Little Supremes Lesson #1
The Letter “J”

The following Minds Are Stellar Creative Lesson #1 Plan entitled The Letter “J” will encourage pronunciation and recognition of site words that begin with The Letter “J”.  We will focus our Lesson around seven (7) site words as follows: “Jazz”, “Journey”, “Jelly”, “Joy”, “Justice”, “Jungle” and “Job”.  We will also introduce one BBC word (Black & Brown Culture Word): “Jammin”.

Materials Needed for Little Supremes Lesson #1 entitled The Letter “J”:

Computer or IPAD with a Wi-Fi Connection for Video and Audio Links

Toy Musical Instruments (The More the Merrier!)

Magnetic Letters

Construction Paper

Scissors

Glue

Child-friendly magazines or picturesque books for “Favorite Journey” Activity and “I Am Joy” Affirmation Activity

A “Jungle” Puzzle of Any Kind

Markers or Crayons (Assorted Colors)

Jelly Jars (Yes! The food)

Your Little Supreme’s Favorite Stuffed Animal aka Stuffy

A chart to hang in your Little Supreme’s learning space that asks and indicates what your child remembers about the lesson.  You can title it: What did I learn? and decorate it with bright colors and symbols.

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Welcome Little Supreme  – Today you will learn how unique the letter “J” in the Alphabet is!

Activity #1

Through the word: Jazz

We will recognize musical instruments associated with the music genre Jazz.  There are the trumpet, the saxophone, the piano, the trombone, the clarinet, the bass, the drums and the guitar in this music genre known to us as J-A-Z-Z.  Sit down with your Little Supreme and go through each instrument so he or she can see what each instrument looks like (this activity requires the purchase of a toy trumpet, toy saxophone, toy piano, toy trombone, toy clarinet, toy bass, toy drums and toy guitar) Resource: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jazz+instruments+toys&crid=9FRMDXZKZIYW&sprefix=jazz+instruments+toys+%2Caps%2C92&ref=nb_sb_noss_2)

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Examine the magnetic letters J-A-Z-Z while listening/viewing jazz musician Jon Batiste (Jonathan Michael Batiste) song “It’s All Right” Video from the “Soul” soundtrack. Click here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/txdUE10OopA__;!!Omh0IfYXnA!0Ps3_Z1PW4vNjElgyZLgzwPR9KHnfi1n86BUbhykRaRy_X8uq6p6X1GFW1FhFO8eB3Q9yTEzXXGMfJTAdvhS_BcZhevTZocM$

Let’s take a musical Journey to New Orleans with Let’s Go Luna to learn more about the instruments associated with Jazz.  Click here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/-yzniNEQ5NA__;!!Omh0IfYXnA!w0SX3y2Jd7zXYS2pvJiad2aq0TReKI9RIDmFHkEg0TiRzHCyQc3Fzy6tK1ykHwET8Zz37TrUo0yeq7mLpOKuZ7Z4vpKmD8Ao$  

Did you know that New Orleans is the home of Jazz Music and Culture? Let’s learn more about what it is like to visit New Orleans through Top Flight Family’s trip to the “N-O”:  https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/urqsgNR7pLc__;!!Omh0IfYXnA!weAssMiBtlmO-gTZ9HMAsRia5EDsM6ZB7qlrHkQD33ZkQXp48DKwqU_6UA3xqe8qyAggZ7iSdbt-ZHazMk2xEASwxWfvv6Sy$

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Activity #2

Through the word: Journey

Pick out magnetic letters J-O-U-R-N-E-Y.  We will demonstrate that people can take a journey (just like the Top Flight Family did when they visited New Orleans)  Ask your Little Supreme: Where did the Top Flight Family travel to? [Knowledge Test].  We will demonstrate that not only can people Journey or travel somewhere, but things can to (i.e. cars/trains/planes, our food, germs, animals). Journey means to travel or explore. 

Let’s learn about where cars/trains/planes can journey to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3tMvIedIgU                       

Let’s learn about where our food can journey to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIOxRtzR9vY

Let’s learn about where our germs can journey to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b09luE7z2qY

Animals typically stay in their homes (habitat) unlike people, food and germs.  Let’s see where animals homes are by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj1ASC-TlsI.  We learned that homes also called habitats for animals are in many different places. 

