Students will be able to demonstrate one way to show they care when a friend is feeling sad or upset.
Learning to be a caring friend helps students build stronger relationships, develop empathy, and create a positive and supportive classroom community.
Kindergarten
20 minutes
Through discussion, role-play, and sharing, students will explore what it means to care.
Whiteboard or projector, Caring Friends Slide Deck, Friendship Scenario Cards, Ways to Care Anchor Chart (blank or partially pre-filled), and Markers
10 minutes
3 minutes
7 minutes
7 minutes
3 minutes
No credit card needed
Let's get our minds ready to learn about being kind friends.
Welcome students and set a calm tone. Explain we'll start with a mindful minute to get our brains ready for learning. Lead a simple breathing exercise: 'Let's take three slow, deep breaths together. Breathe in through your nose... and out through your mouth.' After, ask: 'How are you feeling today?'
Everyone has feelings!
How can we tell when a friend is sad or upset?
Introduce the idea of feelings. 'We all have feelings, right? Happy, sad, angry, surprised! Sometimes our friends have feelings too, and they might feel sad or upset.' Ask: 'How can we tell if a friend is feeling sad or upset? What might their face look like? What might their body do?' Encourage discussion and visual cues.
When a friend is sad or upset, we can show them we care!
Transition to showing care. 'When a friend is feeling sad or upset, we can show them we care. Showing care means letting them know we are there for them and want them to feel better.' Ask: 'What are some ways we can show a friend we care?' Write their ideas on the Ways to Care Anchor Chart.
Let's practice!
Explain the role-play activity. 'Now, we're going to practice being caring friends! We have some cards with pretend situations. You'll work with a partner to act out how you would show care in that situation.' Emphasize gentle hands and kind words.
Time to share!
Bring students back to the circle. 'Great job, Kindness Crew! You showed so many wonderful ways to care.' Ask each pair to share one way they showed care in their role-play. Add new ideas to the Ways to Care Anchor Chart. 'Remember, being a caring friend makes everyone feel loved and happy!'
Cut out these cards. With a partner, pick a card and act out how you would be a caring friend!
Your friend falls down and scrapes their knee.
Your friend's tower of blocks falls over.
Your friend looks sad during playtime.
Your friend is having trouble opening their snack.
Your friend is crying because they miss their grown-up.
Your friend made a mistake while drawing and looks frustrated.
Instructions for Teacher: Display this chart prominently. As students share ideas during the Read-Aloud and Group Chat and Partner Sharing Circle, write their responses in the spaces below.
Teacher: "Welcome, Kindness Crew! Let's get our minds and bodies ready to learn about being amazing friends. Find a comfy spot and let's take a mindful minute together."
(Lead a simple breathing exercise. Example: "Put your hands on your tummy. Let's take three slow, deep breaths together. Breathe in through your nose, feeling your tummy get big... and out through your mouth, letting your tummy get small.")
Teacher: "Now that our bodies are calm and our minds are ready, I wonder, how are you feeling today? You can just think about it, or give a thumbs up if you're happy, or a thumbs down if you're feeling a little grumpy. Everyone has different feelings, and that's okay!"
Teacher: "Today we're going to talk about feelings, and how we can be super caring friends. Look at our Caring Friends Slide Deck. See all these different faces? Happy, sad, mad, surprised! Everyone feels these things sometimes."
(Show slide with different emotions.)
Teacher: "Imagine your friend looks like this one (point to a sad face on the slide). How can we tell if a friend is feeling sad or upset? What might their face look like? What might their body do? Turn and talk to a neighbor for 30 seconds."
(Allow brief partner discussion.)
Teacher: "Great ideas! Sometimes our friends might have tears, or their shoulders might slump down, or they might not want to play as much. When a friend is feeling this way, we can show them we care. What does it mean to show someone you care? How can we make our friends feel better? What are your ideas? Let's write them down on our Ways to Care Anchor Chart!"
(Write student ideas on the Ways to Care Anchor Chart under "Sharing Our Ideas (Initial Thoughts)".)
Teacher: "Wow, you have so many wonderful ideas! Now, we're going to practice being caring friends. I have some Friendship Scenario Cards with pretend situations. You will work with a partner to act out how you would show care in that situation. Remember to use kind words and gentle hands. Think about what your body can do to show you care, like giving a hug or a pat on the back, or just sitting quietly with your friend."
(Divide students into pairs or small groups. Distribute Friendship Scenario Cards. Circulate and provide support and encouragement, prompting with questions like: "What could you say? What could you do with your hands?" Keep an eye on the time.)
Teacher: "Alright, Kindness Crew, let's bring it back together! You all did such an amazing job practicing being caring friends. I saw so much kindness happening!"
"Now, each pair will get a chance to share one way you showed care in your role-play. Who would like to go first?"
(Allow each pair to share one example. As they share, add any new ideas to the Ways to Care Anchor Chart under "New Ideas from Role-Play and Sharing".)
Teacher: "Fantastic! Look at all these wonderful ways we can show we care! Remember, being a caring friend makes everyone feel loved, happy, and safe in our classroom. Let's promise to always try our best to be caring friends! Give yourselves a pat on the back!"
