Plus, some Earth Day ideas Morningside Center NEWSLETTER Dear Morningside Center friends, We're hopeful that physical distancing has led to a plateau in new coronavirus cases in many places. And yet, more and more people we know have been afflicted, and some have died -- including a growing number of educators. In this heartbreaking time, we recommit ourselves to being part of a caring community with you that inspires kindness, hope, joy, and determination. (And if you need a spot of that hope and joy right now, please see our self-care tips for educators.) Educators have the momentous job of not only coping with this crisis in their lives, but helping their students through it. Below, we share some activities to help students grapple with the change and loss they may be experiencing now. ... And a shout-out to folks at our three PAZ After-School Programs, who have produced a beautiful joint newsletter in English and Spanish. Check it out! For Grades PreK-2 A Lesson on Feelings: Students sing a feelings song and play feelings charades to see that we all feel a range of emotions, and that is okay. Addressing Change & Loss: Students share how they feel today and discuss a story about a caterpillar or a cricket - and change. For Grades 3-5 A Lesson on Feelings: Students play a feelings guessing game and draw a feeling they had recently. Addressing Change & Loss: Students take part in a yoga activity and discuss a story about how we stay connected with those who love us. For Middle School & High School A Lesson on Feelings and Language: Through a poem and a feelings word-creation activity, students identify and share their feelings. Addressing Change & Loss: Students grapple with these hard subjects with a poem, a free-writing exercise, and class-sharing activitiy. New on TeachableMoment Charting Economic Inequality in the Corona Era Students use a set of interactive charts to investigate the current state of economic and racial inequality in the U.S.—and make their own charts showing how they would like to see that data change. Delivering Joy in this Moment Students explore ways to creatively connect, show each other support, and display kindness amid this pandemic. For more, visit our continuously updates pages of lessons, tips, and resources for coronavirus and remote learning. Planning to teach about Earth Day? See our collection of Earth Day lessons, including: Climate Change Fiction for Students and Teachers A Circle on the Climate Crisis: Reconnecting A Climate Change Primer for Elementary School A Climate Change Primer for Middle School What we're reading Social-Emotional Learning Should Be Priority During Covid-19 Crisis "SEL is the foundation, the heartbeat of the classroom...It’s about connecting everybody and making them feel safe and secure before you get to the academics." By Tim Walker at NEA Today After the Pandemic Comes the Epidemic of Lost Learning and Family Insecurity "This is a chance for us to refocus our attention and ensure that every child and family has the educational and social resources to survive this unprecedented moment... heal from the trauma, and thrive far into the future." By Rey Saldaña at Education Week Branching Out. Some restful online resources for adults and young people from Wave Hill, a public garden and cultural center in the Bronx. The lessons Morningside Center provides are free - but they're not free to create! These are hard financial times for our organization, but we know that kids and teachers need our support right now to cope with the crisis. Please give to our Emergency Fund for Caring Classrooms. Donate Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility www.morningsidecenter.org ‌ ‌ ‌ Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility | 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 550, New York, NY 10115 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]