Lesson Plan
Game On! Social Skills Lesson Plan
In this 60-minute lesson, students will engage in interactive games to practice communication, cooperation, and empathy. Through warm-up chats, relay challenges, team-building tasks, and role-play, they will build essential social skills and reflect on personal strengths.
Social skills are vital for positive peer relationships and academic success. This lesson fosters communication clarity, teamwork, and empathetic understanding, equipping sixth graders with strategies to navigate social interactions and build a supportive classroom community.
Audience
6th Grade Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive games and guided reflections
Materials
- Social Skills Warm-Up Cards, - Communication Relay Instruction Sheet, - Cooperation Chain Game Pack, - Empathy Role-Play Scenario Sheets, - Reflection Prompt Sheets, and - Classroom Timer
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Print enough sets of Social Skills Warm-Up Cards for pairs.
- Print and cut the Communication Relay Instruction Sheet into prompt cards.
- Assemble the Cooperation Chain Game Pack with rope or yarn and small objects.
- Print Empathy Role-Play Scenario Sheets for each student pair.
- Print Reflection Prompt Sheets for the cool-down.
- Arrange desks to allow open floor space for activities.
- Review the Game On! Social Skills Lesson Plan to familiarize yourself with each activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Speed Chat
10 minutes
- Arrange students in two concentric circles facing a partner.
- Distribute Social Skills Warm-Up Cards to each pair.
- Instruct pairs to discuss each prompt for 1 minute, focusing on eye contact and listening.
- After each minute, have the inner circle rotate one spot and take the next card.
- Debrief: Ask volunteers to share insights from their conversations.
Step 2
Game 1: Communication Relay
15 minutes
- Divide the class into teams of four, lining up at one end of the room.
- Give the first student in each line a prompt from the Communication Relay Instruction Sheet.
- Student whispers the message down the line; the last student announces it aloud.
- Award points for accuracy and clarity.
- Discuss: Highlight how details can be lost and strategies to improve clarity.
Step 3
Game 2: Cooperation Chain
15 minutes
- Keep students in their teams; provide each group with a length of rope from the Cooperation Chain Game Pack.
- Place a set of small objects at one end of the room; teams must transport them across using only the rope—no hands allowed.
- Encourage planning, role assignment, and collaborative problem-solving.
- After time is up, have each group explain their strategy and challenges.
Step 4
Game 3: Empathy Role-Play
15 minutes
- Pair students and give each pair a scenario from the Empathy Role-Play Scenario Sheets.
- One student describes the scenario (“sender”), the other responds using empathetic language (e.g., “I understand you feel…”).
- After 5 minutes, have them switch roles with a new scenario.
- Facilitate a brief share-out on how it felt to give and receive empathy.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Reflection Circle
5 minutes
- Gather students in a seated circle.
- Distribute Reflection Prompt Sheets.
- Ask students to choose one prompt (e.g., “Describe a moment you cooperated well today”).
- Invite volunteers to share their reflections with the class.
- Summarize the skills practiced and encourage each student to set one social goal for the week.
Slide Deck
Game On! Social Skills
Engaging Classroom Games for Communication • Cooperation • Empathy
Welcome everyone! Today we’ll play a series of fun, interactive games that help build key social skills: communication, cooperation, and empathy. Read the slide out loud and introduce yourself.
Objectives
• Practice clear and respectful communication
• Build teamwork and collaborative problem-solving
• Experience giving and receiving empathy
Explain each objective briefly, connecting them to real-life scenarios (group projects, making new friends).
Agenda & Timing
• Warm-Up: Speed Chat (10 min)
• Game 1: Communication Relay (15 min)
• Game 2: Cooperation Chain (15 min)
• Game 3: Empathy Role-Play (15 min)
• Cool-Down: Reflection Circle (5 min)
Walk through the schedule so students know what’s coming and how long each activity will take.
Materials Needed
Show the required materials. Confirm you have printed and prepared everything before class.
Warm-Up: Speed Chat
- Arrange two concentric circles, facing a partner.
- Distribute one Warm-Up Card per pair.
- Discuss each prompt for 1 minute, then rotate inner circle.
- Debrief: Invite volunteers to share insights.
Describe the Speed Chat rules: students talk for one minute per prompt, then rotate. Emphasize eye contact and listening.
Game 1: Communication Relay
- Form teams of four in lines.
- First student reads a prompt from the Instruction Sheet.
- Whisper message down the line; last student announces it.
- Award points for clarity and accuracy.
- Discuss common pitfalls and tips to improve detail.
Have teams of four ready in lines. Demonstrate whispering technique and remind them to listen carefully.
Game 2: Cooperation Chain
- Keep same teams; give each group rope from the Game Pack.
- Place small objects at one end; transport them using only the rope (no hands).
- Focus on roles, timing, and strategy.
- After time’s up, each team shares their approach and challenges.
Show an example of moving an object using rope. Encourage planning before they start.
Game 3: Empathy Role-Play
- Pair up and hand out a scenario from Scenario Sheets.
