Lesson Plan
Flexibility & Friendships
Jordan will understand the importance of social flexibility and practice strategies to manage competitive feelings and adapt to unexpected changes during peer interactions, improving his ability to maintain friendships.
Developing social-emotional flexibility helps Jordan better navigate peer interactions, reduce frustration, and build stronger, more resilient friendships. This skill is crucial for his overall well-being and success in both social and academic settings.
Audience
6th Grade Student (Jordan)
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through direct instruction, discussion, and a role-play activity, Jordan will learn and practice flexible thinking.
Materials
Whiteboard or large paper, Markers, Scenario Cards (created by teacher), Flexibility & Friendships Slide Deck, Role-Play Scenarios Worksheet, and Reflection Journal
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Flexibility & Friendships Slide Deck and customize as needed.
- Prepare 3-4 Scenario Cards or write scenarios on the whiteboard for the role-play activity, focusing on situations where Jordan might encounter unexpected changes, others making mistakes, or competitive situations.
- Print the Role-Play Scenarios Worksheet and Reflection Journal.
- Ensure a quiet, distraction-free space for the individual session with Jordan.
- Gather markers and a whiteboard/large paper if not using the slide deck.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What is Flexibility?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking Jordan: 'What does it mean to be flexible?' (Physically and mentally).
- Use the first slide of the Flexibility & Friendships Slide Deck to introduce the concept of 'social flexibility' – being able to adjust thoughts and actions when things don't go exactly as planned or when others have different ideas.
- Connect this to real-life examples relevant to Jordan (e.g., a game not going his way, a friend wanting to play something different).
- Teacher Note: Emphasize that flexibility isn't about giving up, but about finding new ways to engage.
Step 2
Understanding the Impact
5 minutes
- Discuss with Jordan how inflexibility can impact friendships and his own feelings.
- Use Slide 2 of the Flexibility & Friendships Slide Deck to prompt a conversation about how getting upset when others make mistakes or when he isn't 'first/right' might make him and his friends feel.
- 'When you focus on what others are doing wrong, how does that make you feel? How do you think it makes your friends feel?'
- Introduce the idea that everyone makes mistakes, and that's how we learn.
- Teacher Note: Validate his feelings of competitiveness but guide him towards understanding its social impact.
Step 3
Strategy Session: Be a Social Chameleon
10 minutes
- Introduce strategies for social flexibility using Slide 3 of the Flexibility & Friendships Slide Deck.
1. Stop, Think, Choose: Before reacting, pause and think about different options.
2. Empathy Check: 'How might my friend be feeling?'
3. Find the 'Good Enough': Not everything has to be perfect or exactly as you want it.
4. Positive Self-Talk: 'I can handle this,' 'It's okay if things change.'
5. Voice It Calmly: Practice saying 'Can we try X instead?' or 'I'm feeling a bit frustrated, let's take a breath.'
- Role-play 1-2 scenarios from the Role-Play Scenarios Worksheet where Jordan practices these strategies. Focus on blurting out and reacting to others' mistakes. Provide immediate feedback and praise for efforts.
- Teacher Note: Start with easier scenarios and gradually increase complexity. Model appropriate responses first.
Step 4
Practice & Reflection
5 minutes
- Present Jordan with one final scenario (or a real-life example he shares) where he can apply the strategies independently.
- Have him complete a short reflection in his Reflection Journal about one strategy he will try to use in class or with friends this week.
- Review the Annual Goal and Short-Term Objectives with Jordan and celebrate his strengths (willingness to help, perseverance, enthusiasm).
- 'Jordan, you are so enthusiastic and helpful. Learning these skills will help you shine even brighter with your friends!'
- Teacher Note: Reiterate that this is a skill that takes practice and that you are there to support him.
Step 5
Cool-Down: My Flexibility Power
5 minutes
- Use the Cool Down: My Flexibility Power activity.
- Ask Jordan to share one thing he learned about social flexibility today and one way he can use his 'flexibility power' this week.
- End on a positive and encouraging note, emphasizing his growth.
Slide Deck
💪 Your Flexibility Superpower! 💪
What does it mean to be flexible?
- In your body?
- In your mind?
Today, we're talking about social flexibility – being able to adjust your thoughts and actions when things don't go exactly as planned or when others have different ideas. It's like being a social chameleon!
