• I can discover how my muscles control my bones to move my body.
• I can discover how eyes work and figure out some of the causes of vision problems.
• I can discover the workings of the iris and pupil in the eye.
• I can explore the brain’s role in receiving information from the senses, processing information, and controlling the muscles to enable movement.

• Why do your biceps bulge?
• What do people who are blind see?
• How can some animals see in the dark?
• How does your brain control your body?

• 4-LS1-1 - Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
• 4-LS1-2 - Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.
• 4-PS4-2 - Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen.

Conversation Starters

• Have you ever heard the word stick-to-it-tive-ness? What do you think it means? When have you shown stick-to-it-tive-ness? How did sticking to something show Perseverance? When have you decided not to stick with something? What happened? What did you learn? How, if at all, might you do that differently?
• “Positive self-talk” is when we say encouraging words to ourselves in our minds and sometimes out loud. What does positive self-talk have to do with Perseverance? Can you name some examples of positive self-talk that you can use when faced with a challenge? Examples:
  Even though this is tough, I am going to keep trying.
  If it gets too hard, I can ask for help.
  Sometimes things don’t go as planned and that’s ok.
• Share a personal story of Perseverance with your child. What were your challenges? What or who helped you persevere? What tangible steps did you take? What lesson did you learn?

Questions You Could Ask

• What do you think the expression, “Go slow to go fast” means? How could you apply it to the last project you did? How about the next project you’ll do? How could we apply it to our chores at home? To keeping the house clean? To straightening our rooms? How about in our relationships?
• How would you teach someone to persevere? What would it look like?
• What’s a challenge for you right now? What’s the hardest part? What are some resources—people, strategies, tools, inspiration—that could help you? What’s one step we can take together to overcome this challenge?

• I can’t do math.
• I stink at science.
• I’m not that smart.
• I’m not a good writer.
• I’ll never spell very well.
• I am not an artist because I can’t draw well.

Grades 3-5

Conversation Starters

• Here’s a scenario: Jimmy doesn’t want to go to his friend’s place, so he lies and says that his mom won’t let him. How many times does he have to lie before he’s considered a liar? Could you be friends with someone like Jimmy?
• Being honest is an important part of being a person with integrity. Some people say that integrity means, “doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” What do you think of that definition? Anything you’d add? What might it feel like to be a person with integrity?
• Share a time that you were dishonest. Why did you do it? What was the result? Be vulnerable with your child and let them know about a time where you knew you were out of alignment.

Questions You Could Ask

• How do cheating, lying, or stealing affect trust? How do they affect friendships?
• How can being honest make you feel vulnerable? How can being dishonest make you feel vulnerable?
• How do you feel when I’m honest with you? How would it feel if you found out I kept something from you?

Grades 3-5

Conversation Starters

• Kindness isn’t only for others. Explain how you show Kindness to yourself.
• Some people say that the most genuine act of Kindness is done when no one else is looking. What do you think that means? Can you think of any ways to show genuine Kindness?
• Discuss the 5 Love Languages (in summary, we all give and receive something like Kindness in different ways. Dr. Gary Chapman suggests the five primary ways are: giving and receiving gifts, words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, and acts of service). In which ways do you prefer others show you Kindness? In what ways do you often show Kindness to others? What are some love languages that you can bring more of into your home?

Questions You Could Ask

• There’s a t-shirt that reads, “Be Kind to Everyone.” Do you agree or disagree with this idea?
• In our family, give examples of how we show Kindness to others? How can we bring even more Kindness into our home?
• When are times that it’s difficult for you to show Kindness? What clues do your mind or body give you that you’re having a hard time practicing Kindness? What helps you practice Kindness even if it’s difficult?

• Volunteer at a local organization that serves meals to others
• Search through your house for gently used books, toys, and games to donate to a shelter or service organization
• Visit a nursing home to talk with the residents
• Have a lemonade stand in your yard and offer the lemonade for free
• Visit a shelter and play with the cats or walk the dogs

Grades 3-5

Conversation Starters

• When we talk about tackling things that frighten or scare us, it’s important that we validate fear as one of the many feelings that we experience. Talk with your child about what scared you as you were growing up. Maybe it’s a fear of the dark? Or heights? Maybe it’s a fear of snakes? Maybe it’s a fear of not meeting someone’s expectations? How did you overcome those fears and/or show Courage in the face of those fears?
• What scares you today as a parent or guardian? How about as an adult? How do you muster the Courage to be brave despite those fears?
• Share a story about a time that you overcame a fear or practiced Courage. What or who helped you? How did you feel before, during and after? What did you learn from the experience? How did it change you?

Questions You Could Ask

• What does Courage mean to you? Do you see yourself as courageous? Why or why not?
• Talk about a time that you’ve needed to show Courage. What was that experience like?
• Talk about a time when you’ve witnessed Courage. How did that feel? What did it look like?
• When have you wished for more Courage?
• Who is your role model or example of Courage? Why?