A Journey can also be a place in our mind. We will learn through a meditative video to journey to calm and peacefulness using mindfulness and meditation. Click Here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/9_vEZTrmtyA__;!!Omh0IfYXnA!zVhL33N8I7B-LmYz6m4t4d7MSbMBNvKcC_pqjzTsCGhllwJN9Urw8IQGa7NPJRTTNsxWTR0Ae1D4E5E2NVs_joGH5O9ZYXYv$

Lastly, allow your Little Supreme to tell you his/her favorite place to Journey (i.e. the Zoo, the Toy Store, his/her playroom).  Provide your Little Supreme with a piece of his or her favorite color construction paper, and ask him/her to draw that place.  When he or she is finished, label this art piece: “Journey”. 

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Activity #3

Through the word: Jelly

We will sound out the letters J-E-L-L-Y.   What other words is your Little Supreme familiar with that start with the letter “J”?  Take a “Journey with the letter J” after a few minutes of discussing familiar words in a fun way to discover more “J” words (these may be words that are familiar to your Little Supreme or they may be new words discovered through this vide): Jelly, Jellybean, Juggle, Jar, Jump, Jacket, Jet, Journey, Jaguar, Jungle. Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60z6AAil-kQ

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Has your Little Supreme tasted, touched, smelled, heard of or physically seen Jelly?  Talk about Jelly.  What does it look like?  See if your Little Supreme can recognize the taste of Jelly if presented with both peanut butter and jelly (use a thin scarf to cover the eyes of your Little Supreme for the taste test).  Talk about the consistency of the Jelly – is it soft or hard?  Is it pink, red or purple?  (For this activity, you will need a jar of grape jelly, a jar of pink jelly (strawberry) and a jar of red jelly (raspberry). 

Sing Along: Peanut, Peanut Butter and Jelly song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe5Jk7YT_JE

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Activity #4

Through the word: Joy

We will sound out the letters J-O-Y.   What does it mean to have JOY?  Joy is an emotion.  It can mean happy.  If you are Joyful, you may laugh.  Talk about what things bring your Little Supreme JOY.  Let’s watch a video about Joyful flowers and the one sad flower:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdaoyNpgEtg . [Knowledge Test] How can we bring joy to things and people?  Is Joy a kind gesture?  What did we learn from watching this story?  (This is an activity that will focus on emotions and identification of colors).

Using the I AM technique, write the letters I and then A-M on a piece of paper of his/her choice and then draw a picture (or cut out pictures) to match the affirmation I AM JOY. Use pictures, drawings and symbols of things that bring your Little Supreme Joy, create your affirmation collage of joyful things!

Embrace His Story/Her Story-time! Find a cozy place, your Little Supreme’s favorite stuffy and read Pretty Brown Face by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brown Boy Joy by Thomishia Booker with narrator Jill Scott.  Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHyZndYggp0

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Activity #5

Through the word: Justice

We will sound out the letters J-U-S-T-I-C-E.   Justice means Freedom.  Justice means Equality.  Justice means Right.  Justice means Fair.  In this world, we look for Justice in our family, with our friends, in our government and in our world.  We all want to be treated equally but that does not always happen in our society.  We are the same but we are different.  We have different body parts and different minds.  We have different skin tones and different shaped eyes.  We have different beliefs and we come from different backgrounds and families.  Yet, we are all human and all have emotion.  We should all receive JUSTICE in the way we are treated and perceived in this world.  Let’s read along with Gordon from Sesame Street a story entitled: “We’re Different, We’re the Same” by Bobbi Jane Kates and Illustrated by Joe Mathieu.  Click Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUrjb4SZnxg

Let’s tune into a talk about one subject that really needs Justice in today’s world.  What is race? Let’s see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5moq6_5LSk

You will be the generation of free thinkers and freedom warriors.  Say it with your Little Supreme:  I-A-M-F-R-E-E.  Now say I-A-M-E-N-O-U-G-H.  Let’s end our talk about Justice with a book by Grace Byers entitled: “I Am Enough”.  Click Here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_l4jeZH84k

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Activity #6

Through the word: Jungle

We will sound out the letters J-U-N-G-L-E.  At this time, I encourage you to put together your JUNGLE puzzle with your Little Supreme.  Resource for purchase: https://www.amazon.com/jungle-puzzle/s?k=jungle+puzzle . As you are putting together your Jungle puzzle, identify each animal.  Find out which animals are your Little Supreme's favorite. 