Welcome Jordan and start with a friendly check-in. Ask him what he thinks 'flexibility' means, both physically and in his mind. Connect it to bending and stretching, then transition to thinking flexibility. Emphasize that it's a superpower for friendships!
🚫 What Happens When We're Not Flexible?
Think about these moments:
- When a game isn't going your way...
- When a friend wants to play something different...
- When someone makes a mistake in class...
- When you really want to be first, but aren't...
How does it feel inside? How might it make your friends feel?
This slide is for a discussion. Use Jordan's previous experiences as examples (e.g., getting upset when not first, when others make mistakes). Ask open-ended questions to encourage him to reflect on how these situations feel to him and how he thinks they might feel to his friends. Validate his feelings but guide him towards understanding the impact on relationships.
💡 Your Flexibility Toolkit 💡
Here are some awesome tools to help you be a social superstar:
- Stop, Think, Choose: Pause before reacting. What are your options?
- Empathy Check: How might your friend be feeling?
- Find the 'Good Enough': It doesn't have to be perfect for everyone to have fun.
- Positive Self-Talk: "I can handle this!" "It's okay if things change."
- Voice It Calmly: "How about we try...?" or "I'm feeling frustrated, let's take a breath."
Introduce each strategy one by one. For 'Stop, Think, Choose,' explain the pause. For 'Empathy Check,' ask him to imagine himself in his friend's shoes. For 'Find the Good Enough,' discuss how sometimes 'good enough' is great. For 'Positive Self-Talk,' provide examples of what he could say to himself. For 'Voice It Calmly,' practice tone of voice. Emphasize that these are tools he can use. Use the Role-Play Scenarios Worksheet here.
Worksheet
Role-Play Scenarios: Practice Your Flexibility Superpower!
Instructions: Read each scenario. Then, practice using your Flexibility Toolkit (Stop, Think, Choose; Empathy Check; Find the 'Good Enough'; Positive Self-Talk; Voice It Calmly) to respond in a flexible way. We will act these out together!
Scenario 1: Group Project Mix-Up
You and two friends are working on a science project. You have a really clear idea of how to build the model volcano, but your friends have a different idea that they are very excited about. You think their idea won't work as well, and you start to feel frustrated.
- How do you feel?
- What flexibility tool can you use?
- What could you say or do?
Scenario 2: Game Gone Wrong
During recess, you are playing kickball, and your team is doing really well. Suddenly, another student accidentally kicks the ball out of bounds, and the teacher calls it a foul, giving the other team a point. You feel it was unfair and start to get really upset, even though it was an accident.
- How do you feel?
- What flexibility tool can you use?
- What could you say or do?
Scenario 3: Changing Plans
You and your friend planned to spend lunchtime drawing your favorite comic book characters together. You even brought all your special colored pencils. But when you meet up, your friend says, "Hey, I just learned a new card game, do you want to play that instead?" You feel disappointed because you were looking forward to drawing.
- How do you feel?
- What flexibility tool can you use?
- What could you say or do?
Scenario 4: Class Discussion Interruptions
In class, the teacher asks a question, and you know the answer! You're so excited to share, but before the teacher calls on anyone, another student blurts out the correct answer. You feel annoyed and want to tell the other student they shouldn't have done that.
- How do you feel?
- What flexibility tool can you use?
- What could you say or do?
Journal
My Flexibility Journal
Name: Jordan
Date:
🌟 Today's Flexibility Goal:
What is one social situation you want to be more flexible in this week? (e.g., sharing, dealing with changes, group work)
💡 My Favorite Flexibility Tool:
Out of the tools we discussed (Stop, Think, Choose; Empathy Check; Find the 'Good Enough'; Positive Self-Talk; Voice It Calmly), which one do you think will be most helpful for you? Why?
🚀 Putting it into Practice:
Think about a time this week where you could try to use your favorite flexibility tool. Describe the situation and how you plan to use the tool.
✨ My Social Superpower Thought:
Write down one positive thought about being flexible that you can remind yourself of during the week.
Cool Down
Cool Down: My Flexibility Power
Name: Jordan
Date:
-
What is one important thing you learned about social flexibility today?
-
How will you use your "flexibility power" in school or with your friends this week?
-
On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not flexible at all, 5 = super flexible), how flexible do you feel you can be in social situations after today's lesson?
- 1 (Not Flexible)
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 (Super Flexible)
- 1 (Not Flexible)