Help students transform first-day worries into manageable questions with this supportive kindergarten read-aloud lesson pack for Franklin’s First Day of School by Paulette Bourgeois.
This interactive lesson helps children understand that worries often begin when we do not know what to expect. By identifying the question behind a feeling, learning where to find information and choosing a helpful strategy, children can begin to feel more confident at school.
During the read-aloud, students pause to notice changes in the character’s feelings. They identify possible questions, predict what may help and discuss how feelings can change when someone receives support or new information.
After reading, children use the Worry to Wonder Mat to match common first-day questions with helpful strategies. Several strategies may fit one question, encouraging children to explain their thinking and listen to different ideas.
The student activity provides children with a private, reassuring way to identify a feeling, share a question and create a personal support plan.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Interactive teacher lesson plan
• Learning goal and success criteria
• Before-, during- and after-reading prompts
• Worry to Wonder interactive mat
• Five visual feeling choices
• Six first-day question cards
• Six helpful-strategy cards
• Oral-language sentence supports
• My Worry to Wonder Plan student activity
• Personal confidence-plan prompts
• Assessment look-fors
• Differentiation suggestions
• Suggested next steps
• Ontario Kindergarten 2026 connections
• U.S. Common Core Kindergarten connections
SKILLS SUPPORTED
• Identifying and describing feelings
• Turning worries into questions
• Asking for help
• Choosing a realistic coping strategy
• Recognizing trusted classroom helpers
• Oral communication
• Problem-solving
• Self-regulation
• School confidence and belonging
• Drawing, labelling and beginning writing
This flexible resource works well during whole-group learning, small-group instruction, first-week community building or follow-up Independent Activities.
Children may participate through speaking, drawing, labelling, pointing, role-play or AAC. Personal sharing is always optional, and children can discuss fictional situations rather than their own experiences.
Please note: The book is not included and must be obtained separately. This is an independently created educational resource and is not affiliated with the authors, illustrator or publisher.
