All About Us Class Book: Family Belongingness

Toddlers learn through action + language.

Objectives

Materials

Instructions

Materials

- Large, sturdy binder or book

- Clear sheet protectors

- Sugar paper in various colours

- Child-safe glue sticks

- Varied family photos (from home, photocopied from home, or drawn by children)

- Crayons or chunky markers

- Soft fabric scraps or yarn

- Stickers of simple shapes or objects

- Cotton balls

- A mirror

Learning Objectives

- Children will begin to identify their family members.

- Children will express a sense of belonging within their family and classroom.

- Children will develop fine motor skills through gluing and drawing.

- Children will use descriptive words (e.g., "happy," "love") when talking about their families.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather children in a circle. Show them the empty binder. Explain, "We are going to make a special book all about our families!"

2. Hold up the mirror. Ask, "Who is this?" Let them look. Say, "This is you! You are part of our classroom family."

3. Invite children to choose a family photo or draw a picture of someone in their family. Support them with gluing it onto a piece of sugar paper.

4. Offer crayons and markers. Encourage simple scribbles or lines. Say, "You are drawing your [mommy/daddy/grandma]!" Add fabric scraps or yarn for hair.

5. Let children add stickers or glue cotton balls to represent other family members or pets. Talk about who they are adding. "Is that your brother or your sister?"

6. As each page is completed, place it in a clear sheet protector and add it to the binder. Read aloud the names of family members or simple descriptions.

7. Once the book is full, gather the children to look through their "All About Us" class book. Point to photos and ask, "Who is this?" and "Who loves you?"

8. Celebrate their book by singing a familiar song about family, like "The More We Get Together."

Educator Tip

Encourage families to send in a favourite photo of their child with their family to be included. This connection between home and school fosters a strong sense of belonging. Ensure that any shared photos are handled with care and returned to families. For children who may not have traditional family structures, focus on the people who love and care for them, such as guardians, grandparents, or extended family.

Assessment

Observe children's engagement and their spontaneous naming of family members. Note any instances where a child points to a photo and says a word related to their family. Collect the completed pages as evidence of their participation in the creative process and their emerging understanding of family.

Educator tip

Use choice questions; keep groups small.

Assessment

Observe and note: emerging independence, two-word combinations, imitation of actions, and early pretend play. Use Development Matters non-statutory guidance checkpoints. Observe participation, labelling.

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