Social-Story Circle Discussion Guide

Overview:
In this activity, we’ll explore real-life social scenarios and brainstorm positive ways to respond. Students will practice empathy, apology, and respectful teamwork.

Time: 8 minutes

Scenarios & Discussion Prompts

1. Left Out at Recess
   Scenario: Imagine you’re at recess and see a classmate standing alone, not invited to join a game.
   Discussion Questions:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • How might they feel?
   • What could you say or do to include them?
   • Why is it important to make everyone feel welcome?
2. Accidental Bump
   Scenario: You accidentally bump into a classmate’s desk, and their papers scatter on the floor. They look upset.
   Discussion Questions:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • How do you think they feel?
   • What can you say to apologize and help them?
   • How could you prevent this from happening again?
3. Group Project Interruptions
   Scenario: During a group project, one student interrupts others and takes over the discussion.
   Discussion Questions:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • How might the other group members feel?
   • What positive steps can the interrupter take to share and listen?
   • How can the group encourage respectful teamwork?

Reflection & Next Steps

Ask each student to choose one positive response they’ll practice over the next week. Write your strategy below:

After the activity, remind students that using these approaches in our classroom helps everyone feel safe, respected, and included.

Materials Needed: None (print or project scenarios as needed)

Refer back to:

• Boost Session Outline
• Positive Behavior Showcase Slide Deck
• Goal-Setting Chart Worksheet
• Team Token Race Game Materials
• This Discussion: Social-Story Circle Discussion Guide

Goal-Setting Chart Worksheet

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________________

My Behavior Goal

What is one positive behavior you want to focus on this week?

Why This Goal Matters

Why is this behavior important for you and your classmates?

Action Steps

List three steps you will take to reach your goal:

1. ______________________________________________
   (Step 1)
   
   
2. ______________________________________________
   (Step 2)
   
   
3. ______________________________________________
   (Step 3)
   
   
   

Possible Obstacles & Solutions

Identify one challenge you might face and how you will overcome it:

• Obstacle: ___________________________________________
• Solution: ___________________________________________

My Reward Choice

What group reward will our class earn when we achieve this goal?

Reflection

How will you know you have succeeded? What will you notice about your behavior?

Return your completed chart to the teacher for our next Boost Session Outline check-in.

Team Token Race Game Materials

Objective: Quick-paced collaborative quiz game to reinforce positive behaviors and earn tokens for your team.

Materials Needed:

• Timer or stopwatch
• Behavior Prompt Question Cards
• Tokens or counters (e.g., beans, chips)
• Scoreboard chart or whiteboard
• Pens or markers

Setup:

1. Divide students into two teams and assign each a colored token pile.
2. Prepare prompt question cards face down in a stack.
3. Display the scoreboard/chart with both team names and starting scores at zero.

How to Play (3 minutes):

1. Explain the rules: teams will take turns drawing a prompt card and have up to 30 seconds to discuss and answer.
2. On the signal, Team A reads their prompt and discusses. Award 1 token for each correct response (up to 2 tokens per question).
   • If Team A cannot answer correctly, no token is awarded and play moves to Team B with a new card.
3. Switch turns between Team A and Team B until time expires.
4. Announce time checks at 20, 10, and 5 seconds to keep the pace lively.

Sample Questions:

• Name two ways to show respect when the teacher is speaking.
• What could you say or do if you see a classmate working alone at recess?
• List one responsible choice you can make when completing group work.
• How can you demonstrate kindness when a peer makes a mistake?
• What is one positive way to handle accidentally bumping into someone?

Scoring:

• 1 token per correct answer (max 2 tokens per round).
• Update the scoreboard after each question.
• When time is up, tally each team’s tokens. The team with more tokens adds more toward the class’s collective reward goal.

Variation:

• For larger groups or extra challenge, add a 1-minute “rapid fire” round where each team answers as many prompts as possible, earning 1 token per correct answer.

Use these Team Token Race Game Materials during the Boost Session Outline to energize your small-group behavior supports!

Social Story Discussion Prompts

Purpose: Help students practice empathy, problem solving, and positive responses by exploring real-life social scenarios.
Time: 10–12 minutes

1. The Forgotten Lunch

Scenario: A friend sits down at lunch and realizes they left their lunchbox in their classroom. They look hungry and embarrassed.
Discussion Questions:

• How might they be feeling?
• What could you say or do to help them feel better?
• Why is it important to offer support even if it’s a small gesture?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Group Project Disagreement

Scenario: In a small group, two students have very different ideas about how to build their poster. One student talks over the other, and tensions rise.
Discussion Questions:

• How do you think each student feels when they aren’t heard?
• What positive steps can the group take to listen and include everyone’s ideas?
• How could you ask for a turn to share your idea respectfully?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. The Hallway Spill

Scenario: You accidentally knock over someone’s books and papers in the hallway. They look frustrated, and other classmates are staring.
Discussion Questions:

• What should you say or do first?
• How can you show responsibility and calm the situation?
• What could you do afterward to prevent a similar accident?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. Excluded from the Game

Scenario: During recess, you notice a classmate standing alone near the fence. Everyone else is playing, and they haven’t been invited.
Discussion Questions:

• How might they feel being left out?
• What could you say or do to include them?
• How does including others make the game more fun for everyone?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

5. The Unfair Teasing

Scenario: A student makes a joke about another’s artwork, and the artist looks hurt. The bystanders laugh.
Discussion Questions:

• How do you think the artist feels?
• What can you do or say to stand up for kindness?
• Why is it better to celebrate each other’s strengths rather than tease?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Reflection & Next Steps

Choose one scenario and one positive response you’d like to practice this week. Write your plan below:

Afterward, share your plan with a partner and discuss how it will help our classroom feel more respectful and supportive.

Use these prompts during your Boost Session Outline or Social-Story Circle Discussion Guide sessions.

6th Grade Behavior Goal Worksheet

Name: ________________________________ Date: ________________________

My Behavior Goal

What is one positive behavior you will focus on this week?

Why This Goal Matters

Why is this behavior important for you and our class community?

Action Plan

List three steps you will take to reach your goal:

1. _______________________________________________________________________
   (Step 1)
   
   
2. _______________________________________________________________________
   (Step 2)
   
   
3. _______________________________________________________________________
   (Step 3)
   
   

Potential Challenges & Solutions

Identify one obstacle you might face and describe how you will overcome it:

• Obstacle: ________________________________________________________________
• Solution: ________________________________________________________________
  
  
  
  

Group Reward Idea

What class reward will we earn when everyone works toward their goals?

Reflection & Success Criteria

How will you know you have succeeded? What will you notice about your behavior or how others respond?

Return this worksheet to the teacher for our next Boost Session Outline check-in.