Lesson Plan
Hands To Yourself Lesson Plan
Students will learn why keeping their hands to themselves matters and practice self-control through discussion, role-play, and a worksheet to build respectful friendships.
This lesson helps first graders understand personal boundaries, fostering a safe classroom and positive peer relationships. It supports social-emotional growth and reduces unwanted physical interactions.
Audience
1st Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, games, and hands-on practice
Materials
- Hands To Yourself Slide Deck, - Hands To Yourself Scenario Cards, - Hands To Yourself Worksheet, - Chart Paper and Markers, and - Timer or Stopwatch
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print or load the Hands To Yourself Slide Deck.
- Print and cut apart the Hands To Yourself Scenario Cards.
- Make enough copies of the Hands To Yourself Worksheet for each student.
- Set up chart paper with a heading “Why Keep Your Hands to Yourself?” and have markers ready.
- Test your timer or stopwatch to ensure it works for timed activities.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Feelings Freeze
5 minutes
- Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
- Explain: “When I say ‘Freeze,’ show me a facial expression that matches how you feel when someone respects your space.”
- Practice: Call ‘Freeze!’ multiple times; students hold their expression until you say ‘Melt.’
- Debrief: Ask how it felt to have space respected.
Step 2
Introduction: Hands To Yourself Discussion
5 minutes
- Display slide 2 of the Hands To Yourself Slide Deck.
- Ask: “What does it mean to keep our hands to ourselves?”
- Chart responses under the heading on chart paper.
- Highlight key ideas: respect, safety, friendship.
Step 3
Activity: Role-Play Game
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups of 3–4.
- Give each group a Hands To Yourself Scenario Cards card.
- Instruct students to read their scenario, decide how to keep hands to themselves, and act it out.
- Use the timer: 2 minutes per group to practice, then groups perform for class.
- After each performance, classmates give a thumbs-up if they saw respectful behavior.
Step 4
Worksheet: Reflect & Reinforce
5 minutes
- Hand out the Hands To Yourself Worksheet.
- Students draw one thing they learned and write a sentence about why it’s important.
- Circulate to support writing and check understanding.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Positive Pledge
5 minutes
- Bring the class back to the circle.
- Ask students to put a hand on their heart and repeat: “I will keep my hands to myself to show respect and care.”
- End with a group clap to celebrate their commitment.
Slide Deck
Hands To Yourself!
Why respecting personal space matters.
Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Say: “Today we’re going to learn why we keep our hands to ourselves to show respect, stay safe, and be kind friends.” Show excitement and set the tone.
Warm-Up: Feelings Freeze
• Gather in a circle.
• When you hear “Freeze,” make a face that shows how you feel when someone respects your space.
• Hold until you hear “Melt.”
• Share how it felt.
Explain the warm-up. Say: “When I say ‘Freeze,’ show me a facial expression that matches how you feel when someone respects your space. Hold it until I say ‘Melt.’” Run 3–4 rounds, then ask: “How did it feel to have your space respected?”
Discussion: What Does It Mean?
• Why do we keep our hands to ourselves?
• Turn and talk with a friend.
• Share your ideas.
Display this slide and ask: “What does it mean to keep our hands to ourselves?” Call on volunteers. Chart their ideas on paper under “Why Keep Your Hands to Yourself?”
Why Keep Your Hands to Yourself?
• Respect each other
• Stay safe
• Build friendship
Point to each bullet and explain:
• Respect: Treat others how you want to be treated.
• Safety: Keeping hands to yourself helps everyone feel safe.
• Friendship: Good friends earn trust by respecting space.
Activity: Role-Play Game
- Get into groups of 3–4.
- Take a scenario card.
- Decide how to keep your hands to yourselves.
- Practice (2 min), then act it out.
- Class gives thumbs-up for good behavior.
Explain the Role-Play Game:
- Form groups of 3–4.
- Each group gets a scenario card.
- Practice for 2 minutes how to keep hands to yourselves.
- Perform for the class. Class gives thumbs-up for respectful actions.
Worksheet: Reflect & Reinforce
• Draw one thing you learned.
• Write a sentence explaining why it’s important.
Hand out the worksheet. Say: “Draw one thing you learned today. Then write a sentence about why keeping your hands to yourself is important.” Circulate to help with drawing or writing.
Cool-Down: Positive Pledge
“I will keep my hands to myself to show respect and care.”
(Hand on heart + group clap)
Gather students back in a circle. Lead them in the pledge: “I will keep my hands to myself to show respect and care.” Model putting a hand on your heart. End with a group clap.
