Whale Class · Weekly Circle Time
I Am Special! I Like Myself
Week of Sep 1–5 · 10–15 min a day · ages 2.5–6, English learners
Print · laminate · ring-bind — your in-circle guide
Five words they'll own by Friday
Littles (2.5–3)
One word + a gesture is a win: “Me!”, point to self, thumbs up, copy the actions.
Bigs (4–6)
Sentence frames: “My name is ___.” · “I like ___.” · “I can ___!” · “I like myself!”
Day 1 · This Is Me!
Today's words: me · name
2 min Magic Box hook
Shake the box, hold it to your ear. Whole class chants:
Peek inside. Gasp like it's the best thing you've ever seen. Let one child peek — they'll see themselves in the mirror.
“ME!”
4 min Mirror pass
Pass the mirror around the circle. Each child looks in:
Littles: “Me!” Bigs: “My name is Lili!”
Then the whole class claps the name in syllables — “Li-li! Li-li!” (two claps). Every child gets a name-clap. Keep it moving fast.
3 min Song · Special Me — chorus + Monday verse
I'm special! I'm special! (thumbs at chest)
Special as can be! (arms stretch wide)
I like myself — (hug yourself)
one, two, three… ME! (count fingers, jazz hands, everyone JUMPS)
Monday's verse: This is me! This is me! (point to self on the beat)
My name is Li-li — this is me! (sing each child's name in turn)
The one song of the week — same chorus at every circle, one new verse each morning. Chords and the full sheet are on the Song tab. Sing it twice.
3 min Game · Stand up if…
Max jumps up, strikes a pose, class cheers: “Hello Max!” Rapid-fire through everyone. Trick round: call a teddy's name — nobody stands, everyone giggles.
1 min Close
Hands on heart, together, whisper → louder → loudest:
Got 3 spare minutes? Read 4–5 pages of I Like Myself! (Karen Beaumont) — just point and react, don't translate.
📲 Share with parents
🐳 Whale Class today — This Is Me! We practiced the words “me” and “name” together in circle time, with songs, games and lots of repetition to help it stick. By the end we were all chanting together: “I am ME! I am SPECIAL!” 🎉 Ask your little one to show you at home! 💜
Tap Copy, then paste into your class WhatsApp / parent group.
Day 2 · I Like…
Today's words: like · yummy · yuck
2 min Magic Box hook
Chant the box chant. Sniff the box deeply. (rub tummy) “Mmmm…” Pull out the apple.
Pull out the sock. Sniff it. Horror face.
3 min Teach · Yummy / Yuck
Teach the two gestures: thumbs up + tummy rub = “Yummy!” thumbs down + scrunched face = “Yuck!”
Drill it as a game of opposites — you say one, they do it. Speed up until it falls apart laughing.
3 min Song · Special Me — chorus + Tuesday verse
Chorus (twice, with the actions) — then today's new verse:
I like apples, yum yum yum! (rub tummy)
Yummy, yummy apples — in my tum! (pat tummy on “tum!”)
Yesterday's verse first if they shout for it — repetition is the whole point.
4 min Game · Do you like it?
Hold up each card/toy:
Littles: thumbs + “Yummy!” / “Yuck!” Bigs: “I like ice cream!” Spider card gets the biggest screams — save it for last. Stretch your oldest: “I like cake because it's sweet.”
1 min Close
📲 Share with parents
🐳 Whale Class today — I Like…! We practiced the words “like”, “yummy” and “yuck” together in circle time, with songs, games and lots of repetition to help it stick. By the end we were all chanting together: “I like apples… I like YOU… and I like ME!” 🎉 Ask your little one to show you at home! 💜
Tap Copy, then paste into your class WhatsApp / parent group.
Day 3 · I Can!
Today's words: can · jump · run · clap · spin
1 min Hook · Teacher fails
Flap your arms hard. Try to fly. Fail dramatically.
4 min Teach · Yes, I can!
Call-and-response, everyone does each action 5 times:
“Yes, I can!” (all jump: 1-2-3-4-5!)
Cycle through: run (on the spot) → clap → spin → stomp → tip-toe. Littles just do the action; bigs answer the full sentence. End with “Can you fly?” — “No!” — everyone falls over laughing.
3 min Song · Special Me — chorus + Wednesday verse
Chorus (twice) — then today's new verse:
I can jump! I can run! (jump, run on the spot)
I can clap my hands — being me is fun! (clap-clap, thumbs at chest)
4 min Game · Freeze!
