A Lesson Plan to Teach Toddlers About Sharing Using the Little Red Hen Story

A Lesson Plan to Teach Toddlers About Sharing Using the Little Red Hen Story
Page content

Sharing Lesson Plan

Grade: Toddler

Duration: 30 – 60 minutes

Objective: Teach toddlers about friendship, kindness and helpfulness. Sharing is not a normal toddler behavior, but it is easily taught. The kids hear a story about sharing, make an edible craft and answer simple questions.

Prior Knowledge: This lesson builds on prior lessons about sharing crayons, toys and other items. Ask the children to tell about a time that they shared something with someone else.

Materials needed:

Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone

Electric skillet

One to two loaves of bread, depending on class size

One to two sticks of butter (softened)

The story is available online as a video (https://www.speakaboos.com/story/little_red_hen) to be played on a computer or laptop. This option is handy if you are unable to read aloud.

Procedure:

Read The Little Red Hen to the students. As you read, pause and ask open-ended questions:

  • What happened when the Little Red Hen asked the animals to help her plant the wheat?
  • Why do you think the animals did not help?
  • What happened when it was time to harvest the wheat?
  • Which of the animals helped?
  • What happened when the Little Red Hen called the other animals to come help bake bread?

Because this lesson is designed for toddlers, be prepared to prompt them with suggestions for answers.

Discussion Questions/Life Application

  • Would you have helped the Little Red Hen? Why or why not?
  • Have you ever helped your parents with the cooking?
  • Who ate the bread?
  • Why do you think the Little Red Hen did not share the bread?

Toddler Sharing Lesson

Assess

Observe the children while they eat their bread. Did everyone wait for a turn, and were the children sharing? Talk about how much fun it is to share with friends.

Lesson Extension Teaching Activities:

Try these fun toddler activities to teach children about sharing and cooperation. Adult supervision is needed.

Method:

Let each toddler use a plastic serrated knife to spread the softened butter on both sides of the bread. Have them hand the bread to the adult, who places it in the electric skillet. If you use a large skillet, you can fry six slices at one time. Fry all the pieces and transfer to a plate to cool slightly. Let the kids do the “Sharing Hands” activity while the bread cools.

Have the kids wash their hands and take a seat at the table. Pass the plate around the table so everyone gets one slice of the buttered toasted bread. The catch – and the teachable moment – each toddler has to select a piece of bread for his neighbor. When everyone has been served, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the bread, and then let the kids enjoy their shared snack.

Books and Recommended Reading

Here is a list of suggested parent and teacher resources for reading to reinforce the concepts of children sharing.

  • The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems
  • Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
  • The Rainbow Fish by Marc Pfister
  • George and Martha One Fine Day by James Marshall

Crafts - Toddler Activities

Make a sharing hands craft to reinforce the lesson and furnish a visual take-home art piece for the kids. You will need:

  • One piece of white 8"x11” construction paper for each student
  • One piece of brightly colored 8"x11” construction paper for each student
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • Crayons or markers

Procedure:

Write each student’s name on a piece of white paper. Have the toddlers select a piece of colored construction paper and place their hands palm down on it. Using a pencil, trace around their hands. The teacher cuts out the handprints, and then invites the children to glue them to the white paper. Ask the children to tell you something they can do to share, and write it on their handprints. Some ideas would be:

  • I can share my toys.
  • I can share my books.
  • I can share the puzzles.

Teaching a sharing toddler lesson promotes good social skills like kindness, friendliness, and cooperation.

References

  • Image: SXC stock photo: sweet little boy (Image ID: 1212831) under royalty free license
  • Author’s classroom experience as an educator