Archive for the ‘What Can a “Can Do” Do?’ Category

Giving Thanks by Giving

Thursday, November 2nd, 2017

cardaying giving thanks

 Miss Sue waited until all the “Can Dos” got settled in their seats before she began to speak about her topic, giving. “Good Morning children, she said. “Thank you Miss Pat for allowing me to speak to the class this morning about a new program of the ‘Can Do” Street Community Center, Giving Thanks by Giving.”

Yundi and Wendy beamed with pride as their grandma, Miss Sue, continued to speak to the class. “Thanksgiving is coming and I want to invite you all to be a part of keeping the spirit of giving alive in Thanksgiving,” said Miss Sue.”We have a few weeks to work together on a few projects. I am going to tell you about they projects and then you can each decide what project is for you.

First, there is the clothing drive. We need to collect warm clothing such as coats, hats, gloves and such to give to those families who need warm clothes for the winter. We need men’s and women’s clothing as well as clothing for children and teens.

Second, there is the food drive. We want to stock the food pantry in town with canned goods and boxed foods like pasta and rice for those who need food for their families. We need lots of families giving what they can.

Third, there is the school supplies drive. We want to be able to help out families that can’t afford school supplies by giving their children what they need for the school year.

Willie raised his hand and Miss Sue called on him. “Miss Sue why do people need all these things?” Miss Sue smiled and answered, “That is a good question, Willie. Some families have been having hard times and need a little help to get through until things get better for them.  Some dads and moms, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs. In other families, a dad or mom has been sick and unable to work, so there isn’t much money to buy what the families need.”

The class was quiet for a few minutes, then Hector raised his hand and said, “I’ve got lots of cousins, uncles and aunts. I will ask them to go through their closets and donate anything they haven’t worn in a year and don’t think they will be needing. I’ll ask my mom and dad and grandparents too.” A few of the “Can Dos” also signed up along with Hector.

Annie volunteered to collect food from family and neighbors for the food pantry. A couple of the other kids in the class did too.

The “Can Do” Kids Cooking Club volunteered to holding a bake sale at the Community Center and said they would be giving all that they raise to buy school supplies.

Soon everyone in the class was signed up for one of the three drives as their way of giving thanks at Thanksgiving.

What about you? Is there a way you can practice giving at Thanksgiving time?

Pocket

Miss Pat Didn’t Let the “Can Dos” Finish Reading

Wednesday, October 11th, 2017

PatTeacher Pat gathered the “Can Do” Kids around her for story time and asked “Class, what story shall we read today?”

Willie raised his hand. “Yes Willie,” said Teacher Pat. I’d like to read a Halloween story from the book my grandma gave me,” said Willie.

“Willie, you will need to pass the book around so the rest of the class can each read a little from your book,” said Miss Pat. “That’s fine  with me Miss Pat,” said Willie.Pat

“The name of my book is the Pumpkin Patch,” shared Willie. He began to read, “Long ago a farmer had a pumpkin patch, with rows and rows of bright orange pumpkins. There must have been a hundred of them.”

“Willie, time to pass the book to your right and let Wendy read a few lines,” said Teacher Pat. Wendy began to read, “The farmer promised the children of the town they could each pick out a pumpkin for Halloween to carve with their families and put in their living room windows.”

“It’s Arthur J’s  turn Wendy,” said Teacher Pat.

Arthur J began to read,”The f-f-f-farmer told the ch-ch-ch-children that the p-p-p-p-pumpkins were almost ready to p-p-p-pick.'”

Arthur J stopped reading because some of his classmates were laughing at him.

Miss Pat said, “Thank you Arthur J. Please return the book to Willie. Story time is over for today.”

Questions:

Do you know why Miss Pat ended story time when she did?

Why were some of the kids laughing at Arthur J?

What do you think about them laughing?

What would you have done?

Pocket

What Do You Give a Service Dog on His Birthday?

Wednesday, January 18th, 2017

A service dog's birthdayThe “Can Do” Kids are in a tizzy because they are invited to a birthday party for Muggins, Mickey’s service dog. 

Hector and Arthur J. have dogs and know what dogs like, but Muggins isn’t just any dog. He’s a service dog. He goes everywhere with Mickey. He is  specially trained to guide Mickey wherever he goes.

“Hector, said Arthur J., “We better not guess on this one. We better do our homework. I’m going to look up what service dogs are allowed to eat as treats or what toys they can have.” Hector thought a minute and said, ” Why don’t we just ask Mickey? He will know. It’s his dog”!

