Carpet Crew Teacher Guide Day 1 Routine • School Explorers Unit
Carpet Crew & Active Listening
Establishing carpet seating rules, personal space, and the active listening routine.
Focus Routine
Whole Group
Lesson Details
Pacing: 25 Minutes
Setting: Classroom Rug
Standard: K.SL.1 (Speaking/Listening)
Core Materials
• Visual Carpet Rules Slides
• Plush "Listening Friend" toy
• Carpet Explorer Handout
• Individual sit spots (optional)
Key Vocabulary
Personal Space
Your personal bubble where your hands and feet stay safe.
Active Listening
Using your ears, eyes, and quiet mouth to show you are ready.
Lenny's Pro-Tip
Assign sit spots on Day 1 immediately to eliminate arguing. Keep seats fluid and adjust daily as you learn their personalities!
Learning Objective
Students will be able to demonstrate physical carpet readiness (quiet mouth, eyes on speaker, body in bubble) on a visual or oral cue with 80% independent compliance by the end of the lesson.
1
Gathering at the Carpet (5 min)
Introduce a simple auditory cue (e.g., rhythmic clapping or chime). Guide students to stand up, walk slowly, and find their designated spots on the carpet.
Teacher Script:
"When you hear my chime, it's time to walk like quiet mice to our learning rug. Let's practice moving like a gentle cloud. Find your sit-spot and cross your legs."
2
Defining the "Carpet Rules" (10 min)
Use the slide deck to introduce the 4 pillars of the Carpet Crew : 1. Eyes watching. 2. Ears listening. 3. Mouths quiet. 4. Body still (Criss-Cross Applesauce). Use interactive roleplay!
Interactive Roleplay:
"Who can show me what an 'eyes-watching' superhero looks like? Great job, Leo! My eyes are locked onto yours. Let's lock our bubbles. Show me your personal space bubble!"
3
Practice Game: "Freeze Bubble" (5 min)
Have students wiggle their fingers, rock back and forth, and make safe noise. At the sound of the chime, they must immediately return to "Criss-Cross Applesauce" and freeze. Praise speed and safety!
4
Transition to Desk Work (5 min)
Explain that we are going to do our "Carpet Explorer" handout. Release students by table color or first letter of their name to walk to desks.
Differentiation Tips
Support: Use visual cues like picture cards for sit-spots. Offer a sensory cushion to high-energy students.
Extension: Ask fast learners to model positive rules or describe what "active ears" do to help classmates.
Page 1 of 1
Classroom Routines Slides Camp Kindergarten
First Week Adventure
We Are School Explorers!
Let's learn how to explore our classroom together safely, happily, and respectfully.
Carpet
Hallways
Tools
Slide 1 of 5
Day 1 Routine
The Carpet Crew
1. Eyes Watching
We look at the person talking to show them they are important!
2. Ears Listening
Our ears are open and ready to catch all the directions!
3. Voice Quiet
Our mouths are quiet so everyone's brain can think clearly.
4. Body Safe
Criss-cross sit, hands in our lap, inside our happy bubble!
Let's practice! Freeze when you hear the chime. Slide 2 of 5
Day 2 Routine
Bubble Line Up
1. Spot On
Walk to the line and stand right behind your friend. Keep spaces happy!
2. Bubble In
Catch a bubble of quiet air in your cheeks to keep your mouth still.
3. Hands Down
Keep your hands safely at your side or held together in front.
Let's try: Walk slowly and stand like direct-line champions! Slide 3 of 5
Day 3 Routine
Tool Champions
Pencil & Crayon Power
Use three fingers to pinch your pencil. Color gently on paper only. Caps snap shut!
Scissors & Glue Safety
Walk with closed scissors pointing down. Glue gets just one little dot on the sheet!
Tools are helpers, not toys! Treat them with kindness. Slide 4 of 5
Review Time
School Explorer Challenge
Are You Ready to Explore?
Let's answer these three question maps to show you are ready:
Quest 1
How do we show our teacher we are listening on the rug?
Quest 2
What do we put inside our mouth when lining up?
Quest 3
What does "just a little dot" of glue mean?
Great job today, Explorers! Let's get our badges. Slide 5 of 5
Carpet Explorer Handout Name:
Date:
Mission 1: Carpet Rules
I am a Carpet Explorer!
Color in the boxes of the good choices that keep our learning rug safe and smart!
Eyes Watching
Looking at the teacher or our classmate talking.
Loud Talking
Shouting and whispering while our teacher teaches.
Safe Bubble
Keeping my hands, feet, and knees inside my space.
Running Around
Leaving my carpet spot and running during the story.
Listening Ears
Using my ears to catch and remember the story.
Criss-Cross
Sitting cross-legged so my body stays quiet.
Draw Your Carpet Bubble!
Draw a picture of YOU sitting nicely on your carpet spot. Draw a circle around yourself to show your happy personal bubble!
I am ready for kindergarten! Explorer Badge #1
Perfect Lines Teacher Guide Day 2 Routine • School Explorers Unit
Perfect Lines & Hallway Bubbles
How to stand in line, bubble-up, walk at safe speeds, and respect hallway guests.
Focus Routine
Transitions
Lesson Details
Pacing: 25 Minutes
Setting: Desks to Hallway
Standard: Self-Regulation (K.1.2)
Core Materials
• Visual Routine Slides (Slide 3)
• Line-Up Spot Markers (floor dots)
• Line-Up Champions Activity Sheet
Key Vocabulary
Hallway Bubble
Puffing cheeks with quiet air to keep mouths happy and silent.