Warm Up
Warm-Up: Feelings Freeze
Time: 5 minutes
Teacher Notes:
Gather students on the carpet and set a playful tone. Explain that today we’ll notice how it feels when someone respects our personal space.
Instructions:
- Have students sit or stand in a circle.
- Explain: “When I say ‘Freeze,’ make a facial expression that shows how you feel when someone keeps their hands to themselves (happy, calm, safe). Hold your face until I say ‘Melt.’”
- Lead 3–4 rounds, varying the pace of “Freeze” and “Melt.”
- After the final round, ask:
- “How did it feel when your space was respected?”
- Invite 2–3 students to share their feelings.
Objective: Help students connect respectful behavior with positive feelings and prepare them for the lesson ahead.
- “How did it feel when your space was respected?”
Activity
Activity: Hands To Yourself Role-Play
Time: 10 minutes
Materials:
- Hands To Yourself Scenario Cards
- Timer or stopwatch
Teacher Notes:
Students will practice keeping their hands to themselves in realistic situations. This helps them build self-control, see how respecting space looks, and learn from peers.
Instructions:
- Form Groups: Arrange students into small groups of 3–4.
- Distribute Cards: Give each group one scenario card from the Hands To Yourself Scenario Cards set.
- Read & Plan: In their groups, students read their scenario aloud. Prompt them: “What choice can we make to keep our hands to ourselves here?”
- Assign Roles & Practice: Have students assign parts (e.g., the person respecting space, the friend, the observer) and practice silently for 2 minutes.
- Perform: One at a time, each group presents their role-play to the class (about 1–2 minutes each).
- Feedback: After each performance, classmates give a thumbs-up if they saw respectful behavior. As the teacher, highlight one or two specific examples (“I noticed you kept your hands in your lap when you asked for a turn!”).
Follow-Up Questions:
- “How did it feel to keep your hands to yourself?”
- “What helped you remember to respect personal space?”
- “Why is it important that we all make that choice?”
Goal: Reinforce self-control and show that keeping our hands to ourselves helps everyone feel safe and respected.
Worksheet
Hands To Yourself Worksheet
Name: ____________________________ Date: ________________
1. Draw It!
Draw one way you can keep your hands to yourself.
2. Write About It
Write one sentence explaining why keeping your hands to yourself is important.
3. Choose the Best Answer
Circle the word that makes each sentence correct:
- Keeping my hands to myself makes my friends feel ( happy / sad )
- I show respect by ( listening / pushing )
4. My Positive Pledge
I will keep my hands to myself to show ____________________________.
Cool Down
Cool-Down: Positive Pledge
Time: 5 minutes
Objective:
Reinforce students’ commitment to keeping their hands to themselves and reflect on how they’ll use self-control in real-life situations.
Teacher Notes:
- Gather students back in a circle with calm energy.
- Emphasize that this pledge shows they’re ready to respect personal space every day.
Instructions:
- Hand on Heart: Invite students to place a hand on their heart and look around at their classmates.
- Repeat the Pledge: Lead the class in saying together:
“I will keep my hands to myself to show respect and care.” - Partner Reflection: Turn to a neighbor and answer:
- “When will you remember to keep your hands to yourself?”
- “How will keeping your hands to yourself help you and your friends?”
- Share Out: Invite 2–3 students to share their reflections with the class.
- Group Clap: End with a big group clap to celebrate their promise.
Reflection Prompts:
- “What does our pledge mean for how we treat each other?”
- “How will you show respect when someone’s space is important?”
Activity
Hands To Yourself Scenario Cards
Print and cut apart these cards. In your group, read the scenario and discuss:
• What challenge do you face?
• How can you keep your hands to yourself?
• How will you show respect?
Scenario 1
Recess: You see a friend swinging on the swing you want. You really want to touch the swing to get their attention.
Scenario 2
Art Time: Your classmate has the blue marker you need. You’re tempted to grab it from their hand.
Scenario 3
Line-Up: You accidentally bump the student in front of you because you’re standing too close.
Scenario 4
Snack Time: Your friend is holding a cookie you want. You feel like reaching over to take it.
Scenario 5
Story Time: You want to point at the picture in a book on your neighbor’s lap and almost tap their shoulder.
Scenario 6
Partner Reading: Your partner’s book looks more interesting, and you want to slide it closer to you.
Scenario 7
Block Area: Your friend is holding the red block you need for your tower. You think about pushing their hand.
Scenario 8
Gym Time: The ball rolls away and lands near another student. You want to kick it away from them so you can grab it.
Follow-Up Prompt
Role-play how you would handle your scenario by keeping your hands to yourself and using your words instead.