# Lesson 222: Taking care of belongings

❤️ SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Making Good Choices

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## Objective

I can explain what belongings are and show how to take care of my things and shared spaces at home and at school.

## Materials

- Plain paper or a notebook page
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Optional: stickers or stars to mark tidy areas

## Mini-lesson — What are belongings?

Belongings are things that belong to you, like your bag, books, toys, and clothes. We also share spaces with others, like the classroom, living room, or playground.

Taking care of belongings means…

- Putting things back where they belong.
- Using items gently so they do not break.
- Keeping bags, desks, and shelves tidy.
- Cleaning up after you use something.

Example — School bag

- Morning: homework and books go into the bag.
- At school: bag hangs on its hook or goes in its spot.
- Home time: papers go to the right place, not all over the floor.

Example — Toys and games

- Use toys in a safe, gentle way.
- When finished, pieces go back in the box or on the shelf.
- We look around and make sure the floor is clear.

Shared spaces

- Shared spaces belong to everyone who uses them.
- We do not write on walls or furniture.
- We pick up our things so others do not trip or slip.

When we forget

- Everyone leaves a mess sometimes.
- We can fix it by going back, picking up, and putting things away.
- We can learn a little "homes for things" routine.

Adults can help children choose simple places: "This shelf is for books", "This box is for small toys", and "This hook is for your bag."

Picture strip: "Homes for my things"

## Guided Practice — Homes for my things

You and an adult will make a simple picture map of where your things belong.

1. On a notebook page, draw three boxes and label them: "Bag", "Books", and "Toys" (or other belongings that fit your child).
2. In the Bag box, help the child draw their bag and the place where it lives (a hook, shelf, or corner). Underneath, write or trace a rule such as "My bag hangs on this hook."
3. In the Books box, draw books and their place (a shelf, box, or drawer). Add a rule like "My books go back on the shelf."
4. In the Toys box, draw a toy box or basket. Add a rule like "My toys sleep in this box when I am done."
5. Talk together: "How does the room feel when things are on the floor?" and "How does it feel when things are in their homes?"
6. Circle one rule to practise today, and use it after playtime or homework. The adult can gently remind: "Where is the home for this?"

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice — Tidy time challenge

Use this practice to help your child notice before and after when they take care of belongings.

1. Choose one small area, such as a desk, a toy corner, or a bag space.
2. On a notebook page, draw the area as it looks now. If it is messy, that is okay. Add a label such as "Before".
3. Set a short timer (for example 3–5 minutes). Work together to put each item back in its home.
4. When the timer ends, draw the area again and label it "After".
5. Talk together: "What changed?", "How does the room feel now?", and "How does your body feel when things are tidy?"
6. Choose one simple sentence to say aloud, such as "I can take care of my belongings" or "Tidy spaces help everyone."

## Quick Check — Taking care of belongings

Answer each question about belongings, tidy spaces, and shared areas.

1) What are belongings?

Only toys that stay at school. Things that belong to you, like your bag, books, and toys. Only things that belong to adults.
Belongings are things that belong to you.

2) Which is a good way to take care of your school bag?

Hang it on its hook or put it in its place. Throw it on the floor in the doorway. Leave it outside in the rain.
Putting your bag in its place keeps it safe and tidy.

3) Which is a good way to treat books?

Bend and throw them. Draw on every page without asking. Turn pages gently and put them back on the shelf or in your bag.
Gentle use helps books last longer.

4) You finish playing with blocks. What is a caring choice?

Leave them on the floor for someone to step on. Put the blocks back in their box or basket. Kick them into a pile.
Putting toys away protects others and the toys.

5) What is a shared space?

A place many people use, like a classroom or living room. A place you are not allowed to tidy. A secret place that only one person may see.
Shared spaces belong to everyone who uses them.

6) How can you help in a shared space?

Leave all your things on the floor. Say it is not your job to tidy anything. Pick up your own belongings and help with a small tidy job.
Helping a little keeps shared spaces safe and calm.

7) You notice your jacket on the floor. What shows you care about it?

Step over it and walk away. Pick it up and put it on its hook or chair. Kick it into another corner.
Putting your jacket away keeps it clean and easy to find.

8) How might you feel inside after tidying a space and caring for your belongings?

Calm and proud. Always angry. Exactly the same as if you left a big mess.
Tidy spaces often help us feel calmer and proud of our work.

9) You feel rushed and leave things out. What is a good next step?

Decide you can never fix it. Blame someone else for the mess. Go back when you can, put things away, and try a slower tidy next time.
You can always go back and care for your belongings later.

10) What is one big goal of this lesson?

To make children love messes. To help children learn simple ways to take care of their belongings and spaces. To see who has the most toys.
The goal is to care for belongings and spaces with small, kind actions.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can say in simple words what belongings are. Student can name at least one way they take care of belongings at home and at school. Student can describe what it means to give items a home (for example, hook, shelf, or box). Student can explain why tidy spaces help everyone feel safer and calmer. Student knows they can go back and fix a mess if they forget to put things away.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can take good care of my belongings and spaces. 🙂 I know some ways to take care of my belongings, but I still need practice. 😅 It is still tricky for me to remember to put things away.

#### Next time I will practise…

Putting my bag in its home Putting toys or books away after I use them Helping with a small tidy job in a shared space
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