What kinds of sounds do you hear in the jungle?  Let’s take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0KubemQ-aQ

In the jungle, we can dance, sing and celebrate the animals that are there.  We should be cautious but not afraid of the animals.  Join hands and sing the Jungle Boogie song by Pink Fong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXAk7NFalb4

Activity #7

Through the word: Job

We will sound out the letters J-O-B.  What is a Job? What kind of jobs do animals have?  Let’s see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCjQL9sBSQA  [Knowledge Test]  What did your Little Supreme learn about animal jobs and what is his or her favorite animal’s job?  People have jobs too!

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What kind of jobs do people have?  Let’s see from these videos: Video #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwHF6mdYVzw, Video #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiZoHudqFq8 , Video #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmjhcsq-qMQ [Knowledge Test]  What job is most interesting to your Little Supreme? 

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Children have jobs too.  What kinds of jobs does your Little Supreme think children have? 

Here are some examples:

Wash Hands, Brush Teeth, Help Around the House (Clean), Eat your fruits and vegetables, Be Kind.  

Let’s learn about these jobs and practice them: 

Wash Your Hands with Akili – Click Here: https://youtu.be/85Da1nQMXiM. 

How can we help around the house? Let’s join Gracie in the cleanup song as we find things around our home to clean up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llppYxsVzlE. 

Dinner Time!  Let’s talk about how to eat healthy with fruits and vegetables throughout our day:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNlFbhSQQ2o . 

What veggies are your Little Supreme’s favorite?  Now would be a great time to let your little one help you plan weekly menus for the family (start with one today: either Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner)!

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Activity #8

End with: Jammin’

We will sound out the letters J-A-M-M-I-N as we take a mindfulness Journey while Jammin to Bob Marley’s Best hits.  Let’s add this My First Reggae hits list to our Little Supreme's collection of Jammin audios as we explore educational themes from the King of Reggae himself that capture messages about love, caring for people and Justice.  Click Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y9Ol5o_mYQ 

Encourage your Little Supreme, through a collage of pictures of black and brown children (showing a variety of facial expressions i.e. a child that is playing and happy, a child who is pensive or a child who is sad), to embrace self-love and recognition through a “JUST US” Collage.  Step 1: Name the Collage “JUST US” on your Little Supreme's favorite color of construction paper. Cut out pictures of black and brown youth of all shapes, shades and sizes from your child-friendly magazines and books and talk about what is beautiful about each child as you and your Little Supreme being work on your collage. Hang it up in your Little Supreme's favorite room in the house. 

Let’s then explore JAMAICA, home of the King of Reggae Bob Marley, with Black History Kids – Click Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoTMMiVHM3o.  Jamaica is a great place to have a family vacation.  Talk about that with your Little Supreme.  What would that be like for your family?  Then listen to a story about Anya’s Journey to Jamaica in “Anya Goes to Jamaica”  brought to us by Anya’s World Adventures Children’s Book Series. Click Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPTJu8hT3YA a story written by Nikko FungChung and Illustrated by FUUJI Takashi. 

In an effort to celebrate Your Little Supreme (And the King of Reggae himself! HA) , use the “I AM” method to create a little collage entitled “I AM JAMMIN”.  Select a piece of construction paper (a color favorite) and glue a picture of your Little Supreme to the construction paper [preferably in the middle] (try to glue a medium size picture to allow space around the area of the picture for these words (or words like this that describe places your Little Supreme enjoys listening to music): “IN THE SUN” (or add a picture of the sun), “ON THE BEACH” (or add a picture of a beach), “IN THE PARK” (or add a picture of a park), “IN THE CAR” (or add a picture of a car), etc. This collage when done can go in an art case or on an affirmation wall. 

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End Lesson with Meditative Video by Babies Go Bob Marley: Click Here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5psrAis4gHw

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