“Awe, what kind of a surprise will that be for Mickey? Besides, it looks like we couldn’t be bothered learning about a service dog,” said Arthur J.

So, Arthur looked up about service dogs on the Internet and he found out that service dogs are never allowed eat food from the table or food scraps. A service dog cannot be distracted by the smell of table food when he or she is working. They eat dog food. They can have dog biscuits as a treat. Arthur found a recipe for dog biscuits that is approved by a program that raises service dogs.

The next day, Arthur told Hector what he found. They took the recipe to the “Can Do” Kids Cooking Club and everyone helped make  Muggin’s birthday gift…a big basket of fresh baked dog  biscuits for the best service dog!

 

Pocket

It’s That Time Again…School Time

Thursday, August 11th, 2016

Can Do SchoolIt’s time to go shopping with your parents and grandparents  for new shoes, and clothes, and backpacks and school supplies.

The “Can Do” Kids were all sitting around the table in the community center recreation room talking about going back to school.

Kathy shared that she had gone to the doctor for a check up before going back to school. Willie asked, “Did you get a needle? Did it hurt? All the “Can Dos” looked at Kathy waiting for her to answer. “My doctor is really good at giving shots. Before I knew it, the needle was in and out and I hardly felt it,” said Kathy.

Bobby shared about his trip to the dentist. Eulyn looked scared and said, “I have to go to the dentist before school starts. What did he do to you? Bobby answered, “He checked out my teeth for cavities and then cleaned and polished them.”

The “Can Dos” were quiet for a few seconds then Eulyn asked,” Did it hurt? Did you have any cavities? Bobby looked all sorts of proud and answered, ” Nope, no cavities and it didn’t hurt a bit to get my teeth cleaned.”

Annie noticed that Hector, who always has something to say, hadn’t said anything at all.  Annie said,” Hector, you’re very quiet and you look nervous. Is something wrong?”

“Yeah, there’s something wrong alright. I’m in trouble already and school hasn’t even started,” said Hector. The “Can Dos” just stared at him. Then Annie said, “What kind of trouble could you be in before school even starts?”

Hector answered, “I only read one of the books on the summer reading list for school. I didn’t attend the weekly summer book club at day camp to discuss the books on the reading list. I don’t know what any of the other books are about.”

“Uh,oh,” said Orrie.” You are going to be in trouble when Miss Pat finds out you didn’t do your book assignment before school.” The other “Can Dos” nodded.

Hector thought for a moment and said, “Well I won’t get in trouble if you all tell me what each book was about.” The other “Can Dos” shook their heads no and Jay said,”Why should we help you? We did the work and you didn’t. Plus that would be cheating.”

Hector answered, “Ah, come on guys. I thought you were my friends. If you don’t help me out, I will have to stay in all next week and just read to get ready for school!”

The “Can Dos all answered at once, “We are your friends. Friend don’t help friends cheat. Do what we all did…read the books and be ready for school!”

Pocket

There is No Vacation from Good Manners

Thursday, July 21st, 2016

manners“Uh Oh,”said Bobby,”Did you see what Hector just did?” Willie shook his head no. Bobby said, “He closed the door in nurse Diane’s face! What happened to his manners?”

As The “Can Dos” were lining up for lunch, in the community center lunch room, Eulyn pushed in front of Nellie on line. “Hey,” said Nellie, “No cutting in line.”

Kathy stuck her finger in her sister’s pudding hoping that Annie wouldn’t want to eat it, and then she could have it.

Maria didn’t bother to empty her tray. She left it on the mannerstable for the lunch room staff to clean up after her. What happened to her manners?

Yundi met Miss Sue in the hallway, and  he didn’t answer her when she said good morning to him.

Miss Hattie gave Jay a pencil and paper when he forgot to bring any. He just took them, and didn’t even bother to say thank you.

Later that day, when the camp staff met to talk about the day, and the “Can Dos” behavior, they decided it was time to have a session on manners.

What should Hector have done?_______________________________

What would have been the right thing for Eulyn to do?________________

Why was it wrong for Kathy to stick her finger in Annie’s pudding?”__________________________________________________

What should Maria have done with her tray?_______________________

When someone say hello to you what do you do?_________________

When someone gives you something, what do you say? Why do you say it?________________________________________________

Remember boys and girls, you may be on vacation, but good manners never go on vacation!

Pocket