Objective

To support and develop each child's uniqueness at being their best.

Materials

Lamps of different shapes and styles
Pictures of unique lamps (We used google.com)
Strips of colored construction paper
Picture of each student in the class (head shot is al you need)
Pattern of hands and feet
CD player

Lesson

1. Play the song Bebop Your Best. While the song is playing, do some simple hand motions that students can follow along. Be sure to include some motions that cross the midline. When you get to the part where Red sings the words “Bebop Your Best” put your hands in the closed fists near your face. Have your hands pop open to the beat of the music. Your fingers will all point out (it gives the impression of a light blinking on and off). This is great for pre-school and Kindergarten classes. For older students you could have a student leader come up with movements. Go around a circle and each child adds one new movement.

2. Turn on the lamps of different shapes/styles. Talk about and point out the differences in the lamps. Ask what is the one thing that is the same for each lamp? (all the lamps give us light to be able to see no matter what shape or size). Explain that we are like lamps. We all might look different but each of us “shines” in our own unique way.

3. Have students pick out a lamp picture. Have each child glue their picture on the lamp shade of the picture.

4. Give the students 4 strips to add for legs and arms. The students can make the strips as long or as short as they would like and some students might even bend them into an accordion shape.

5. have students draw hands and shoes to add to the strips. For little ones you may have to supply the hands and feet for them to glue on.

6. Hang the pictures from the ceiling or put them on a bulletin board that says “Shine on and Bebop Your Best”