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Building Bridges

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Lesson Plan

Building Bridges Lesson Plan

Students will engage in restorative practices—sharing personal perspectives, role-playing scenarios, and reflecting—to rebuild empathy, responsibility, and trust after a bullying incident.

This lesson fosters emotional healing, promotes a safe classroom climate, and empowers students to take responsibility and collaborate to repair relationships after harm.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Circle dialogue, role-play, and reflection.

Materials

Restorative Circle Prompt Cards, - Conflict Scenario Role Cards, - Reflection Journal Template, and - Talking Piece

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Set the Stage

5 minutes

  • Arrange chairs in a circle
  • Introduce the purpose: healing and rebuilding trust
  • Review circle norms: respect, listen without interrupting, speak from the heart
  • Show the talking piece and explain its use

Step 2

Restorative Circle Discussion

8 minutes

  • Pass the talking piece; only the holder speaks
  • Use Restorative Circle Prompt Cards to guide sharing, e.g.:
    • How did you feel during the incident?
    • What do you need from others to feel safe?
    • What can you do to help restore trust?

Step 3

Role-Play Activity

8 minutes

  • Divide into small groups of 3–4
  • Distribute Conflict Scenario Role Cards
  • Students enact the scenario, focusing on empathy and repair responses
  • After 4 minutes, switch roles and repeat

Step 4

Individual Reflection

5 minutes

  • Distribute Reflection Journal Template
  • Students write their thoughts on:
    • Their feelings
    • Personal responsibility
    • One action to support peers

Step 5

Commitment Sharing

4 minutes

  • Reconvene the circle with the talking piece
  • Each student shares one commitment to the group
  • Teacher records commitments on chart for classroom display
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Slide Deck

Building Bridges

Restorative Practices After Bullying
Grade 4 • 30 Minutes • Tier 1 Classroom Lesson

Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today we will learn how to rebuild trust and heal relationships after someone has been hurt. Show excitement and establish a safe environment.

Learning Goals

• Understand how bullying affects feelings and relationships
• Practice empathy and take responsibility for actions
• Collaborate to restore trust and safety

Point to each learning goal and read aloud. Emphasize the importance of empathy, responsibility, and collaboration.

Today's Agenda

  1. Circle Discussion (8 min)
  2. Role-Play Activity (8 min)
  3. Individual Reflection (5 min)
  4. Commitment Sharing (4 min)

Briefly walk through the agenda so students know what to expect and how long each part will take.

Circle Norms

• Speak from the heart
• Listen without interrupting
• Respect everyone’s feelings
• Keep what’s said here inside our circle

Review each norm clearly. Ask students to repeat or give a thumbs-up when they understand.

The Talking Piece

• Pass the talking piece around the circle
• Only the holder may speak
• Helps us listen carefully

Bring out the talking piece (e.g., a plush toy). Explain that only the person holding it may speak so everyone feels heard.

Discussion Prompts

• How did you feel during the incident?
• What do you need to feel safe?
• What can you do to rebuild trust?

Display the key prompts. Remind students we’ll use our prompt cards: Restorative Circle Prompt Cards.

Role-Play Activity

  1. Get into groups of 3–4
  2. Take a scenario card each
  3. Act out the scene focusing on empathy and repair
  4. Switch roles after 4 minutes

Explain how you will form groups of 3–4. Show the Conflict Scenario Role Cards.

Conflict Scenarios

• Scenario A: Teasing during recess
• Scenario B: Excluding someone on purpose
Choose a card and imagine how to make things right.

Quickly read two example scenarios to model. Then let students choose from the card stack.

Individual Reflection

Write about:
• How you felt
• What you’re responsible for
• One thing you’ll do to help peers

Distribute the Reflection Journal Template. Give a clear prompt and monitor progress.

Our Commitments

Share one promise:
“I will… ”
Teacher writes them on a chart for display.

Bring everyone back to the circle. Pass the talking piece again and invite each student to share one commitment.

Thank You

Great job today!
Let’s keep building bridges and supporting each other.

Thank the class for their courage and honesty. Remind them to practice these skills daily.

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Activity

Restorative Circle Prompt Cards

Use these cards during the circle discussion. Pass one prompt card at a time and invite the student holding the talking piece to read and answer aloud before passing both the card and talking piece to the next person.

Cards:

  1. How did you feel during the bullying incident?



  1. What do you think the other person felt when it happened?



  1. What do you need from others to feel safe now?



  1. What responsibility do you feel you have in this situation?



  1. What is one thing you can do to help rebuild trust?



  1. How can you show kindness and respect moving forward?



  1. When you think about what happened, what is the hardest part?



  1. What would help you forgive or move forward?



  1. How can we support each other as a class from now on?



  1. Why is empathy important for our classroom community?






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Activity

Conflict Scenario Role Cards

Cut apart the cards below. In groups of 3–4, each group takes one scenario card and one role card per student. Students will use their role to act out the situation, practice empathy, and model repair strategies.

Scenario Cards

Card 1: Teasing During Recess
You teased a classmate about their new backpack and said it looked silly. How can you show you’re sorry and help them feel included again?





Card 2: Excluding Someone From a Game
You and a friend did not let another student join your soccer game. What can you do to welcome them back and make the game fair?





Card 3: Spreading a Rumor
You heard a rumor and told it to some friends without checking if it was true. How can you correct the mistake and rebuild trust?





Card 4: Taking Something Without Permission
You took a friend’s pencil without asking and used it in class. How can you apologize and restore respect?





Role Cards

Card A: Person Who Caused Harm

  • Reflect on why the incident happened.
  • Explain how you feel about what you did.
  • Offer an apology and one action to make things right.




Card B: Person Harmed

  • Describe how the incident made you feel.
  • Share what you need to feel safe and respected again.
  • Say what could help you forgive or move forward.




Card C: Bystander/Witness

  • Talk about what you saw and how it affected you.
  • Suggest ways you can support the person harmed.
  • Encourage the person who caused harm to take responsibility.




Card D: Restorative Mediator

  • Ask each group member open-ended questions (e.g., “How did that feel?”)
  • Ensure everyone has a chance to speak and listen.
  • Help the group brainstorm actions to restore trust.




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Worksheet

Reflection Journal Template

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________




  1. How did you feel when you think about the bullying incident and today’s circle discussion?






  1. What responsibility do you feel you have to help rebuild trust and make our class feel safe?






  1. What is one thing you will do to support your classmates and show kindness moving forward?






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