🤝The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill, Art by Laura Huliska-Beith I LEARNING KINDNESS AND INCLUSION

-👑📚 Welcome to my interactive read-aloud of The Recess Queen read with permission by the author and illustrator, Alexis O'Neill! and Laura Huliska-Beith, respectively. This heartwarming story is all about kindness, inclusion, and learning how to make recess fun for everyone. Join us as we meet Mean Jean, the bossy Recess Queen, and discover how a brave little girl named Katie Sue changes everything with friendship and play! 🌟
🎧 Perfect for kids, parents, and teachers looking for engaging stories with important life lessons. Use this read-aloud to spark conversations about how to treat others and the power of kindness. Let’s learn and grow together!
Please consider supporting the talented authors, illustrators and publishers of these wonderful books by adding them to your home library. There's truly no substitute for the joy of holding a physical book, turning its pages, and immersing yourself in the story. These are timeless treasures your family will enjoy reading again and again. A MUST HAVE for EVERY LIBRARY. If you would like this book, here is a link for you to purchase it: a.co/d/fKBIOdL
Author: Alexis O'Neill
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Extension Questions
Before Reading:
What do you think the title The Recess Queen means? Who do you think the story might be about?
Have you ever had a recess where someone made all the rules? How did it feel?
What do you think makes recess fun for everyone?
During Reading:
(When Mean Jean bosses others around) Why do you think Mean Jean acts this way during recess?
(When Katie Sue arrives) How do you think Katie Sue feels about recess? How is she different from Mean Jean?
(When Katie Sue invites Mean Jean to jump rope) Why do you think Katie Sue chose to invite her?
How do you think the other kids feel watching Katie Sue and Mean Jean play together?
After Reading:
Why do you think Mean Jean stopped being so bossy?
What can we learn from Katie Sue about how to treat others?
If you saw someone being a "Recess Queen" at your school, what could you do to help?
How can we make sure everyone feels included during recess or free play?
Activities to Extend the Learning
Classroom Activities:
-Role-Playing Scenarios: Create scenarios where students can role-play a conflict during recess and work together to resolve it kindly and inclusively.
Discuss how different choices affect the outcome.
-Kindness Chain: Each student writes one kind thing they can do during recess on a strip of paper. Assemble the strips into a kindness chain to display in the classroom.
-Recess Rules Brainstorm: As a class, create a list of "Recess Rules for Everyone" focusing on kindness and inclusion. Display the rules on a poster in the classroom.
Art Project: A Friend at Recess. Have students draw a picture of themselves playing with others during recess and write a sentence about how they include others.
At-Home Activities:
-Kindness Jar: Create a family “Kindness Jar.” Each time someone does something kind, add a small object (like a coin or bead). Celebrate once the jar is full.
-Personal Story Sharing: Encourage the child to share a story about a time they helped someone feel included. Discuss what they learned from the experience. This is a great conversation starter in the car driving from place to place or gathered around the dinner table.
-Jump Rope Rhymes and Games: Practice jump rope rhymes at home, like in the story, to emphasize cooperation and fun.
-Recess Reflection: After a day at school, ask the child to reflect: Did they include someone at recess? What could they do differently next time?
About Mrs. C.: Hello my viewers...want to know a little about me? I have a Master's in Child Development and Education and have dedicated many years to teaching lower elementary students. With a passion for nurturing a love of reading, I have also served as an instructional coach, empowering fellow educators to enhance their teaching practices. I am also an author of the book, “Ants in the Pants Dance.” buy.stripe.com...
Committed to fostering early literacy, I believe in the transformative power of stories and recognize that reading and listening to stories not only entertains but also develops essential pre-reading and emergent reading skills in children. Additionally, stories glean important lessons that can help a child’s social and emotional development.