lenny

Bridge the Gap

Lesson Plan

Bridge the Gap Lesson Plan

Students will engage in a structured restorative chat to rebuild trust and understanding, express feelings, and co-create respectful behavior goals. The session aims to enhance empathy and improve peer communication skills.

This intervention addresses conflicts proactively, helps students feel heard, fosters mutual empathy, and strengthens relationships by guiding them through respectful dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.

Audience

4th Grade Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Guided prompts, active listening exercises, and shared goal setting.

Materials

Timer or Stopwatch, Restorative Conversation Prompt Cards, Active Listening Checklist, and Shared Goals Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Set the Scene

2 minutes

  • Welcome both students and explain the session’s purpose: rebuilding trust through respectful dialogue
  • Review meeting norms: speak kindly, listen without interrupting, and maintain confidentiality
  • Show the timer or stopwatch and set it for 15 minutes

Step 2

Perspective Sharing

4 minutes

  • Give each student 2 minutes to share their feelings and concerns without interruption
  • Use Restorative Conversation Prompt Cards to guide what to say (e.g., “I felt … when …”)
  • Encourage the listener to remain silent and attentive

Step 3

Active Listening Practice

4 minutes

  • Swap roles: the listener now speaks, the speaker now listens
  • Use the Active Listening Checklist to reflect back what was heard (e.g., “What I heard you say is …”)
  • Prompt students to ask clarifying questions (e.g., “Can you tell me more about …?”)

Step 4

Joint Goal Setting

3 minutes

  • Distribute the Shared Goals Worksheet
  • Ask students to identify 2–3 positive behaviors they both agree to practice (e.g., “Use kind words,” “Ask before borrowing”)
  • Record the goals and have both students sign to show commitment

Step 5

Reflection and Close

2 minutes

  • Ask each student to share one thing they appreciated about the other’s effort
  • Reinforce the importance of using these skills in future interactions
  • Confirm next check-in time and thank them for participating
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Bridge the Gap: Restorative Chat

A 15-minute guided session for two students to rebuild trust and improve communication.

Welcome everyone. Introduce the session title and purpose: a short restorative chat to rebuild trust and understanding. Explain that over the next 15 minutes you’ll follow structured steps to share feelings, practice listening, set shared goals, and reflect.

Session Norms

• Speak kindly and respectfully
• Listen without interrupting
• Keep what’s shared confidential
• Focus on understanding, not blaming
• We have 15 minutes—let’s stay on track

Explain the importance of meeting norms. Emphasize that these guidelines help everyone feel safe and respected.

Share Your Perspective

  1. Student A speaks (2 min) using Restorative Conversation Prompt Cards
    – “I felt… when…”
  2. Student B listens without interrupting
  3. Swap roles: Student B speaks, Student A listens

Guide each student to use the prompt cards. Keep time and gently remind the speaker when their 2 minutes are up. Encourage attentive silence from the listener.

Active Listening Practice

• Use your Active Listening Checklist
• Reflect back: “What I heard you say is…”
• Ask one clarifying question: “Can you tell me more about…?”
• Swap roles after 2 minutes

Introduce the active listening checklist. Model one reflection before students begin. Prompt them to use the exact phrasing: “What I heard you say is…”

Set Shared Goals

• Complete the Shared Goals Worksheet
• Identify 2–3 behaviors you both agree to practice
– e.g., “Use kind words,” “Ask before borrowing”
• Write down goals and both sign to commit

Hand out the shared goals worksheet and explain how to complete it. Walk around to offer support and keep students focused on positive, practical actions.

Reflect & Close

• Each student shares one thing they appreciated about the other’s effort
• Reinforce importance of using these skills in future interactions
• Confirm next check-in time and thank them for participating

Lead the closing reflection. Encourage genuine appreciation and remind students you’ll follow up soon.

lenny

Worksheet

Restorative Prompt Cards

Use these prompt cards to help you share your feelings, needs, and ideas respectfully during your restorative chat. Pick a card and complete the sentence to guide your conversation.


1. I felt ______________ when ______________.


2. When you ______________, I needed ______________.


3. I felt ______________ because ______________.


4. What I heard you say is: “______________.”


5. Can you tell me more about ______________?


6. I would like us to ______________ in the future.


7. A fair solution for both of us could be ______________.


8. I appreciate it when you ______________ because ______________.


lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Active Listening Checklist

Use this checklist to practice respectful listening. Put a ✓ in the box when you complete each step, then write an example or note in the space provided.

  1. Make eye contact with the speaker.
    Example: ____________________________________________________________________




  2. Face the speaker with an open posture (no crossed arms).
    Example: ____________________________________________________________________




  3. Avoid interrupting; wait until they finish speaking.
    Example: ____________________________________________________________________




  4. Reflect back what you heard: “What I heard you say is ______________.”
    “What I heard you say is ____________________________________________________________________.”




  5. Ask a clarifying question: “Can you tell me more about ______________?”
    “Can you tell me more about ____________________________________________________________________?”




  6. Summarize the main points: “So, you feel ______________ because ______________.”
    “So, you feel ____________________________________________________________________ because ____________________________________________________________________.”




Reflection

What did I do well? ____________________________________________________________________





What can I improve? ____________________________________________________________________





lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Shared Goals Worksheet

Working together, choose 2–3 positive behaviors you both agree to practice. Write each goal below and make a commitment by signing at the bottom.

Goal 1: _________________________________________________________





Goal 2: _________________________________________________________





Goal 3 (optional): _______________________________________________





Commitment and Signatures

By signing below, we promise to practice these shared goals and support each other:

Student A Signature: ________________________________ Date: ________________

Student B Signature: ________________________________ Date: ________________

lenny
lenny
Bridge the Gap • Lenny Learning