Clap a beat or play music. Everyone dances. When it stops — freeze! Then call an action:
All spin till the beat starts again. 4–5 rounds. Last round, let a big kid be the caller.
2 min Close · Show-off circle
Quick around the circle: each child does one thing they can do. Little shows a jump, class cheers “You can jump!” Big says “I can draw!” Everyone claps everyone.
📲 Share with parents
🐳 Whale Class today — I Can! We practiced the words “can”, “jump”, “run”, “clap” and “spin” together in circle time, with songs, games and lots of repetition to help it stick. Ask your little one to show you at home! 💜
Tap Copy, then paste into your class WhatsApp / parent group.
Day 4 · I Like Me!
Today's words: happy · smile
2 min Magic Box hook
Box chant. Pull out the heart. Hold it to your chest.
Everyone makes their biggest smile — “frame” each child's smile with your fingers like a photographer.
3 min Song · Special Me — chorus + Thursday verse
Chorus (twice) — then today's new verse:
I am happy, I can smile! (point at big smile)
I like me! I like me! Smile, smile, smile! (hug self, then frame the smile)
Shout the last “Smile!” — it's the whole lesson smuggled into their song.
5 min Heart circle · the spotlight game
Pass the paper heart. Whoever holds it gets the spotlight:
Littles: hold it, big smile, say “Happy!” Bigs: “I like myself because I am kind.” / “…because I can run!”
After each child, the whole class points at them and chants:
This is the one they'll remember. Every child gets an individual moment of the whole class celebrating them. Keep each turn under 15 seconds.
2 min Close
Everyone hugs themselves, whisper → normal → shout:
Got 3 spare minutes? A few pages of I Like Me! (Nancy Carlson) — big simple pictures, perfect here.
📲 Share with parents
🐳 Whale Class today — I Like Me! We practiced the words “happy” and “smile” together in circle time, with songs, games and lots of repetition to help it stick. By the end we were all chanting together: “I like me… I like me… I LIKE ME!” 🎉 Ask your little one to show you at home! 💜
Tap Copy, then paste into your class WhatsApp / parent group.
Day 5 · My Body + Big Review
Today's words: eyes · nose · mouth · hands — plus everything from the week
1 min Hook
Mirror comes back out of the Magic Box.
“ME!”
3 min Teach · point chant
Chant and point on your own body; kids copy on theirs:
This is my nose! (boop it)
These are my eyes! (blink-blink)
This is my mouth! (big “aaah”)
These are my hands! (jazz hands)
Bigs echo the full line; littles just boop and blink.
3 min Song · Special Me — Friday verse, then the WHOLE song
Friday's verse: Eyes and nose and hands and feet, (touch each one)
Clap, clap! Stamp, stamp! Being me is sweet! (clap twice, stamp twice, hug self)
The finale: chorus → all five verses → chorus, top to bottom. They learned it one verse at a time without noticing — this run-through IS the review of the entire week.
3 min Game · Touch your…!
Speed round. Then the trick: say “nose” while touching your own head. Kids who catch you shout the correction — let them “teach” you.
4 min Big review + finale
Hold up each prop, quick-fire:
Mirror → “Me!” / “My name is ___!”
Apple → “I like apples! Yummy!”
Jump on the spot → “I can jump!”
Heart → “I like me!”
Then the week's chant, all together with actions, twice:
Sticker or hand-stamp for every child as they leave the circle: “You are special!”
📲 Share with parents
🐳 Whale Class today — My Body + Big Review! We practiced the words “eyes”, “nose”, “mouth” and “hands” together in circle time, with songs, games and lots of repetition to help it stick. By the end we were all chanting together: “I am special, look at me! I like myself — one, two, three!” 🎉 Ask your little one to show you at home! 💜
Tap Copy, then paste into your class WhatsApp / parent group.
Theme Song · “Special Me”
The one song of the week — sung at every circle. Same chorus daily, one new verse each morning, full song on Friday.
The three chords
Tempo: slow and bouncy, around walking pace. Chant it without the uke first; add chords once they know the words.
Chorus — sing it every single day
CI'm special! I'm special! (point both thumbs at chest)
FSpecial as can Cbe! (arms stretch wide)
FI like my-Cself, (hug yourself)
G7One, two, three — CME! (count fingers, then jazz hands on ME!)
