Kindness Connects Script

Warm-Up: What Makes a Good Friend? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important that helps us get along with everyone around us: social skills! To start, I want you to think about what makes a really good friend. What are some things your best friends do that make them so great to be around? Turn to a partner and share your ideas for about two minutes."

(Allow students to discuss in pairs. Circulate and listen to their ideas.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's hear some of your amazing ideas! Who wants to share one thing that makes a good friend?"

(Call on a few students. Affirm their responses and connect them to social skills, e.g., "That's a great one! Being a good listener is definitely important.")

Introduction to Social Skills (5 minutes)

Teacher: "You've all pointed out some fantastic qualities! Many of those qualities are actually 'social skills.' Think of social skills like special tools that help us play, learn, and talk with others. Just like a builder uses tools to build a house, we use social skills to build strong friendships and a happy classroom."

(Display Kindness Connects Slide Deck - Slide 3: What Are Social Skills?)

Teacher: "Look at our slide. Social skills help us make friends, work in groups, understand feelings, and even solve problems! Can anyone think of a social skill they already use every day, maybe without even realizing it?"

(Allow a few students to share. Prompt if needed: "How about saying 'please' or 'thank you'? That's a social skill!")

Exploring Key Social Skills (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Today, we're going to focus on three powerful social skills that will help you become an even better friend and classmate. Our first skill is Active Listening."

(Display Kindness Connects Slide Deck - Slide 4: Skill 1: Active Listening)

Teacher: "When someone is talking, do you really hear them? Active listening means you're not just hearing words, but you're showing the person you care about what they're saying. It means looking at the speaker, nodding sometimes, not interrupting, and even asking questions to understand better. Why do you think active listening is so important? What happens if you don't actively listen?"

(Discuss student responses.)

Teacher: "Our second skill is Empathy. This is a big word, but it means something really important: understanding how someone else feels, and even trying to imagine yourself in their shoes."

(Display Kindness Connects Slide Deck - Slide 5: Skill 2: Empathy)

Teacher: "When your friend is sad because they lost their favorite toy, do you feel a little sad too? That's empathy! It's about connecting with others' feelings. How can showing empathy make a situation better for someone who is upset or happy?"

(Discuss student responses.)

Teacher: "And our third super skill is Clear Communication. This means saying what you mean in a way that others can easily understand."

(Display Kindness Connects Slide Deck - Slide 6: Skill 3: Clear Communication)

Teacher: "Clear communication means using a clear and respectful voice, explaining your thoughts simply, and making sure the other person understands you. Think about giving directions or explaining a game. What happens if your communication isn't clear?"

(Discuss student responses.)

Activity: Social Skills Scenario Role-Play (8 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's time to put these skills into practice! I have some Social Skills Scenario Cards here. I'm going to put you into pairs or small groups. Each group will pick one card and role-play the situation. When you role-play, really focus on using active listening, empathy, and clear communication. After a few minutes, we'll share with the class how you used your skills."

(Distribute Social Skills Scenario Cards and allow students to role-play. Circulate, observe, and offer guidance.)

Teacher: "Let's come back together. Who would like to share their scenario and how they used one of our social skills?"

(Call on a few groups to share. Provide positive reinforcement and constructive feedback.)

Cool-Down: Share One Thing (2 minutes)

Teacher: "Fantastic job, everyone! To wrap up our lesson on social skills, I'd like you to take a moment to complete this Social Skills Practice Worksheet. It will help you think about what we learned."

(Distribute Social Skills Practice Worksheet. Give them about a minute to jot down their thoughts.)

Teacher: "Now, as an exit ticket, please complete the Social Skills Cool Down. Just like you're leaving the classroom, you'll be leaving your answer on your way out!"

*(Collect Social Skills Practice Worksheet and Social Skills Cool Down.)

Teacher: "You all did wonderfully today. Remember, practicing these social skills every day will help you make more friends and have even more fun at school and at home! Keep practicing your superpowers!"

Social Skills Scenario Cards

Instructions: Work with a partner or in a small group. Choose a scenario card and role-play the situation. Focus on using Active Listening, Empathy, and Clear Communication during your role-play.

Scenario 1: Sharing Toys

You and your friend both want to play with the same toy. Your friend grabs it first and says, "I had it!"

• How can you use active listening to understand your friend?
• How can you show empathy for their feelings?
• How can you clearly communicate your desire to play with the toy too?

Scenario 2: A Sad Friend

Your friend looks sad and is sitting alone during recess. They usually play with everyone.

• How can you use active listening to find out what's wrong?
• How can you show empathy to make them feel better?
• How can you clearly communicate that you care and want to help?

Scenario 3: Group Project Idea

You are working on a group project, and you have an idea, but another group member keeps talking over you and sharing their own ideas.

• How can you use active listening to hear their ideas first?
• How can you show empathy for their excitement while still wanting to share?
• How can you clearly communicate your idea respectfully, without interrupting?

Scenario 4: Accidental Bump

You accidentally bump into someone in the hallway, and they drop their books. They look annoyed.

• How can you use active listening to hear if they say anything?
• How can you show empathy for their spilled books and frustration?
• How can you clearly communicate an apology and offer to help?

Scenario 5: Explaining a Game

You are trying to teach a new friend how to play your favorite game, but they seem confused.

• How can you use active listening to understand what parts they don't get?
• How can you show empathy for their confusion or possible embarrassment?
• How can you clearly communicate the rules in a simpler way, step-by-step?

Social Skills Practice Worksheet

Name: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

Part 1: Matching Social Skills

Match the social skill to its description by drawing a line between them.

1. Active Listening a. Understanding how someone else feels
2. Empathy b. Looking at the speaker and not interrupting
3. Clear Communication c. Saying what you mean so others understand

Part 2: How Would You Use Your Skills?

Read each situation and write down how you would use one of the social skills we learned today.

1. Situation: Your classmate is telling you a long story about their weekend, and you really want to tell them about yours.

   • Which skill would you use? _____________________________
   • How would you use it?
     
     
     
     
     
     

2. Situation: You see a friend crying because they fell and scraped their knee.

   • Which skill would you use? _____________________________
   • How would you use it?
     
     
     
     
     
     

3. Situation: You are trying to explain the rules of a new game to your friends, but they keep looking confused.

   • Which skill would you use? _____________________________
   • How would you use it?
     
     
     
     
     
     

Part 3: My Social Skill Goal

What is one social skill you want to practice more this week? (Circle one)

• Active Listening
• Empathy
• Clear Communication

Why is this skill important to you?

Social Skills Cool Down

Name: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

One Last Thought!

Before you go, please answer one of the questions below. Think about what we discussed and what you practiced today!

Choose ONE question to answer:

1. What is one new thing you learned today about how to connect with others?

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one social skill you are excited to try using more often?

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Why do you think having good social skills is important in school?