Book Social: Teaching social skills in 1st grade

​You and your students are invited to a BOOK SOCIAL! What does that mean exactly?! Well, let me explain! Book Social is a collaborative project created by me (@MrsHenryInFirst) and Jordan Dunagan (@heyheyfirstgrade). Book Social features books each month for the FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM that promote SOCIAL SKILLS and SOCIAL THINKING while covering various first grade literacy standards.

Why the focus on social skills? Well, it's how we communicate with each other and therefore vital to a healthy and positive classroom environment. As we communicate more and more through technology, it's more important now than ever before! What better way to introduce and practice these important skills than with literature. Each book that is included in Book Social is specifically chosen with a theme in mind to help 1st graders learn and communicate better with their peers. These lessons and activities also inspire social thinking, a concept developed by Michelle Garcia Winner, which helps students to think about how others might perceive them. ​

​WHAT'S INCLUDED IN EACH BOOK SOCIAL UNIT?

• Literacy Activities - Each set comes with one featured activity that coincides with the book and a first grade standard or skill.
• Text Conversations - Discussion prompt cards that facilitate book and social skills conversation. Some sets also include posters that feature special quotes that are great for display in your classroom and further discussion. You might also find some useful anchor chart ideas in some of the featured sets.
• Reading Response Sheets & Writing Prompts - these pages include graphic organizers and writing responses that meet 1st grade standards and directly correlate with the book and theme of the unit.
• Craftivities - each set comes with one craftivity (craft activity) students make as a fun display piece or keepsake.

Check out the preview below for one of our featured Book Social units, The Bad Seed. This particular theme is Growth Mindset.

Check out ALL the featured Book Social titles below:

Big Al by: Andrew Clements
Theme: Friendship

Imogene's Antlers by: David Small
Theme: Be Yourself

Leo the Late Bloomer by: Robert Krauss
Theme: Learning Patience

Martin's Big Words by: Doreen Rappaport
Theme: The Power of Words

Follow the Drinking Gourd by: Jeanette Winter
Theme: Courage

Enemy Pie by: Derek Munson
Theme: Change of Heart

Henry's Freedom Box by: Ellen Levine
Theme: Freedom

How to Catch a Leprechaun by: Adam Wallace
Theme: Perseverance

Love Monster by: Rachel Bright
Theme: Love

The Story of Ruby Bridges by: Robert Coles
Theme: Being Brave

The Recess Queen by: Alexis O'Neill
Theme: Bullying

The Sandwich Swap by: Queen Rania Al Abdullah
Theme: Celebrating Differences

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun By: Maria Dismondy
Theme: Uniquely You

Scaredy Squirrel By: Melanie Watt
Theme: Facing Your Fears

Teal By: Renee Galvin
Theme: Solving Problems

Wemberly Worried By: Kevin Henkes
Theme: Handling Worries

Do Unto Otters By: Laurie Keller
Theme: Using Manners

It's Mine By: Leo Lionni
Theme: Sharing

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever By: Steven Kroll
Theme: Working Together

The Bad Seed By: Jory John
Theme: Growth Mindset

We're All Wonders By: R.J Palacio
Theme: Being Kind

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do By: Ashley Spires
Theme: Tenacity

Here's a sneak peek at some of the resources included in Book Social. Each image below will take you to the featured book set. You can check out the Book Social Bundle here.