Students will engage in a fun icebreaker to learn about each other and collaboratively create 3–5 group norms to guide their small-group behavior and interactions.
Establishing rapport and clear expectations builds trust, safety, and cooperation, reducing defiance and fostering positive social skills.
3rd Grade Boys
30 minutes
Interactive icebreaker and guided brainstorming
10 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
5 minutes
Welcome to our first small-group session!
Today we’ll:
• Learn about each other
• Create group norms together
• Practice listening and sharing
Welcome everyone! Greet each student by name as they arrive. Briefly check in on how they’re feeling today. Introduce today’s session: “We’re here to get to know each other and decide how we want to work together.” Show enthusiasm and maintain eye contact to build rapport.
By the end of this session, students will:
Read each objective aloud and explain why it’s important. Emphasize that these goals will help everyone feel safe and have fun.
Script: “Our first goal is to get to know each other so we feel comfortable working together. Our second goal is to create rules, or norms, that help us treat each other with respect. Ready?”
Introduce the Icebreaker Question Cards. Demonstrate drawing a card: read the question, take turns answering, and then share your own response. Use a timer for 2-minute turns.
Script: “We’ll take turns drawing a card and asking each other fun questions like, ‘What’s your favorite game?’ Then the person who asked shares their answer too.”
Set up the Team Norms Chart with two columns: Norm and Why It’s Important. Ask the students: “What helps people feel safe and respected in a group?” Record all ideas, then help them choose the top 3–5 by asking which will help most. Write final norms clearly.
• Share one new thing you learned about your partner.
• Share one team norm you think is most important.
Thank you for your participation! We’ll use these norms in Session 2.
Invite each student to share one thing they learned about their partner and one norm they think is most important. Reinforce the importance of the posted norms and let them know these will guide our next sessions. End with positive reinforcement.
Students will reinforce group norms through a cooperative trust-building exercise and practice identifying and expressing emotions in a supportive setting.
Revisiting norms and engaging in trust activities builds safety and cooperation; sharing feelings enhances self-awareness and empathy, reducing defiant behaviors.
3rd Grade Boys
30 minutes
Trust challenge and emotion-sharing exercise
10 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
5 minutes
Today we will:
• Review our group norms
• Do a trust-building challenge
• Share and discuss our feelings
• Reflect on what we learned
Welcome back! Greet each student by name and check in on how you’re feeling today. Remind them you’ll begin by reviewing the norms you created together. Point to the chart and show genuine interest.
Point to the Team Norms Chart and invite a volunteer to name one norm. Ask: “Why is this important? How does it help us feel safe?” Encourage brief discussion.
Introduce the Trust-Building Scenario Cards. Explain the rules: one person is blindfolded while their partner gives only verbal directions to navigate a simple path. Model with a volunteer.
Show the Emotion Wheel Cards. Explain that each card represents a feeling. Ask each student to pick one card that shows how they’ve felt this week and share about a time they felt that way.
• Draw or write one insight about trust or sharing feelings
• Share your insight with the group
Great work today! Next time we’ll learn skills for solving problems together.
Hand out chart paper and markers. Invite students to draw or write one insight about trust or sharing emotions. Ask for volunteers to share. Praise their openness and remind them these skills will help in Session 3.
Students will apply group norms and conflict-resolution steps to collaboratively solve social challenges, reflect on their growth, and celebrate their progress in a supportive small-group setting.
Consolidating skills through guided problem-solving and reflection reinforces positive behaviors, emotion management, and cooperation. Celebrating achievements builds self-esteem and motivation for continued social success.
3rd Grade Boys
30 minutes
Role-play problems, reflect, and celebrate
10 minutes
5 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
5 minutes
5 minutes
Today we will:
• Check our team norms
• Learn conflict-resolution steps
• Practice solving problems together
• Reflect on our growth and celebrate
Welcome back! Greet each student by name and check in on how they’re feeling today. Remind them that today we’ll review our norms and learn steps to solve problems together. Point to the chart to set a positive, cooperative tone.
Direct attention to the Team Norms Chart. Ask a volunteer to name one norm and describe how it’s helped the group so far. Encourage a brief discussion on why following norms makes problem-solving easier.
Introduce the Conflict Resolution Steps Poster. Read each step aloud and explain with simple examples. Emphasize that these steps help us talk through problems calmly and respectfully.
