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Behavior Basics Boost

Lesson Plan

Behavior Basics Boost

Students will be able to define civility and social skills, identify examples of each, and understand their importance in creating a positive school environment.

Understanding civility and social skills helps students navigate social interactions, build stronger relationships, and contribute positively to their classroom and community. These are essential life skills for academic and personal success.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through discussion, examples, and reflection, students will explore key behavioral concepts.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Behavior Basics Boost Slide Deck, Civility & Social Skills Warm-Up, Civility & Social Skills Discussion Guide, and Civility & Social Skills Cool-Down

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Comes to Mind?

5 minutes

  • Display the Civility & Social Skills Warm-Up on the board.
  • Ask students to quickly jot down or share initial thoughts on what "civility" and "social skills" mean to them. (2 minutes)
  • Briefly discuss a few student responses to activate prior knowledge. (3 minutes)

Step 2

Introduction to Behavior Basics

5 minutes

  • Use the Behavior Basics Boost Slide Deck (Slide 1-2) to introduce the lesson objectives and explain the importance of these skills for a positive learning environment.
  • Define "civility" as polite, reasonable, and respectful behavior. Ask for a quick example.
  • Define "social skills" as the abilities needed to interact and communicate with others effectively. Ask for a quick example.

Step 3

Deep Dive: Civility & Social Skills Discussion

15 minutes

  • Transition to the Behavior Basics Boost Slide Deck (Slide 3-4) for deeper discussion points.
  • Lead a discussion using the prompts from the Civility & Social Skills Discussion Guide. Focus on real-life scenarios relevant to 8th graders.
  • Encourage students to share personal experiences (if comfortable) and brainstorm practical applications of these skills in school and beyond. (10-12 minutes for discussion, 3-5 minutes for examples)

Step 4

Cool-Down: One Takeaway

5 minutes

  • Distribute or display the Civility & Social Skills Cool-Down.
  • Ask students to reflect on the lesson and write down one key takeaway or one way they can practice civility or social skills today.
  • Collect responses or allow for voluntary sharing as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Behavior Basics Boost!

Let's explore how our actions shape our world... and our classroom!

Welcome students and prepare them for an engaging discussion about behavior. Explain that today's lesson is about understanding how we interact and why it matters.

Today's Mission:

šŸ’” Define civility and social skills.
šŸ’” Identify examples of each in action.
šŸ’” Understand why these skills are super important for a positive school environment.

Introduce the learning objectives. Explain that by the end of this session, they'll have a clearer idea of what civility and social skills mean and how they apply to their lives.

What is Civility?

It's about showing respect, being polite, and acting reasonably towards others.

Think: Treating others how you want to be treated!

Examples?

Transition to the core concepts. Start with Civility. Ask students for their initial thoughts before revealing the definition. Use the warm-up responses as a springboard.

Unpacking Social Skills

These are the tools we use to interact and communicate effectively with people around us.

Think: How we talk, listen, and act in groups!

Examples?

Move on to Social Skills. Again, prompt for student input before presenting the definition. Emphasize that these are learned abilities.

Why Does it Matter?

How do civility and social skills impact...?

  • Your friendships?
  • Your learning in class?
  • Your overall school experience?
  • Future opportunities (jobs, college, etc.)?

This slide can be used to facilitate the main discussion. Encourage students to think about real-life scenarios. Refer to the discussion guide.

Practice Makes Progress!

Civility and social skills are like muscles ā€“ the more you use them, the stronger they get!

Let's commit to boosting our behavior basics!

Conclude with a forward-looking thought. Remind students that these are skills they can practice and improve every day.

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Warm Up

Civility & Social Skills Warm-Up

Instructions: Take a moment to think about the following questions. You can jot down your answers or simply think about them quietly.

  1. What does the word "civility" mean to you? Describe it in your own words.





  2. What are some
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Discussion

Civility & Social Skills Discussion Guide

Objective: To explore the practical application and importance of civility and social skills in daily interactions.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. Understanding Civility:

    • Can someone give an example of a time they saw someone act with civility? How did it make others feel?
    • What are some small, everyday actions that show civility at school, at home, or in your community?
    • Why is it sometimes hard to be civil, especially when you disagree with someone?

  2. Exploring Social Skills:

    • What are some key social skills you use when you want to make a new friend or work on a group project?
    • How do good listening skills contribute to effective communication?
    • Think about a time when a lack of social skills (by you or someone else) caused a misunderstanding or a problem. What happened?

  3. Impact & Importance:

    • How do acts of civility and strong social skills create a more positive classroom environment?
    • Beyond school, where else are civility and social skills important (e.g., future jobs, college, online interactions)?
    • What's one thing you can do this week to practice or improve your civility or a specific social skill?
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Cool Down

Civility & Social Skills Cool-Down

Instructions: Please answer the following questions to reflect on what we discussed today.

  1. What is one new thing you learned or one important reminder you got about civility or social skills today?





  2. Think about how you interact with others. What is one specific way you can practice or improve your civility or a social skill in the next 24 hours?





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