This mini-lesson helps students develop social awareness through a beloved winter story. Using “The Mitten” by Jan Brett, students will explore what it means to notice and care about others’ feelings and needs. Through guided discussion and a creative activity, children will practice perspective-taking and empathy while connecting these skills to their own lives. The lesson is designed to be flexible and fun for afterschool programs, winter camps, classrooms, or any youth development setting.

Featured Book

“The Mitten” by Jan Brett

This classic winter tale follows a lost white mitten that becomes a cozy home for woodland animals. As more and more animals squeeze inside to escape the cold, children can explore themes of sharing, inclusion, empathy, and problem-solving.

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Warm-Up Question: “Have you ever been really cold outside in winter? How did it feel? What did you want to do?”

Allow students to share briefly, then explain: “Today we’re going to read a story about animals who are feeling cold, and we’ll think about how they feel and how they help each other.”

2. Read-Aloud (10 minutes)

Read “The Mitten” aloud or play the video, pausing at key moments to ask:

• “How do you think the mole feels when he finds the mitten?”
• “What is the hedgehog thinking when he wants to come in?”
• “How do the animals already inside feel when more animals keep arriving?”

3. Group Discussion (8-10 minutes)

Create a feelings chart together on the board with two columns, one labeled “Inside” and the other labeled “Outside.” Have students come up with some words that might describe how the animals were feeling:

The Animals’ Feelings Examples:

• Cold, uncomfortable, lonely, distressed, scared, sad (outside)
• Warm, cozy, thankful, crowded, worried, nervous, annoyed, aggravated, anxious  (inside)

Discussion Prompts:

• “Why did the animals let others into the mitten even when it was getting crowded?”
• “Was it easy or hard for them to share the warm space?”
• “Have you ever had to share something when you didn’t have much? How did that feel?”
• “What would have happened if the animals said ‘no’ to everyone else?”

4. Activity: “Warm Hearts, Warm Mittens” (12-15 minutes)

Students create their own mitten artwork showing acts of kindness and empathy.

Instructions:

1. Give each student a mitten template or drawing paper
2. Ask them to draw or write about a time they helped someone who needed warmth, comfort, or kindness (or how someone helped them)
3. Inside the mitten, they can draw the situation or write key words
4. Students can decorate the outside with winter patterns

Sharing Circle: Invite volunteers to share their mittens and stories with the group.

Grade-Level Adjustments

Grades 2-3

• Enhanced objective: Identify specific emotions and connect them to characters’ needs
• Activity adaptation: Students write 2-3 sentences about their act of kindness
• Discussion: Introduce vocabulary like “empathy,” “generous,” and “uncomfortable”
• Extension: Role-play scenarios where someone needs help (cold friend without a coat, new student feeling left out)

Closing Reflection (3-5 minutes)

Reflection Question: “What’s one way you can show ‘winter warmth’ to someone this week—making them feel included, comfortable, or cared for?”

Closing Statement: “Just like the animals in the mitten made room for each other, we can make room in our hearts and our community for everyone.”

Connection to Social Awareness Skills

This lesson develops:

• Recognizing emotions in others
• Understanding different perspectives
• Showing empathy and compassion
• Appreciating diversity (different animals = different people)
• Recognizing when others need help or support

Tips for Success

• Create a cozy atmosphere by dimming lights slightly during read-aloud
• Use an enthusiastic, expressive voice when reading to engage students
• For active groups, add a movement break between reading and discussion (like squeezing together slowly like the animals in the mitten)
• Display finished mittens to create a “Warm Hearts Wall” celebrating kindness