Line Leader
The explorer who sets a safe, slow walking speed for others.
Lenny's Pro-Tip
Do not walk if the line is not perfect. Stop immediately, have students take two steps backward to reset, and practice again. Consistency pays off!
Learning Objective
Students will line up in order, "bubble-up" their voices, keep hands at sides, and walk in a single-file line through the hallway with 100% safety.
1
The Line Up Signal (5 min)
Teach a line-up call-and-response (e.g., T: "Hands on hips, ready to..." S: "ZIP!"). Students push in chairs quietly and stand right behind their designated spot.
Teacher Script:
"When I say 'Zip,' we are going to push in our chairs with two fingers, glide like ghosts to our line-up numbers, and put our hands on our hips. Let's practice!"
2
Catching Your Bubble (5 min)
Explain that hallways are quiet learning zones. Teach students to "catch a bubble" of air inside their mouth, holding it gently so they cannot speak or make noise.
The Hallway Bubble Demo:
"Catch a giant purple bubble in your cheeks. Hold it... see how your mouth is perfectly locked? Put your hands by your sides. You look like professional champions!"
3
The Walk-Along Game (10 min)
Practice walking in the classroom first. Walk in circles, spiraling around desks. Stop frequently to check bubbles and safe distance. If anyone pops a bubble or bumps a friend, rewind 3 steps.
4
Real Hallway Trial (5 min)
Take a short walk to the drinking fountain or library and back. Award "Line Champ" tallies on returning.
Differentiation Tips
Support: Assign a physical line partner. Use floor decals or colored dots on the floor for every student's line-up spot.
Extension: Give high-profile jobs like Caboose (to look for gaps) or Door Holder to help maintain pacing.
Line Champions Handout Name:
Date:
Mission 2: Hallway Walk
I am a Line Champion!
Explorers stay in a quiet single file. Let's practice keeping our bodies on the safe path!
1 Find the Quiet Bubble Choice & Color the Card!
Talking Friend
Shouting to a friend far away in the hallway line.
Bubble Mouth
Cheeks full of quiet air. Hands quietly by my side.
Running feet
Jumping out of the line to touch classroom walls.
2 Trace the Hallway Trail!
Follow from the door to the drinking fountain
︵︶︵︶︵︶︵︶︵︶︵︶
▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼
3 Draw Your Safe Line-Up Shoes!
Draw the shoes you are wearing today standing perfectly on top of a "Safe Walking Spot."
I walk safely like a pro! Explorer Badge #2
Tool Time Teacher Guide Day 3 Routine • School Explorers Unit
School Tools & Material Safety
Teaching proper pencil grip, crayon coloring control, scissors safety, and glue control.
Focus Routine
School Tools
Lesson Details
Pacing: 30 Minutes
Setting: Student Desks
Standard: Fine Motor Skill (K.1.4)
Core Materials
• Visual Routine Slides (Slide 4)
• One fat pencil per student
• Primary scissors & liquid glue
• Tool Safety Handout
Key Vocabulary
Pinch-Grip
Using thumb and pointer finger to pinch, resting on the middle finger.
Glue Dot
A tiny drop of glue resembling an ant. "Just a dot, not a lot!"
Lenny's Pro-Tip
Sing songs! Introduce the "Glue Song" or "Pencil Pinch song" to activate muscle memory. Use physical cue cards before handing out tools.
Learning Objective
Students will pinch pencils correctly, apply tiny dots of glue (avoiding pools), and hold scissors pointing downwards while walking with 100% safety.
1
Pencil Pinch & Hold (5 min)
Model holding a pencil using the "Pinch and Flip" method: pinch the tip, flip it back to rest in the valley of your thumb. Check every student.
Pencil Song (Tune of "Baby Shark"):
"Pinch the tip, pinch-pinch-pinch. Flip it back, flip-flip-flip. Let it rest, rest-rest-rest. Grip is best!"
2
Crayon Pressure Control (5 min)
Explain that crayons can break if pressed too hard. Practice coloring light, medium, and heavy on scrap paper. Emphasize "gentle coloring."
3
Scissors: Safety & Carrying (10 min)
Scissors are "sharp helpers." Demonstrate holding closed scissors by the blades (safety grip) and keeping elbows tucked in when carrying.
Scissors Safe Demonstration:
"Make a closed fist around the silver shiny mouth of the scissors. Keep them pointing to the floor like a resting dog. No running, just walking!"
4
Liquid Glue: Just a Dot (10 min)
Teach "Just a dot, not a lot." Demonstrate making a tiny dot of glue inside the circles on the handout. Check that they do not squeeze puddles!
Differentiation Tips
Support: Wrap rubber bands or tape around the pencil's grip zone to give a tactile guide for pinchers.
Extension: Allow students to practice cutting out simple shapes once glue and pencil skills are validated.
Tool Safety Handout Name:
Date:
Mission 3: School Tools
I am a Tool Champion!
Let's show how we use pencils, crayons, and liquid glue like safe, gentle explorers!
1 Pencil Pinch: Trace the Loops!
Pinch your pencil with three fingers. Trace the loops slowly from left to right.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
2 Liquid Glue: Just a Dot, Not a Lot!
Gently squeeze your glue bottle to put exactly one tiny drop inside each gray circle.
Dot 1
•
Dot 2
•
Dot 3
•
Dot 4
•
3 Crayon Pressure: Color the Explorer Backpack!
Color our team backpack nicely. Practice coloring inside the lines and using gentle pressure .
Pencil pocket
EXPLORE
My hands do safe and gentle work! Explorer Badge #3