Welcome Back! A Happy Hello Lesson

Materials Needed

• A favorite toy or stuffed animal
• Paper and large crayons
• Blocks or soft building toys
• A small basket or box
• Music for a hello song
• Optional: family photos or photos of familiar places

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Use a greeting such as “Hi,” “Hello,” or a wave.
• Name or point to one familiar person, toy, or place.
• Follow one-step directions during a simple activity.
• Make a picture or structure that shows something they enjoy.
• Use simple words to share how they feel, such as “happy,” “good,” or “tired.”

Success Criteria

Success looks like the child:

• Greets the adult or toy in any way, including waving, smiling, or speaking.
• Joins at least one song or movement activity.
• Completes a simple drawing or building activity with support.
• Shares one thing they like or remember.

Lesson Length

About 20–30 minutes. Follow the child’s interest and take breaks as needed.

Introduction: Hello Again

Teacher talking points:

• “Welcome back!”
• “I am happy to see you.”
• “Can you wave hello?”
• “Let’s say, ‘Hi!’”

Warm-Up: Hello Song

1. Sing a simple tune to the child’s name: “Hello, hello, hello, [name]!”
2. Wave hands, clap, or gently tap knees with the beat.
3. Invite the child to choose a movement: wave, clap, stomp, or spin.

Quick check: Notice how the child responds. A smile, look, wave, sound, or word is a successful greeting.

Body: I Do, We Do, You Do

I Do: Show a Welcome Greeting

Use the stuffed animal or favorite toy.

1. Hold up the toy and say, “Hello, teddy!”
2. Wave the toy’s paw and say, “Teddy waves hello.”
3. Show a simple feeling: “Teddy is happy to see you.”

Teacher talking points:

• “Hello means hi.”
• “A wave can say hello.”
• “We can say hello with our hands, face, or voice.”

We Do: Greeting Practice

1. Pass the toy back and forth.
2. When the child receives it, say, “Hello!”
3. Invite the child to wave, hug the toy, make a sound, or say “hi.”
4. Take turns saying hello to each other and to the toy.

Think-and-share choices:

• “Do you want to wave or clap?”
• “Do you want to say hi or blow a kiss?”
• “Are you happy, sleepy, or calm?”

You Do: Welcome Back Drawing

Invite the child to draw something they are happy to see again.

1. Place paper and large crayons in front of the child.
2. Say, “Draw something you like.”
3. Offer choices: “Do you want to draw a toy, a person, or a place?”
4. Let the child scribble, make lines, or choose colors freely.
5. Talk about the drawing without correcting it: “You made a big blue line!”

Real-world connection: Explain that people use pictures and words to tell others, “I am happy to be here” or “I remember this.”

Hands-On Activity: Build a Welcome Place

1. Give the child blocks or soft building toys.
2. Say, “Let’s build a place for our toys to come back.”
3. Build one small tower and say, “I put on a block.”
4. Invite the child to add a block.
5. Use simple directions: “Put the block on.” “Give me one block.”
6. Celebrate the child’s choices: “You built it your way!”

Formative assessment: Check whether the child can follow one simple direction, such as “put on,” “give me,” or “put in.” Give help when needed.

Movement Break: Come Back and Move

Play music or sing while doing the actions:

• “Wave hello.”
• “Clap hello.”
• “Stomp hello.”
• “Turn around.”
• “Sit down.”

Pause between directions so the child has time to respond.

Choice Activity

Let the child choose one activity:

• Look at a family photo and name or point to someone familiar.
• Build another block tower.
• Draw a second welcome picture.
• Sing the hello song again with a toy.

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Gather the child and the favorite toy.

Recap talking points:

• “Today we said hello.”
• “We waved and moved.”
• “We made a picture or built a tower.”
• “Welcome back!”

Exit Demonstration

Invite the child to choose one way to say goodbye:

• Wave
• Say “bye”
• Blow a kiss
• Give the toy a hug

Summative Assessment

Observe whether the child:

• Responds to a greeting in any form.
• Participates in one song, movement, or turn-taking activity.
• Creates a drawing or building.
• Communicates one preference, feeling, or familiar person through words, sounds, gestures, or pointing.

Differentiation and Support

• For a child who is shy: Let the child greet the toy first instead of greeting the adult.
• For a child using few words: Accept pointing, eye contact, gestures, sounds, or waving as communication.
• For a child needing extra support: Model each action and use hand-over-hand help only when appropriate and welcomed.
• For a child ready for more: Encourage two-word phrases such as “Hi, teddy,” “Blue block,” or “Happy today.”
• For a digital setting: Use a video call, show a favorite toy, sing the hello song, and invite the child to draw or build while watching.
• For a classroom or group: Give each child a turn to wave, choose a movement, or place one block on a shared tower.

Caregiver Reflection

• What greeting did the child choose?
• Which activity held the child’s attention longest?
• What word, sound, gesture, or action did the child use?
• What would the child enjoy doing again next time?