- ‘Sender’ describes feelings; ‘Responder’ uses empathetic language.
- After 5 minutes, switch roles with a new scenario.
- Share how it felt to give and receive empathy.
Explain empathetic phrases on the board ("I understand you feel…"). Model a quick role-play.
Cool-Down: Reflection Circle
- Sit in a circle and distribute Reflection Prompts.
- Choose one prompt (e.g., “When did you cooperate well?”).
- Volunteers share their thoughts.
- Teacher summarizes key takeaways.
Gather students in a circle. Remind them this is a calm reflection time—no interruptions.
Set Your Social Goal
• Reflect on today’s skills
• Choose one goal (communication, cooperation, or empathy)
• Write it down and share if comfortable
Encourage each student to pick one social goal (e.g., "I will listen without interrupting") and write it down.
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
• Great job today!
• Try your goal during class and at home.
• We’ll revisit progress next week.
Thank students for participation and remind them to practice their social goal during the week. Dismiss class.
Worksheet
Communication Relay Instruction Sheet
Print and cut each of the following messages into individual cards. During the Communication Relay game, the first student in line receives one card, whispers the message down the line, and the last student announces what they heard.
Messages (increasing complexity):
- The cat sat on the red mat.
- My favorite snack is crunchy apples and peanut butter.
- Samantha saw seven squiggly snakes sleeping silently.
- The bright yellow school bus stopped at the corner near the library.
- Penguins waddle quickly across slippery ice toward the ocean.
- Tall pine trees rustle softly under the starry night sky.
- A friendly dolphin danced alongside the colorful coral reef at dawn.
- On Sundays, we bake chocolate chip cookies and share them with neighbors.
- Yesterday, my sister lost her shiny blue bracelet at the park.
- During recess, students play tag, jump rope, and kick soccer balls on the field.
Cut along the lines and shuffle before the game begins to mix up the prompts.
Worksheet
Cooperation Chain Game Pack
This game pack provides everything you need to run the Cooperation Chain challenge, where teams transport objects using only a shared rope—no hands allowed!
Materials (per team of 4):
- 1 length of rope or sturdy cord (approximately 6–8 feet long)
- 5–10 small objects (e.g., plastic cups, beanbags, pom-poms, small blocks)
- 2 cones or markers to designate Start and Finish lines
- (Optional) Blindfolds for an added twist
Setup Instructions
- Mark a Start Line and Finish Line about 10–15 feet apart using cones or floor tape.
- Place the small objects in a pile at the Start Line.
- Give each team one length of rope; have students stand around the rope so they each hold a segment.
- Explain the rule: No one may touch the objects with their hands—teams must lift, cradle, or slide the objects using only the rope.
Game Play
- On “Go!”, teams work together to transport as many objects as possible from the Start to the Finish within the time limit (suggested: 3 minutes).
- Encourage teams to plan roles and practice communication before moving objects.
- If an object drops, the team must return it to the Start Line before continuing.
- When time is up, count how many objects each team successfully transported.
Debrief & Reflection Prompts
- What strategy did your team use to lift and move objects?
- How did communication help or hinder your team’s success?
- What would you do differently next time to improve cooperation?
Worksheet
Empathy Role-Play Scenario Sheets
Cut each scenario apart. In your pairs, one student plays the Sender, describing the situation and how they feel. The other plays the Responder, practicing empathetic language (e.g., “I understand you feel…,” “That must be hard because…”). After 5 minutes, switch roles with a new scenario.
Scenario 1:
Your friend just found out they didn’t make the sports team they’ve been trying out for and feels disappointed.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Scenario 2:
A classmate missed the bus this morning and is worried they will be late for an important presentation.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Scenario 3:
Your partner is nervous about an upcoming test because they didn’t have enough time to study.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Scenario 4:
A friend’s pet is sick, and they are feeling sad and anxious about what will happen.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Scenario 5:
Someone in your group project was left out of a decision and feels excluded.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Scenario 6:
A new student is sitting alone at lunch and looks lonely and unsure how to join in.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Scenario 7:
Your sibling got in trouble at home and feels embarrassed to talk about what happened.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Scenario 8:
A teammate made a mistake during the game and is upset they let the team down.
Responder’s empathetic response:
Worksheet
Reflection Prompt Sheets
Use these prompts to think about today’s activities and set a goal for your social growth. Choose one prompt and write your response below.
- Which game (Communication Relay, Cooperation Chain, or Empathy Role-Play) taught you the most about social skills? Explain why.
- Recall a moment today when you practiced empathy. What did you say or do, and how did it feel?
- Describe one way you cooperated with your team. What made that cooperation effective?
- How will you use one social skill you learned today (communication, cooperation, or empathy) outside of class? Give a specific example.
- Write a social goal for this week (for example, listening without interrupting or inviting someone new to join). Then describe one step you will take to achieve it.
Worksheet
Social Skills Warm-Up Cards
Use these prompt cards in pairs to practice active listening, eye contact, and thoughtful responses. Each pair picks a card, discusses the prompt for 1 minute, then rotates.
Cards: