Lesson Plan
Brave Steps to School Plan
Help Pre-K students overcome school avoidance by building trust and familiarity with the school environment through tailored, interactive sessions.
Creating a supportive, personalized environment will help students form positive associations with school, reducing anxiety and building confidence to attend regularly.
Audience
Pre-K
Time
4 sessions, 30 minutes each
Approach
Four interactive 30-minute sessions with targeted activities.
Prep
Preparation and Review
30 minutes
- Review the Brave Steps to School Plan to understand session goals.
- Familiarize yourself with the visuals and activity sheets provided.
- Adjust materials as needed to suit individual student needs and prepare any supplementary items.
Step 1
Session 1: Building Trust and Introduction
30 minutes
- Welcome each student warmly and introduce a 'Welcome to School' song or ritual.
- Use visuals from Comfort and Familiarity Visuals to discuss what makes school a safe place.
- Engage in a simple activity that allows children to share what they like about school.
Step 2
Session 2: Exploring the School Environment
30 minutes
- Read a story or use role play to introduce different areas of the school.
- Show the School Map Activity Sheet and guide students through a simple walkthrough of key areas.
- Ask students questions to reinforce familiarity and comfort with each area.
Step 3
Session 3: Personalizing the School Experience
30 minutes
- Help students create a personal 'My School' collage with images from various school spaces.
- Discuss why each area is important and how it makes them feel safe.
- Encourage sharing and group discussion to build community.
Step 4
Session 4: Celebrating School and Preparing for Tomorrow
30 minutes
- Recap previous sessions and celebrate the progress made using a visual timeline or chart.
- Conduct a fun activity where each student demonstrates their favorite part of the school using their collage or school map.
- End with a group cheer or song, reinforcing positive sentiment about attending school.
Slide Deck
Brave Steps to School: Session 1
• Welcome each student with a 'Welcome to School' song.
• Use Comfort and Familiarity Visuals to discuss what makes school safe.
• Share what you like about school.
Introduce the program and set a warm, inviting tone. Emphasize the objectives and promise a fun journey through school. Mention that this session focuses on building trust and making school feel safe.
Session 2: Exploring Our School
• Read a story or role play different areas of the school.
• Walk through key areas using the School Map Activity Sheet.
• Ask engaging questions to build comfort with each area.
In this session, guide students through the school environment. Use the School Map Activity Sheet to highlight key areas and encourage familiarity with different spaces.
Session 3: Personalizing My School
• Create a personal 'My School' collage with images from various areas.
• Discuss the importance of each area and how it makes you feel safe.
• Engage in group sharing to build community.
Support students in personalizing their school experience with creativity. Encourage them to think about what makes each space special, fostering a deeper connection with their environment.
Session 4: Celebrating School & Looking Ahead
• Recap previous sessions with a visual timeline or chart.
• Share your favorite part of school using your collage or school map.
• End with a group cheer or a closing song.
Wrap up the program by celebrating progress. Ensure each student gets a turn to present their favorite aspect of school. Conclude with a group cheer to reinforce positivity.
Activity
Comfort and Familiarity Visuals Activity
This activity features a collection of images and illustrations that capture key, comforting aspects of the school environment. The visuals include depictions of familiar school areas, friendly faces of staff, joyful students at play, and cozy nooks within the school that evoke feelings of safety and welcome.
Activity Guidelines
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Introduction:
- Begin by showing the visuals one by one. Ask the children what they see and how those parts of the school make them feel.
- Begin by showing the visuals one by one. Ask the children what they see and how those parts of the school make them feel.
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Discussion:
- Invite the students to share which visual they like the most and why. Encourage them to describe colors, shapes, and any details that stand out.
- Invite the students to share which visual they like the most and why. Encourage them to describe colors, shapes, and any details that stand out.
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Personal Connection:
- Ask the children to think of an area in school that feels safe to them. If possible, allow them to compare these areas with the images on display.
- Encourage them to use simple descriptive words such as "happy", "fun", or "safe" to articulate their feelings.
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Wrap-Up:
- Conclude by summarizing the discussion, reinforcing that the school is a safe and caring place. Remind the children that they can always refer to these visuals when they need a sense of comfort or a reminder of all the good things at school.
This activity is intended to be engaging and simple, perfectly tailored for Pre-K students to understand and express their feelings of safety and comfort at school.
Activity
School Map Activity Sheet
This activity sheet provides a simple, child-friendly map of the school that highlights key areas such as the classroom, playground, cafeteria, and library. This tool is designed to help Pre-K students become familiar with their school environment and feel more comfortable navigating around it.
Activity Guidelines
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Introduction:
- Introduce the map to the students by explaining that this is a fun drawing of their school. Point out the main areas – the classroom, playground, cafeteria, and library.
- Introduce the map to the students by explaining that this is a fun drawing of their school. Point out the main areas – the classroom, playground, cafeteria, and library.
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Mapping Walkthrough:
- Take a few moments to review the map together. Ask questions like "Where is our classroom?" or "Which area is where we play?" Encourage students to trace the path with their fingers on the map.
- Take a few moments to review the map together. Ask questions like "Where is our classroom?" or "Which area is where we play?" Encourage students to trace the path with their fingers on the map.
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Interactive Activity:
- Provide crayons or markers so that each student can color or decorate the areas on their map. They can add their own touches to the classroom, playground, or any other space, making the map feel personal and familiar.
- Provide crayons or markers so that each student can color or decorate the areas on their map. They can add their own touches to the classroom, playground, or any other space, making the map feel personal and familiar.
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Discussion and Connection:
- Allow students to share which part of the school they are most excited about and why. Reinforce that the school is a friendly, safe space where every area has a purpose in making them feel comfortable and happy.
- Allow students to share which part of the school they are most excited about and why. Reinforce that the school is a friendly, safe space where every area has a purpose in making them feel comfortable and happy.
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Wrap-Up:
- Summarize the activity by asking the children to point out one area on their map they like the best and share a positive feeling about it. Remind them that this map can help them remember where everything is when they are at school.
This activity is designed to be engaging and interactive, ensuring that students view their school as a fun and safe place to learn and play.