Lesson 222: Taking care of belongings

❤️ SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Making Good Choices

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Objective

I can explain what belongings are and show how to take care of my things and shared spaces at home and at school.

Materials

Mini-lesson — What are belongings?

Belongings are things that belong to you, like your bag, books, toys, and clothes. We also share spaces with others, like the classroom, living room, or playground.

Taking care of belongings means…

  • Putting things back where they belong.
  • Using items gently so they do not break.
  • Keeping bags, desks, and shelves tidy.
  • Cleaning up after you use something.

Example — School bag

  • Morning: homework and books go into the bag.
  • At school: bag hangs on its hook or goes in its spot.
  • Home time: papers go to the right place, not all over the floor.

Example — Toys and games

  • Use toys in a safe, gentle way.
  • When finished, pieces go back in the box or on the shelf.
  • We look around and make sure the floor is clear.

Shared spaces

  • Shared spaces belong to everyone who uses them.
  • We do not write on walls or furniture.
  • We pick up our things so others do not trip or slip.

When we forget

  • Everyone leaves a mess sometimes.
  • We can fix it by going back, picking up, and putting things away.
  • We can learn a little "homes for things" routine.

Adults can help children choose simple places: "This shelf is for books", "This box is for small toys", and "This hook is for your bag."

Picture strip: "Homes for my things"

Guided Practice — Homes for my things

You and an adult will make a simple picture map of where your things belong.

  1. On a notebook page, draw three boxes and label them: "Bag", "Books", and "Toys" (or other belongings that fit your child).
  2. In the Bag box, help the child draw their bag and the place where it lives (a hook, shelf, or corner). Underneath, write or trace a rule such as "My bag hangs on this hook."
  3. In the Books box, draw books and their place (a shelf, box, or drawer). Add a rule like "My books go back on the shelf."
  4. In the Toys box, draw a toy box or basket. Add a rule like "My toys sleep in this box when I am done."
  5. Talk together: "How does the room feel when things are on the floor?" and "How does it feel when things are in their homes?"
  6. Circle one rule to practise today, and use it after playtime or homework. The adult can gently remind: "Where is the home for this?"
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: As you trace, say a sentence such as "I put my things back where they belong."

Practice — Tidy time challenge

Use this practice to help your child notice before and after when they take care of belongings.

  1. Choose one small area, such as a desk, a toy corner, or a bag space.
  2. On a notebook page, draw the area as it looks now. If it is messy, that is okay. Add a label such as "Before".
  3. Set a short timer (for example 3–5 minutes). Work together to put each item back in its home.
  4. When the timer ends, draw the area again and label it "After".
  5. Talk together: "What changed?", "How does the room feel now?", and "How does your body feel when things are tidy?"
  6. Choose one simple sentence to say aloud, such as "I can take care of my belongings" or "Tidy spaces help everyone."

Quick Check — Taking care of belongings

Answer each question about belongings, tidy spaces, and shared areas.

1) What are belongings?

Belongings are things that belong to you.

2) Which is a good way to take care of your school bag?

Putting your bag in its place keeps it safe and tidy.

3) Which is a good way to treat books?

Gentle use helps books last longer.

4) You finish playing with blocks. What is a caring choice?

Putting toys away protects others and the toys.

5) What is a shared space?

Shared spaces belong to everyone who uses them.

6) How can you help in a shared space?

Helping a little keeps shared spaces safe and calm.

7) You notice your jacket on the floor. What shows you care about it?

Putting your jacket away keeps it clean and easy to find.

8) How might you feel inside after tidying a space and caring for your belongings?

Tidy spaces often help us feel calmer and proud of our work.

9) You feel rushed and leave things out. What is a good next step?

You can always go back and care for your belongings later.

10) What is one big goal of this lesson?

The goal is to care for belongings and spaces with small, kind actions.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

Next time I will practise…

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