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Can We Solve This?

Lesson Plan

Friendship Scenarios Plan

Students will identify emotions and practice conflict-resolution steps by discussing friendship scenarios and role-playing solutions to build empathy and problem-solving skills.

Early mastery of emotional awareness and perspective-taking fosters healthy relationships, reduces conflicts, and supports social-emotional growth in 1st graders.

Audience

1st Grade Class

Time

35 minutes

Approach

Interactive scenarios and role-play

Materials

Scenario Cards, - Chart Paper, - Markers, - Solve the Feeling Slides, - Role-Play Circles Discussion Guide, and - What Would You Do? Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle
  • Ask: "What makes someone a good friend?"
  • Record responses on Chart Paper
  • Introduce the objective: identifying feelings and solving friendship problems

Step 2

Scenario Discussion

10 minutes

  • Display Slide 1 from Solve the Feeling Slides
  • Read the scenario aloud
  • Ask: "How do you think each child feels?"
  • Add feelings and solution ideas to the chart
  • Discuss possible ways to help the friends solve their problem

Step 3

Role-Play Activity

10 minutes

  • Explain how to use the Role-Play Circles Discussion Guide
  • Divide students into small groups and distribute one Scenario Card per group
  • Students act out their scenario and practice using kind words and problem-solving steps
  • Invite groups to share their skits and solutions with the class

Step 4

Independent Practice

5 minutes

  • Hand out the What Would You Do? Worksheet
  • Students draw or write one solution for a given friendship problem
  • Encourage them to use the steps: Stop, Talk, Listen, Solve

Step 5

Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Reconvene the class in a circle
  • Review the chart and highlight key conflict-resolution steps
  • Ask volunteers to share one new thing they learned about feelings and solving problems
  • Praise empathy and collaboration
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Slide Deck

Can We Solve This?

Friendship Problem-Solving

Welcome students! Today we're learning how to solve friendship problems together. We'll look at a scenario, check how everyone feels, and use simple steps to find a solution.

Scenario Time

Alex and Jordan both want to play with the new ball at the same time. They start arguing about whose turn it is. What do you think happened?

Read the scenario out loud and make sure everyone understands what happened. Encourage students to picture themselves as Alex or Jordan.

How Are They Feeling?

Alex feels: ________
Jordan feels: ________

Ask volunteers to share how they think each child feels. Write responses on the board.

Brainstorm Solutions

What could Alex and Jordan do?

  1. Stop and take a deep breath
  2. Talk and share how they feel
  3. Listen to each other
  4. Solve by taking turns or finding another game

Guide students to come up with ideas. Introduce the four steps as they share.

Problem-Solving Steps

Stop • Talk • Listen • Solve

Review each step and encourage students to use them whenever a problem comes up.

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Discussion

Role-Play Circles Discussion Guide

Objective: Students practice using problem-solving steps in small groups and reflect on feelings and solutions.

Time: 10 minutes

1. Setup and Grouping

  • Arrange students into groups of 4.
  • Provide each group with one Scenario Card (from Friendship Scenarios Plan).
  • Have students sit in a circle within their group.

2. Assign Roles to Each Group

  • Actor A & Actor B: Perform the scenario.
  • Narrator: Briefly describes what’s happening before and after the skit.
  • Observer: Watches quietly, notes feelings shown and steps used.

3. Role-Play Instructions

  1. Actors read their scenario aloud.
  2. Pause and take a deep breath (Stop).
  3. Actor A shares how they feel; Actor B listens (Talk & Listen).
  4. Switch roles so both share feelings.
  5. Actors work together to solve: take turns, use kind words, or find a new way to play (Solve).

4. Discussion Prompts After Each Skit

  • How did each actor feel at the start?
  • Which problem-solving step did you notice first?
  • What kind words or suggestions helped solve the problem?
  • Observer, what did you notice about listening and talking?

5. Reflection Questions for Groups

  • What was easy about using the steps?
  • What was challenging?
  • How did taking turns make you feel?
  • If the problem happens again, what will you do differently?

6. Share-Out and Extension

  • Invite one group to present their skit and share reflections with the class.
  • Ask: “How can we use these steps at recess or at home?”
  • Tie back to Solve the Feeling Slides and the four steps: Stop • Talk • Listen • Solve; encourage students to practice them every day.
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Worksheet

What Would You Do?

Read the scenario below and use the steps Stop • Talk • Listen • Solve to draw or write how you would help your friends.

Scenario:
Jamie and Sam both want to build with the same block tower at the same time. They start to argue and feel upset.

  1. Draw a picture of what is happening when Jamie and Sam begin to argue.











  1. How do you think each friend feels? Write one feeling for each:
  • Jamie feels: ___________________



  • Sam feels: ____________________



  1. Now use the problem-solving steps to show your solution. You can draw or write your answer in each box below.

Stop: Take a deep breath and calm down.







Talk: Share how you feel with each other.







Listen: Pay attention to what your friend says.







Solve: Decide together what to do next.












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Can We Solve This? • Lenny Learning