Sing the chorus twice each time. On the final “ME!” everyone jumps.
One verse a day — verses use only C and G7
Monday · This Is Me
CThis is me! This is me! (point to self on the beat)
G7My name is Li-li — Cthis is me! (sing each child's name in turn)
Tuesday · I Like
CI like apples, yum yum yum! (rub tummy)
G7Yummy, yummy apples — Cin my tum! (pat tummy on “tum!”)
Wednesday · I Can
CI can jump! I can run! (jump, run on the spot)
G7I can clap my hands — Cbeing me is fun! (clap-clap, thumbs at chest)
Thursday · I Like Me
CI am happy, I can smile! (point at big smile)
G7I like me! I like me! CSmile, smile, smile! (hug self, then frame the smile)
Friday · My Body
CEyes and nose and hands and feet, (touch each one)
G7Clap, clap! Stamp, stamp! CBeing me is sweet! (clap twice, stamp twice, hug self)
The build: each day sing chorus → today's verse → chorus. By Friday they know five verses without ever “learning” the song — Friday's finale is the whole thing top to bottom, and it doubles as your review of the entire week.
If you're brand new to ukulele
Practice this loop for five minutes tonight: C (4 strums) → F (4 strums) → C → G7 → C. That's the entire song. C is one finger, and the verses are just C and G7 — one evening of practice covers the whole week, because this is the only song you'll play.
Print Pack · Wall + Shelf
One click prints the whole week: theme wall posters, the song sheet, and all the shelf material.
In the print dialog: A4, portrait, “Background graphics” ON (for the emoji art), color. Want only some pages? Pick a page range — the order below is the print order. Card sheets print best on thick paper or laminated.
Page 1 · Theme poster
I Like Myself
Pages 2–6 · Word posters for the wall
Page 7 · Sentence frames poster
“My name is ___.”
“I like ___.”
“I can ___!”
“I like myself!”
Page 8 · Song chorus poster
Special as can be!
I like myself —
one, two, three… ME!
Page 9 · Ukulele song sheet
Whale Class theme song · ukulele · C (0003) · F (2010) · G7 (0212) · strum: Down, Down, Down-Up
Chorus — every day
CI'm special! I'm special! FSpecial as can Cbe!
FI like my-Cself, G7one, two, three — CME!
Monday · This Is Me
CThis is me! This is me! G7My name is Li-li — Cthis is me!
Tuesday · I Like
CI like apples, yum yum yum! G7Yummy, yummy apples — Cin my tum!
Wednesday · I Can
CI can jump! I can run! G7I can clap my hands — Cbeing me is fun!
Thursday · I Like Me
CI am happy, I can smile! G7I like me! I like me! CSmile, smile, smile!
Friday · My Body
CEyes and nose and hands and feet, G7Clap, clap! Stamp, stamp! CBeing me is sweet!
Each day: chorus → today's verse → chorus. Friday: the whole song, top to bottom.
Page 10 · My Body 3-part cards — control cards (keep whole)
Page 11 · My Body 3-part cards — cut apart (pictures + labels)
Pages 12–13 · Yummy / Yuck sorting signs (2 full pages)
Page 14 · Sorting cards — cut apart
There are no wrong answers — the child sorts by what THEY like, then tells you: “I like noodles!” / “Yuck!”
Page 15 · I Can action cards — cut apart
Page 16 · This Is Me — self-portrait sheet (print one per child)
Look in the mirror. Draw your eyes, nose, mouth, ears and hair!
My name is
Page 17 · “You are special” awards — cut in half, one per child on Friday
This award goes to
This award goes to
Page 18 · Theme shelf guide (for you — tape inside the cupboard)
Four trays, left → right, easiest → hardest. Present each at Monday group time, then they're free-choice work all week.
| Tray 1 · My Face | Hand mirror + My Body cards (pages 10–11). Littles match picture→picture on the control card. Bigs add the word labels. Language: “These are my eyes.” |
| Tray 2 · I Like | Yummy/Yuck mat + food cards (pages 12–14). Child sorts by their own taste, then reads their mat to a friend: “I like pizza!” Control of error: none — it's about their opinion, which is the point of the week. |
| Tray 3 · I Can | Action cards (page 15) face-down in a basket. Draw one, do it, say it: “I can spin!” Two children can play it as a give-a-command game. |
| Tray 4 · This Is Me | Mirror + crayons + self-portrait sheets (page 16, one per child). Child studies their face, draws, you scribe anything they tell you about it. Finished portraits go on the theme wall; the child gets an award (page 17) at Friday's circle. |
Laminate pages 10–15 if you can. Emoji art is the v1 — swap in Midjourney art any week you like.
