
(15 mins) Role-Playing Scenarios: In small groups, give students simple scenario cards (e.g., 'A friend says they don't like your drawing,' 'Someone is sitting alone at lunch'). Have them act out how to respond with kindness and empathy.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author about writing the story or about the Amazing Critter Rescue Crew's next adventure.
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Students will differentiate between teasing and bullying.
Students will identify the roles of bully, victim, and bystander/upstander.
Students will create a comic strip illustrating how to be an 'upstander' and support a friend.
Materials
Procedure (50 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Introduction & Vocabulary: Watch the read-aloud video of 'Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality' or read the book aloud. Afterwards, introduce and define key terms on the board: bullying, bystander, and upstander. Discuss how Jane might have felt bullied.
(10 mins) Discussion: Talk about what it means to be an 'upstander': someone who helps when they see bullying happen. Brainstorm safe ways to be an upstander, such as telling a trusted adult, inviting the person being teased to play, or saying something kind.
(25 mins) Upstander Comic Strip: Distribute comic strip templates. Students will create a short comic that shows a situation of someone being unkind and a character who acts as an upstander to help.
(5 mins) Share Out: Allow a few volunteers to share their comic strips with the class and explain their upstander's actions.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author about writing the story or about the Amazing Critter Rescue Crew's next adventure.
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Children will engage in sensory play to explore themes of diversity and texture.
Children will express their understanding of the story through non-verbal means like art and movement.
Children will practice fine motor skills through crafting activities.
Materials
Nature sounds audio track (jungle sounds)
Procedure (45 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Sensory Warm-up: Play the jungle sounds audio. Encourage children to move their bodies like different jungle animals - slither like a snake, swing like a monkey, etc.
(10 mins) Watch Read-Aloud: Play the read-aloud video of 'Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality' in a cozy, comfortable setting or read the book aloud.
(5 mins) Emotional Check-in: Use simple happy/sad face cards and ask children to point to how Jane felt at different points in the story.
(25 mins) Create Your Own Jungle Creature: Give each child a lump of Play-Doh and access to various craft supplies. Instruct them to create their own unique jungle creature. It doesn't have to be a real animal. Encourage them to use different textures and colors to make their creature special, just like them.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would like to ask the author about writing the story or about the Amazing Critter Rescue Crew's next adventure.