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Caring Friends: A-Mazing Kindness!

Lesson Plan

Caring Friends: A-Mazing Kindness!

Students will be able to demonstrate one way to show they care when a friend is feeling sad or upset.

This lesson helps Kindergarten students understand and demonstrate empathy by showing care when a friend is sad or upset. Learning to care for others builds a positive classroom community and essential social-emotional skills.

Audience

Kindergarten

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussions, a read-aloud, and role-play activities.

Materials

Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Caring Friends Slide Deck, Book: "When Sophie's Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt" by Molly Bang (or similar book about feelings), Friendship Scenario Cards, and “Ways to Care” Anchor Chart

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Mindful Minute Warm-Up

3 minutes

  • Begin with a brief mindful minute to help students focus.
    - Ask students to close their eyes (if comfortable) or look down at their hands.
    - Guide them to take three slow, deep breaths.
    - Ask: "How are you feeling right now? What does your body feel like?" (Brief sharing, 1-2 students).
    - Introduce the lesson with: "Today, we're going to talk about how we can be super caring friends!"

Step 2

Read-Aloud and Group Chat

7 minutes

  • Use the Caring Friends Slide Deck to display key questions and visuals.
    - Slide 1: Title Slide - Caring Friends: A-Mazing Kindness!
    - Slide 2: "What Are Feelings?"
    - Teacher reads: "Sometimes our friends feel happy, sometimes they feel silly, and sometimes they feel sad or mad. Everyone has feelings!"
    - Ask: "What are some feelings you know? How do you know how someone is feeling?"
    - Slide 3: Book Cover
    - Teacher introduces the book: "We are going to read a book about feelings and how friends can help each other."
    - Read the selected book (e.g., "When Sophie's Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt").
    - After reading, Slide 4: "Talk About It!"
    - Ask: "How did the character in the story feel? How did their friend show they cared?"
    - Facilitate a brief discussion, guiding students to identify simple acts of caring.

Step 3

"Caring Friend" Role-Play

5 minutes

  • Slide 5: "Be a Caring Friend!"
    - Explain: "Now, let's practice being caring friends! I have some cards that show different times a friend might feel sad or upset."

Step 4

Partner Sharing Circle

5 minutes

  • Slide 6: "Share Your Ideas!"
    - Bring students together in a circle.
    - Have students share their role-play experiences.
    - Prompt: "Who wants to share one way they showed care to their friend during our role-play?"
    - As students share, record their ideas on the “Ways to Care” Anchor Chart using simple words and/or drawings.
    - Conclude: "Great job, caring friends! Remember, even a small act of kindness can make a big difference when someone is feeling sad."

Step 5

Cool-Down (Optional)

2 minutes

  • If time permits, end with a quick cool-down activity. Ask students to give a 'thumbs up' if they learned a new way to be a caring friend today.
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Slide Deck

Caring Friends: A-Mazing Kindness!

How can we show our friends we care?

Welcome students to the lesson. Get them excited about learning how to be a great friend!

What Are Feelings?

Everyone has feelings!
Happy, Sad, Mad, Silly, Excited...
How can we tell how someone is feeling?

Ask students to share different feelings they know. Prompt them with questions like, "How do you know if someone is happy? Sad? Mad?"

Let's Read!

We'll read a story about how friends feel and how they can show care.

Introduce the book you will be reading. Explain that the story is about feelings and how friends can help.

Talk About It!

How did the character in the story feel?
What did their friend do to show they cared?

Facilitate a short discussion about the book. Guide students to identify the character's feelings and the caring actions of their friend.

Be a Caring Friend!

Let's practice showing we care when a friend is sad or upset.
What can we do or say to help a friend feel better?

Explain that students will now practice being caring friends using scenario cards. Emphasize that there are many ways to show care.

Share Your Ideas!

What are some ways you showed care to your friend today?
Let's add our ideas to our "Ways to Care" chart!

Gather students for a sharing circle. As students share their ideas, write them down on the physical anchor chart. Reinforce that even small acts of kindness matter.

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Activity

Friendship Scenario Cards

Instructions for Teacher:

  1. Print and cut out these cards.
  2. Explain to students that they will work with a partner to act out these short scenarios.
  3. One partner will be the friend who is sad or upset, and the other partner will be the caring friend.
  4. After each scenario, encourage them to switch roles.
  5. Emphasize that there are no "right" or "wrong" answers, but that the goal is to show kindness and care.
  6. Walk around and provide guidance and positive reinforcement as students role-play.

Scenario 1: Dropped Snack

Your friend accidentally drops their snack on the floor and looks very sad. What can you do or say?







Scenario 2: Missed Turn

Your friend really wanted to be first in line, but it wasn't their turn today. They look upset. What can you do or say?







Scenario 3: Hurt Feelings

Someone said something unkind to your friend, and your friend looks like they might cry. What can you do or say?







Scenario 4: Can't Build

Your friend is trying to build a tall tower with blocks, but it keeps falling down. They look frustrated. What can you do or say?







Scenario 5: Lost Toy

Your friend can't find their favorite toy and looks worried. What can you do or say?







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Worksheet

Our Ways to Care!

Instructions for Teacher:

During the "Partner Sharing Circle," as students share how they showed care, write or draw their ideas on this chart. Use simple words and drawings appropriate for Kindergarten students. This chart will be a visual reminder of how to be caring friends.

What We Can Say:

  • "Are you okay?"
  • "I'm here for you."
  • "Let's try together."











What We Can Do:

  • Give a hug.
  • Offer to help.
  • Share a toy.











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