Meet Kelso the Frog, your classroom’s friendly mascot! This curriculum captivates students while teaching them vital character traits. It offers differentiated instruction for both lower and upper elementary levels, ensuring consistent language throughout. As students progress, they learn to identify each trait by its look, sound, and feel, deepening their understanding of good character.
Tailored to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, this engaging and fun curriculum simplifies teaching essential values and social skills, making each lesson a delightful experience!
Inspire students to be RESPECTFUL, CARING, FAIR, RESPONSIBLE, and HONEST with the Building Character with Kelso Curriculum! This comprehensive kit is designed to develop positive character traits in elementary-aged students.
In this kit, you will receive:
- DVD packed with engaging content.
- Leader’s Guide with comprehensive lessons and activities.
- 2 Large Photo Card Flip Books for interactive learning.
- Colored Back to Willow Pond Storybook complete with discussion questions.
- A Set of Kelso and Lily Hand Puppets to bring lessons to life.
- 5 – Kelso Star Posters for Grade K-3 (24″ x 36″)
- 5 – Kelso Star Posters for Grade 4-5 (24″ x 36″)
All materials are neatly packaged in a convenient case with a handle. (Note: Poster sets are packaged separately.)
Reinforcement Activities and Reproducible Masters included in the curriculum can be accessed online. Please refer to the “Printable Material” tab for instructions.
ABOUT EACH COMPONENT:
Leader’s Guide
This comprehensive Leader’s Guide includes detailed lesson plans, beginning with core lessons for Grades K-3, utilizing the K-3 Photo Card Flip Book to demonstrate the five character traits. Core lessons are followed by K-3 Extension Lessons to reinforce these concepts throughout the school year. Each lesson varies between 30-40 minutes and features a “Preparation Difficulty” gauge to help counselors quickly determine the required prep time.
For upper elementary students (Grades 4-5), the curriculum includes lessons centered around the K.C. Star visual rather than the Kelso Star. These lessons feature more mature, age-appropriate content addressing issues such as social media and friendship dynamics. The upper elementary section provides core lessons using the Grades 4-5 Photo Card Flip Book, followed by Grades 4-5 Extension Lessons to support ongoing learning throughout the year.
Photo Card Flip Books
This curriculum includes two large, durable, full-color photo card books—one for Grades K-3 and one for Grades 4-5. Each book showcases the five character traits in three different settings: at home, in class, and on the playground.
In each setting, photos depict children in situations where they are not utilizing the character trait, accompanied by a brief description for context. Students are prompted to discuss how the individuals in the image might feel and predict how the situation would change with the application of the character trait. The following card then illustrates the same scenario, but with the children using the character trait. Follow-up questions are included to close out the scenario.
Both books are bound with binder rings, allowing for the photo cards to be displayed side-by-side. The Leader’s Guide provides detailed lesson plans for effectively using this component.
Learning Character with Kelso DVD
DVD features five vignettes for grades K-3 and five vignettes for grades 4-5, each presenting a scenario for one of the five character traits. Designed to help children grasp complex concepts, these short, true-to-life vignettes illustrate everyday situations both with and without the use of good character skills. By watching these scenarios, students will learn how to apply these positive traits in class, during recess, and at home.
Back to Willow Pond Storybook
This full-color storybook illustrates each character trait through whimsical tales featuring Kelso the Frog and his Willow Pond friends. Enjoy engaging stories such as how two raccoon siblings sneakily steal Sally the Squirrel’s stash of winter nuts and the valuable lessons they learn, along with five other captivating stories. Each story is accompanied by discussion questions interwoven throughout, as well as a comprehensive list of questions at the end to further facilitate student engagement and understanding.
Kelso and Lily Hand Puppets
Two plush hand puppets to use throughout lessons, during story time or simply to get children excited about learning about character education!
24″ x 36″ Kelso Star Posters
This curriculum includes high-gloss, large, full-color posters designed to remind students about Character Education. It features five posters for Grades K-3, showcasing illustrations of Kelso the Frog and his froggie friends, and five posters for Grades 4-5, which use photographs of real pre-teens. These posters can be displayed around your school to reinforce the lessons and values being taught.
Click Here to View the Program Summary
Click Here to View the Key Components
Click Here to View the Outcomes
And don’t forget to explore our Reinforcement Section and Supplemental Kits Section! Discover an array of products designed to perfectly complement your Kelso’s Conflict Management Kit, ensuring lasting impact and success.
