A Hat for Mrs. Goldman

Name: A Hat for Mrs. Goldman
Author: Michelle Edwards

A story that explores service and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Service. using what you have to help others.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Service is doing something nice or helpful for someone else. Summary: Mrs. Goldman, Sophia’s next door neighbor, is a knitter who makes and donates warm clothing for people and animals. Even though she is a small child, Sophia is determined to make a surprise hat for Mrs. Goldman. The finished product needs some reworking - Sophia comes up with an ingenious solution using pompoms to fill in the holes. She is thrilled when Mrs. Goldman is moved to tears by the gift! Lesson Objectives:

Students are more sensitive to the needs of others, and more inclined to do acts of kindness to satisfy those needs.
Teachers can guide students to use their talents to think of someone who has a need, and create something to satisfy that need.

Guiding Questions:

Why did Sophia want to make a hat for Mrs. Goldman?
The Hebrew word “mitzvah” means “good deed.” What were Mrs. Goldman’s good deeds?
Pom poms are puffballs of yarn used to decorate clothing. How does Sophia help Mrs. Goldman?
What does the Hebrew word “keppie” mean?
When Mrs. Goldman and Sophia go for a walk, what causes Sophia to worry and what does she do about it?
Do you know how to sew or knit? If so, have you ever sewed or knitted something? If not, would you like to learn how?
Have you ever made something for someone? If so, describe what you created.
Make a list of 3 acts of kindness you could do at home and do them. How did it feel?
Make a list of 3 acts of kindness you could do at school or in your community and do them. Did you learn anything?
“Sophia feels her heart grow bigger and lighter like a balloon.” Why do you think the act of giving makes people feel good?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Service means using what you have been given to help others.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.