Chrysanthemum
Materials

• Copy of book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes 
• Three yellow “petals” (strips of paper) per student 
• Black markers

Technology

Sesame Street: Henry Cavill & Elmo teach Respect to the Big Bad Wolf 

Introducing The story

Refer to the home and community section to encourage family discussions that will allow students to collect information regarding their names and how they were selected from family members to maximize this activity. Ask students to think about their names (Hebrew and English, as appropriate) and jot down how their parents chose their names: who they were named after, what do their names means, etc. Have them keep this at their desks as they will need it later in the lesson.

Show students this clip from Sesame street: Solicit student examples of times they can remember when someone showed them respect and when they showed another respect.



 
Invite students to gather for a story. Show them the cover of the book, Chrysanthemum. Covering the title, ask if anyone has any ideas what the story might be called or might be about. After students have made their predictions, share the actual title of the book and have students repeat it.

Before reading, introduce the following vocabulary words and phrases from the story, writing each on chart paper. Explain each with examples, images and props as appropriate. Encourage student participation.

Vocabulary
-Kavod - Respect
-Chrysanthemum-a type of flower
-Absolutely perfect-nothing wrong at all; couldn t be better -Absolutely dreadful-everything wrong; couldn t be worse
 -Wilted-collapsed, like a flower that hasn t had enough water

Reading The Story

Read the story, pausing frequently for student reactions, comments, and questions based on text and illustrations. Ask questions to help monitor student understanding, such as:

-What examples can you find in which Chrysanthemum’s classmates were not showing kavod?
-How do the words and actions of the other children affect the way Chrysanthemum feels about her name?
-How would you feel if your friends made fun of your name?
-What causes the other children to think differently about Chrysanthemum’s name and start to like it?
-How would you have shown kavod to Chrysanthemum?
-What can you do to show kavod for your classmates?

After The Story

Students will have the opportunity to complete a Kavod Chrysanthemum to demonstrate the respect the students have for one another.
Distribute three yellow petals to each student and ask them to return to their desks.

 Model how these petals will complete a Kavod Chrysanthemum:

- On the 1st petal, students will be asked to write their name and write or illustrate what it means or why it is special to them. (Refer back to the “Before” activity # 1.)
- On the 2nd petal, students will be asked to write or illustrate a time they showed Kavod to another student.
- On the 3rd petal, students will be asked to write or illustrate a time Kavod was shown to them, when another person made them feel cared about and important

Have students share their petals and display them around the room. Remind students of the meaning of kavod and how they can show respect as they listen to students’ presentations.

Create Chrysanthemum corsages:

Follow directions here  and then ask each student to give his /hers to a person who behaves in a respectful way. Encourage students to let the recipient know why he/she is receiving the corsage.

Students will complete three “petals” demonstrating an understanding of kavod.
Observe as students share their petals. Are classmates demonstrating, kavod?

To facilitate the lesson we will be doing in class regarding their child’s name, ask family members to discuss the significance of their child’s name.
The following prompts can help:

• ?What is the “history” of you your child’s name. What stories can you share regarding how their name (English and Hebrew) was selected? 
• ?Do you have pictures of those for whom you child was named? What do you what want your child to know about those for whom he/she was named? 
• What is the “history” of the names of others in your family? 

As appropriate, ask parents to provide the following summary information in writing so that their child will have it for the lesson: 

We named our child: __________________________________________________________

We selected this name because: _________________________________________________

His/her Hebrew name is: _______________________________________________________

 We selected this name because: __________________________________________________

* PJ library Books