Session 1 Scripted Guidance

Warm-Up: Welcome Circle (5 minutes)

Teacher (smiling and enthusiastic): “Good morning, everyone! Please come and settle into our circle. Let’s make sure we can all see each other’s faces and hear one another.

Now, find your name tag and stick it on your shirt. Once you’re ready, I’m going to give each of you a circle card and a welcome sticker.

When I call your name, please stand up, show us your card and sticker, and tell us two things: your name and one thing you like about school.”

(Teacher calls each student by name, waits for their share, and offers positive feedback.)

Teacher: “Thank you for sharing! I loved hearing what you like about school.”

Introduction to Belonging and Inclusion (10 minutes)

Teacher: “Today we’re going to learn two important words: belonging and inclusion. These are big ideas that help everyone in our class feel safe and welcome.”

Teacher: “Let’s look at our Session 1 Slide Deck.”

(Display Slide 1 briefly, then advance to Slide 2.)

Teacher (pointing to slide): “Here on Slide 2 we have our definitions.
• Belonging means feeling safe, accepted, and valued for who you are.
• Inclusion means inviting, welcoming, and making sure everyone can join in.”

Teacher: “Can someone give me an example of a time you felt like you belonged? Turn and tell your partner, then we’ll share out.”

(Wait 15–20 seconds for think-pair-share.)

Teacher: “Who would like to share their example with the whole class?”

(Invite 2–3 volunteers.)

(Display Slide 4: “What Is Inclusion?”)

Teacher: “Now look at our inclusion definition again. Can anyone act out or describe one way to include someone in a game or conversation?”

(Collect 1–2 responses, give thumbs-up feedback.)

(Display Slide 6: “Think-Pair-Share – How do you feel when you are included?”)

Teacher: “Think silently for a moment: How do you feel when you are included?”

Teacher: “Now turn to your partner and share your answer.”

Teacher: “Who can share one feeling word with us?”

(Record responses on chart paper or the board.)

Activity: Friendship Web (10 minutes)

Teacher: “Great thinking, everyone! Now let’s see our connections in action with a Friendship Web. We’ll use a ball of yarn to show how we’re all linked.”

Teacher: “Everyone, hold up your circle card. I’m passing the yarn to one person to start. When you have the yarn, hold onto one end, share one way you feel welcome or one way you include someone, then toss the yarn to a friend—while you keep holding your end. That way, we’ll build a web showing our connections.”

(Teacher models with a volunteer.)

Teacher (after model): “I’ll begin: ‘One way I feel welcome is when someone greets me with a smile.’” (Tosses yarn.)

Teacher: “Remember to speak clearly and hear each other. Let’s continue until everyone has had a turn.”

(Guide students, encourage kind listening, and help pass the yarn.)

Game: Inclusion Ball (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Fantastic web, friends! Now let’s switch to our Inclusion Ball game. Keep the circle, but trade the yarn for this soft ball.”

Teacher: “When I say ‘Go,’ the person with the ball will toss it to someone else and say, ‘You are included because…’ The catcher will reply, ‘Thank you for including me because…’ then toss to a new friend. We’ll keep it moving for five minutes. Ready?”

Teacher: “Go!”

(Encourage quick, kind exchanges. Monitor pace.)

Teacher (after time limit): “Time’s up! Let’s give ourselves a big round of applause for including each other so nicely.”

Reflection & Closing (3 minutes)

Teacher: “Before we finish, let’s talk about what we learned today.”

Teacher: “Who can share one thing they learned about belonging or inclusion?”

Teacher: “Now think of one way you will include someone tomorrow. Who wants to share their good idea?”

Teacher (closing): “Thank you for all your thoughtful ideas and for practicing kindness. I’m proud of how you made each other feel welcome. See you next time for Session 2!”

Session 1 Friendship Web Sheets

Printable circle cards with sentence-starter prompts for students to use during the Friendship Web activity.
• Print on cardstock and cut out each circle.
• Distribute one card per student so they can hold it while they share.

Prompts:

1. One way I feel welcome is _______________________.
2. I include others by ______________________________.
3. When someone invites me, I feel __________________.
4. I belong when _________________________________.
5. My friends include me by _______________________.
6. Including others makes me feel _________________.
7. A simple way to include someone is _____________.
8. I feel connected when ________________________.

(Teacher may duplicate cards as needed so every student has one.)

Session 1 Inclusion Ball

Objective:
Help students practice naming positive qualities in each other and experience the feeling of being included through a fast-paced, cooperative ball-toss game.

Materials:

• 1 soft foam ball or beach ball (lightweight and safe for indoor tossing)

Setup (2 minutes):

1. Clear a space so students can form a standing circle with about an arm’s length between each person.
2. Give the ball to one student (or hold it yourself to model the first toss).

How to Play (5 minutes):

1. Teacher/model: “When I say ‘Go,’ I’ll toss the ball to someone and complete the sentence, ‘You are included because …’ with a kind, specific reason.
2. The catcher replies immediately, ‘Thank you for including me because …’ by stating how it feels.
3. The catcher then tosses the ball to another classmate, again starting with ‘You are included because …’
4. Keep the pace lively—try to keep the ball moving for the entire 5 minutes.

Teacher Tips:

• Encourage students to use different reasons each time (e.g., “You are included because you make me laugh” or “You are included because you listen to my ideas”).
• Model 2–3 examples at the start if needed.
• Remind students to look at each other, speak clearly, and catch gently.
• If the ball drops, teacher/model quickly picks it up and prompts the last speaker to re-state their sentence before passing on.

Reflection (2 minutes):
Gather students back into the circle and ask:
• How did it feel to both give and receive inclusion messages?



• What is one new way you might include someone in our classroom tomorrow?

Variation for Next Sessions:

• Swap the “You are included because…” prompt with “One kind thing I notice about you is …” to build observation skills.
• Increase challenge by having two balls in play for faster turn-taking.

Session 1 Warm-Up: Welcome Circle

Time: 5 minutes
Objective: Help students learn names, build comfort, and celebrate each person’s unique interests.
Materials: Name tags, welcome stickers, Session 1 Friendship Web Sheets (circle cards – optional for holding), chart paper or whiteboard (to record responses)

Steps

1. Arrange chairs (or cushions) in a circle so everyone can see each other.
2. Hand each student a name tag and a welcome sticker.
3. Teacher (smiling): “Good morning, friends! Please find a seat in our circle and put on your name tag and sticker.”
4. Once everyone is seated, explain:
   • “When I call your name, please stand, show us your circle card (if you have one), and tell us two things:
     1. Your name
     2. One thing you really like about school”
5. Teacher calls students one by one.
   • After each student shares, offer a positive response (e.g., “Thank you, Maria—that’s a great choice!”).
6. After all students have shared, conclude:
   • Teacher: “I loved hearing what you like about school. We’re all here because we belong, and now we know a little more about each other!”

Transition:
Teacher: “Now that we’ve welcomed each other, let’s learn what ‘belonging’ and ‘inclusion’ mean.”