ABSTRACT

For many, social thinking is hard-wired at birth and strengthens naturally through experiences. However, for a variety of reasons, some children find it harder to think and develop socially. What’s the Buzz? For Early Learners 2e is a fully updated social and emotional literacy foundation programme for children aged 4–8 years.

Following the global popularity of the first edition of the What’s the Buzz programme, this revised edition leads children through Archie’s adventures over 16 lessons, as he encounters a range of social and emotional dilemmas. Through evidence-based activities, discussion, role-play, games, and explicit social skill instruction, children learn how develop positive problem-solving skills to transfer into their everyday lives. It also focuses on developing an understanding of a diversity of ability and cultural background, helping to teach children how to ‘read’ the emotional needs of others, show empathy, and increase self-awareness. Clinically trialled and evaluated, this lively resource has been used successfully around the globe to teach children in building and maintaining healthy relationships, understanding and regulating their own emotions, and generally becoming thoughtful citizens.

Enriched with visual materials and activity sheets to accompany each lesson, this is a must-have resource for allied health professionals and teachers in both special and mainstream settings. It is suitable for whole-class or small-group intervention.

chapter |20 pages

Introduction

chapter Lesson 1|12 pages

Meeting Archie and celebrating diversity

‘Let's meet Archie.’

chapter Lesson 2|14 pages

Gently and smoothly joining in to play together

‘Archie wants to join in.’

chapter Lesson 3|15 pages

The how and why of sharing and taking turns

‘When sharing got hard’

chapter Lesson 4|18 pages

Cooperation

The art of working together ‘Archie and the stick insect’

chapter Lesson 5|14 pages

Keeping calm and friendly while you wait your turn

‘Archie has to wait’

chapter Lesson 6|16 pages

Making things better – how to repair friendships when you've been upset with each other

‘Archie has a fight’

chapter Lesson 7|16 pages

Winning and losing – ‘gracefully’

‘Archie loses’

chapter Lesson 8|22 pages

Fact or opinion? Staying kind and friendly over different ideas

‘That's your opinion!’

chapter Lesson 9|18 pages

Working with feelings

‘Archie has BIG feelings’

chapter Lesson 10|16 pages

Angry feelings

‘Archie forgets’

chapter Lesson 11|17 pages

Wellbeing

Building healthy bodies, happy minds, and steady feelings ‘Too tired to think?’

chapter Lesson 12|14 pages

Honesty – telling the truth

‘Archie and the Lego® dump truck’

chapter Lesson 13|21 pages

Speaking up (learning to be assertive)

‘Keep it a secret’

chapter Lesson 14|19 pages

Empathy

‘The wonder of the web’

chapter Lesson 15|22 pages

A worrying moment – knowing how to deal with it

‘Archie's morning talk’

chapter Lesson 16|16 pages

Time to say goodbye

‘The lost goodbye’