Explain the role-play activity: students will pair up and use the Problem-Solving Scenario Cards to practice the steps. Model one scenario quickly, demonstrating how to Stop, Listen, Speak, Brainstorm, and Agree.
• Use the Progress Reflection Chart
• Draw or write one way you’ve improved
• Think about how these skills help you at school and home
Hand out markers and point to the Progress Reflection Chart. Ask students to draw or write one way they’ve improved during our sessions, such as listening or sharing feelings.
• Receive your Celebration Certificate and a sticker
• Celebrate one specific strength or success
Great job! Keep practicing these steps whenever you face a challenge.
Congratulate the students on their growth. Hand out each a Celebration Certificate with a note about a strength you observed. Offer stickers or small rewards and encourage them to keep using these skills.
Cut along the lines to create 12 separate cards. Each student picks a card and asks their partner the question.
Card 9
If you had a pet dinosaur, what would you name it?
Card 10
What’s the best thing that happened to you this week?
Card 11
If you could meet any cartoon character, who would it be?
Card 12
What is your favorite movie or TV show?
Use this chart to record the group’s agreed-upon norms and why each one matters. Leave the blanks or write directly on a posted chart.
| Norm | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|
| 1. ______________ | _______________________________________ |
| 2. ______________ | _______________________________________ |
| 3. ______________ | _______________________________________ |
| 4. ______________ | _______________________________________ |
| 5. ______________ | _______________________________________ |
Cut along the lines to create 6 separate scenario cards. In each scenario, one partner is blindfolded while the other gives only verbal directions to complete the task. Switch roles after each card.
Scenario 1
Navigate your partner (blindfolded) around three chairs arranged in a zig-zag pattern without touching them. Begin at Point A and end at Point B.
Scenario 2
Guide your blindfolded partner to pick up a soft toy placed on a table, carry it around the table, and return it to its original spot without knocking over any objects.
Scenario 3
Lead your partner (blindfolded) across a taped line on the floor, then around a cone, and back over the line, using only verbal instructions.
Scenario 4
Verbally guide your blindfolded partner to step over two books on the floor, take three steps forward, then sit on a chair positioned nearby.
Scenario 5
Help your blindfolded partner reach a plastic cup filled with water on a low table, pick it up carefully, and bring it back to you without spilling.
Scenario 6
Guide your partner (blindfolded) to walk in a straight line to touch a wall, then return to you and clap twice, using clear verbal directions.
Cut along the lines to create 8 separate cards. Each card shows an emotion. Use these cards to select and discuss how you’ve felt this week.
Card 1
Happy
Card 2
Sad
Card 3
Angry
Card 4
Scared
Card 5
Excited
Card 6
Calm
Card 7
Surprised
Card 8
Worried
Cut along the lines to create 6 separate cards. Each card describes a common conflict. Use your Conflict Resolution Steps Poster and the Team Norms Chart to role-play solving each problem.
Scenario 1
Two friends both want to play with the same ball at recess. Friend A grabbed the ball first, but Friend B says it’s their turn. How can they solve this so both feel heard and have fun?
Scenario 2
During a math game, one student won quickly and laughed while the other felt embarrassed and walked away. What steps can they take to fix hurt feelings and keep playing together?
Scenario 3
You and a classmate both want to be line leader today. Neither of you wants to give up. How can you use our conflict-resolution steps to decide fairly?
Scenario 4
One student is quietly working on a puzzle, and their partner keeps interrupting by talking loudly. The quiet student feels annoyed. How can they handle this respectfully?
Scenario 5
In art class, someone accidentally smudged your drawing. You feel upset because you worked hard on it. What can you say or do to solve this problem?
Scenario 6
You and your partner are building a block tower. One of you wants to build tall, and the other wants it wide, but you keep knocking it down. How can you work together to agree on a design?
Use these five easy steps to solve disagreements calmly and respectfully. Refer to this poster whenever you need to work through a problem.
Name: ___________________________
1. My favorite thing I learned is:
2. One skill I’m proud of is:
3. I will use this skill at (school/home/other):
4. Draw a picture showing how you feel about your progress:
This certificate is awarded to:
For demonstrating:
(Choose one strength below or write your own)
Date: ____________________
Teacher’s Signature: ____________________
Keep up the great work, and continue using your skills every day!