End of Week Wrap-Up
Friday recap — read it at the last circle, then print it for the parent wall or WeChat photo.
Sep 1–5 · Theme: I Am Special! I Like Myself · Letter of the week: Tt
What we did
This week was all about ourselves! We found a surprise in the Magic Box every morning — a mirror, an apple, a paper heart. We said our names and clapped them, sorted the things we like from the things that make us say “Yuck!”, showed off everything we can do, passed the heart around the circle while the whole class told each child “You are special!”, and learned to point to our eyes, nose, mouth and hands. Every child drew a self-portrait for our theme wall and took home a star award.
Words we learned
Sentences to listen for at home
“My name is ___.” · “I like ___.” · “I can jump!” · “I am happy!” · “I like myself!”
Our littlest friends say one word with a gesture — “Me!” with a point is a big win at 2 and 3.
Our song · “Special Me”
“I'm special! I'm special! Special as can be! I like myself — one, two, three… ME!”
We sang it on the ukulele every day and added a new verse each morning. Ask your child to sing the chorus — they will jump on “ME!”
Letter of the week · Tt (“Tick-Tock, T!”)
In our Dark Phonics work we learned the sound /t/ — not the letter name, just the quick t-t-t sound, with our catchphrase “tick-tock, stinky sock!”. We hunted for t-things: top, tent, tiger, tape, tooth, toy (and our lesson friends clock and sock). The big magic: with s + a + t we read our first real words — sat and at — plus the little heart word a, in our books The ___ Sat! and The Tall ___!
Try this at home (2 minutes)
1 · Look in a mirror together and ask “Who's that?” — wait for “Me!”
2 · At dinner, hold food up: “Do you like it?” — thumbs up “Yummy!”, thumbs down “Yuck!”
3 · Say “t-t-t… tiger!” and hunt for one t-thing in the house (toy? tooth? tape?).
4 · Point to nose, eyes, mouth, hands — let your child be the teacher and test YOU.
Thank you for a lovely week — the Whale Class 🐳
Weekly rituals (same every week, only the theme changes)
- Attention grabber: “One, two, three — eyes on me!” → kids: “One, two — eyes on you!”
- The Magic Box: any box with a lid. The chant, the shake, the sniff, the dramatic peek. Whatever the week's theme is, its key prop lives in the box. By week 3 the chant alone will get you silence.
- The two-tier rule: littles succeed with one word + gesture; bigs get a sentence frame. Never make a little produce a sentence — they'll get there by watching.
- Whisper → shout closes: end every day chanting the theme line quiet-to-loud. Calms them, then releases them.
- Teacher fails on purpose: once a day, get something wrong so they can correct you. ESL kids who correct the teacher are producing language without noticing.
Principal coverage map (if she asks)
| Science: physical traits | Day 1 mirror pass · Day 5 body point-chant + Touch-your game |
| Science: preferences | Day 2 Yummy/Yuck + Do-you-like-it game |
| Science: abilities & actions | Day 3 Yes-I-can drills + Freeze |
| SEL: self-awareness → confidence | Day 1 (awareness) · Day 3 (strengths) · Day 4 heart circle (sharing + confidence) · Day 5 (acceptance) |
| Key phrases, age 3 | “Me!” · “I like ___” · “Jump!” · “Happy!” · “Smile!” · “This is my ___” — all drilled |
| Key phrases, age 4–5 | “My name is ___.” · “I like ___ (because…)” · “I can ___ / I'm good at ___” · “I like myself because ___” — bigs' frames each day |
| Songs | One song, deliberately: “Special Me” at every circle — chorus daily, one new verse per day covering her daily topics, full-song finale Friday (mixed-age ESL classes retain one new song per week) |
| Books | I Like Myself! (D1) and I Like Me! (D4) as optional 3-min read-alouds |
| Crafts (self-portrait page, name tags, My Body booklet) | Not circle-time work — run these at the art/table slot if required. Circle time seeds the language they'll need for them. |
Whale Class 🐳 · This page updates each week with the new theme.