“Thank you.” Those are the most fundamental words, next to “please”, that shape children’s character. It is far more than manners; saying the words is one thing, doing the words is another.
My class is thanking Sergeant Curran, stationed in Afghanistan. We’re doing it the good, old fashioned way; writing letters and drawing pictures. We are Pen-Pals!
For children, expressing their thoughts in words and drawings is age appropriate and very genuine. That is exactly what we did for Curran. After we wrote and decorated our big letter, we drew him individual pictures.
Children need to learn that kindness and thanks matter. They need to learn about the big, wide world. They need to learn about other people. Curran is our Pen-Pal in the big, wide world. When he was a little boy, his favorite book was Mr. Gumpy’s Outing, by John Burningham. We love that book! Curran’s dad came to school and read-aloud this book to the children.
This made Curran ‘come alive’ for the children. Suddenly he was one of us. Then, when we went to our big book atlas to find Afghanistan, it mattered. Because Curran was there. He is our Pen-Pal.
Saying “thank you” by doing acts of goodness makes children feel good. They care, and want to do something. By doing they are learning the most important things in life.
We will bake up a storm, then have a bake sale at school. We’ll take the money we raise, walk to CVS, and let the children buy whatever they think Curran will want or need. That will be a great care package!
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Wonderful for the kids to have that pen-pal, and to learn about the importance of letter-writing at such a young age. I bet that Sgt Curran loves to get those letters too, to brighten his day when serving overseas.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. Yes, I think it brightens his day. The children get so many lessons from this, too. It’s a good thing to do!
What a wonderful thing your whole class is doing.. So important to allow children to reach out and express themselves this way.. And understand the bigger picture of what is happening in our world.. And the brave people who put themselves on the front line in defence of all of us..
Loved your pictures.. Thank you Jennie for sharing them.. I am sure that Curran will love his Care package when it arrives .. I know he will love those letters.. 🙂 ❤ Hugs
Thank you Sue!! So glad you enjoyed this post. When we hear back from Curran, and when we go shopping at CVS, I’ll post more.
That will be lovely to read.. 🙂
🙂
This is such a very lovely post and thing you´re doing with the kids, Jennie! This Sgt. will be very happy when he receives his package and the lovely letters and pictures 😀 It´s wonderful how you teach these children to be thankful and how to express it. Have a beautiful weekend! 🙂
Thank you for your kind words. So glad you enjoyed the post, with your heart ❤️
🙂 ❤
What an awesome story Jennie. You illustrate also that caring lies in the true acts of kindness that go beyond the realm of thought.
And, also how important those actions, be it great or large, can enhance someone’s life.
Paulette Motzko
Thank you, Paulette! 🙂
You’re 100% welcome. If you send me any of the photos you’d like to me add for illustrations, I will – giving you photo credits.
Will do!
Fitzkee?
Yes.
What a wonderful learning experience for these lucky children. It’s so good of Sgt Curran, and his father, to work with them.
Thank you, Dan. It’s a good thing, indeed.
This is such a wonderful activity, Jennie, that teaches so many lessons from beginning to end! I especially loved your mention of the Big Book Atlas! It’s so important that children have a better understanding of our world, and seeing where the Sergeant is stationed in relationship to where they are is so helpful. Thank you for leading your little ones in such a special experience. – Susan
Thank you, Susan. Finding Curran with the atlas, and figuring out how he travelled there, was a great beginning. It is such a good thing that we are doing!
I love that the children have a pen pal! That meant a lot to me when I was a kid. I also love that the children are doing something good for their pen pal.
What a great idea. I am so pleased you are instilling the habit of writing thank you letters. Penpals are such a wonderful idea. I had a penpal in Australia and I kept in touch with her for a long time. People still love getting things in the mail, I know I do.
Thank you, Darlene. It’s exciting for the children, plus being a good thing to do.
Jennie, your post is so important. Children need to understand the world and the people in it. Your post is essential to what learning is all about, because if children, who become adults, don’t understand culture, history, humanitarian pursuits than nothing really germane as occurred. 🙂
Yes! If I can impart values, history, and cultures now, when they are young, I have given them a foundation. Building blocks. Thank you, Karen.
You bet! Your work with children just touches my heart! 🙂
Awww… 🙂
Reblogged this on Pen and Paper and commented:
Jennie teaches far more than Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic! She teaches compassion, empathy, and the caring for those who sacrifice to protect others from danger. Learning to say thank you with humility and gratefulness is part of the greater good of humanity. Thank you, Jennie.
Thank you, Karen!
Awesome that the kids have a pen pal. I have a 5-year-old pen pal and we exchange letters about once a month. He lives about 1 mile down the road and I see his family weekly, but that doesn’t matter at all. 🙂
Wonderful, Diana! It really doesn’t matter at all.
Wonderful! When my husband was in Iraq, he had a penpal. We still have the drawings from the little boy. It was a wonderful experience and the family still stays in contact with us.
Thanks, Michelle. I love your story. What it means to connect children with our military through being a pen-pal is a life long memory and experience. So important to say thank you and learn kindness. Stay tuned for more with Sgt. Curran.
It really is…. can’t wait to hear more! 😉
🙂
Jennie, this is great! I’m betting a lot of these children will remember this experience for a long, long time. To have Sgt. Curran’s father come in and read the book certainly created more depth and understanding for all. Nice to hear pen-pals still have a part to play in our world.
I couldn’t agree more! 🙂 Many thanks.
This post is all wonderful on so many levels (and I ❤ Mr. Gumpy's Outing, too!)
Thank you, Marcia. So much more to do over the next month for Sgt. Curran- bake sale, raising $$$ to walk to CVS to buy him whatever the children think he needs, and also celebrating his birthday. I’m buying Mr. Gumpy’s Outing and having all the children sign it.
This is beautiful! And with you, the newest little generation are in safe hands. Thank you 🌟🌹🌹
Thank you for your kind words, Di!
You’re very welcome Jennie. My son teaches grade 2 and I’ve worked as an aide in a secondary school so things like you described in your lovely post are very dear to me. Have a lovely day or evening where you are 💐💐
I am in Massachusetts in the States. Nice to hear your story, Di. 🙂
Ah hello Jennie all the way over there, from me in Melbourne🙋. I’ll let you get on with your evening now 🙂🌹🌹
Ha-ha! Australia. How wonderful. Yes, off to bed…
Thank you! Sleep well and ‘see’ you again soon, Jennie 🌈
🙂
These are such delightful ways to connect to the kids with their pen pal
I think so, too, Robin. Certainly a good thing to do!