Teaching teamwork to young children can be both fun and meaningful when you use the right tools. One great resource is Katy Hudson’s The Golden Acorn, a beautifully illustrated picture book that not only captivates first graders but also delivers an important message about working together. Through Squirrel’s adventure, children can learn valuable lessons about teamwork, friendship, and the power of collaboration. Here’s how you can use The Golden Acorn to teach first graders the importance of teamwork.
The Story of The Golden Acorn
In The Golden Acorn, Squirrel loves winning the annual Golden Acorn Hunt, a race through the forest that she always wins alone because she’s the fastest. But this year, the rules change—Squirrel can’t compete solo. She needs to team up with her friends, like Bear, Rabbit, and others, who don’t run nearly as fast. At first, Squirrel is frustrated because her friends slow her down, but eventually, she learns that everyone brings different strengths to the team. By working together, they all succeed and Squirrel realizes the value of teamwork over individual achievement. Squirrel quickly learns that racing solo isn’t an option, and she must rely on her friends—who aren’t quite as fast—to win the prize. The story is a heartwarming adventure about the power of friendship, collaboration, and learning to value others’ strengths.
I love to use books to teach social skills lessons. In The Golden Acorn, we learn about the importance of teamwork. Squirrel’s initial frustration with her slower friends is a great discussion point for working with groups in the classroom. In the story, Squirrel takes off fast, leaving his friends behind. he finds the Acorn first, but he can not carry it by himself. He needs his team. We talk about what it means to be a team player and how that looks in our classroom. Then, I have students draw/write about how they can be a team player.
Using The Golden Acorn to teach teamwork in your classroom. It is a fun and effective way to introduce the concept of collaboration. The book’s colorful illustrations, engaging story, and relatable characters provide an excellent foundation for children to understand the value of working together. With activities and discussions that complement the story, students will learn that, just like Squirrel and her friends, they can achieve great things when they support each other. Buy HERE.
