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Let's Play Together!

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Lesson Plan

Let's Play Together!

Students will learn three ways to initiate social interaction during play: inviting someone to play, joining play, and sharing toys. They will practice these skills using visual aids and role-playing.

Initiating play helps children make friends, feel included, and develop essential communication and social skills. This lesson provides concrete strategies for autistic kindergarten students to confidently engage with peers.

Audience

Autistic Kindergarten Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, visual aids, and structured play practice.

Materials

Small selection of toys (e.g., blocks, cars, dolls), Social Play Visual Aid, Play Invitation Script, Joining Play Script, Sharing Toys Script, and Practice Scenarios Worksheet

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Hook (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the idea of playing with friends. Ask: "Who likes to play? Who likes to play with friends?"
  • Explain that sometimes it can be tricky to start playing with others, and today we will learn some easy ways to do it.
  • Introduce the Social Play Visual Aid and briefly review the three ways to initiate play: "Invite Someone to Play," "Join Play," and "Share a Toy."

Step 2

Teach: Invite Someone to Play (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  • Focus on the "Invite Someone to Play" section of the Social Play Visual Aid.
  • Model how to invite a friend: "Hi [Friend's Name], want to play with [toy name]?" or "Do you want to build with blocks with me?"
  • Use the Play Invitation Script for clear wording.
  • Guided Practice: Have students practice inviting you or another peer to play. Provide positive reinforcement and gentle corrections. Use the toys to make it concrete.

Step 3

Teach: Join Play (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  • Move to the "Join Play" section of the Social Play Visual Aid.
  • Explain that sometimes friends are already playing, and it's okay to ask to join.
  • Model how to join: "Can I play too?" or "What are you playing? Can I help?"
  • Use the Joining Play Script for clear wording.
  • Guided Practice: Set up a pretend play scenario. Have students practice asking to join. Emphasize looking at the play first to understand what's happening.

Step 4

Teach: Share a Toy (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  • Introduce the "Share a Toy" section of the Social Play Visual Aid.
  • Explain that sharing a toy can be a great way to start playing together.
  • Model how to offer a toy: "Do you want to play with this car?" or "I have two blocks, do you want one?"
  • Use the Sharing Toys Script for clear wording.
  • Guided Practice: Provide toys and have students practice offering to share with you or a peer. Discuss taking turns.

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Review (4 minutes)

4 minutes

  • Review the three ways to initiate play using the Social Play Visual Aid.
  • Praise students for their participation and effort.
  • Encourage them to try these new skills during free play time.
  • Distribute the Practice Scenarios Worksheet for optional reinforcement.
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Slide Deck

Let's Play Together!

Playing with friends is super fun! 😊
Today we will learn how to start playing with others!

Welcome students. Ask them about their favorite games. Introduce the idea that playing with friends is fun and we'll learn how to start playing together.

How Do We Start Playing?

It can be tricky to start!
But we have some ideas! 👇

Explain that sometimes it's hard to know how to start. We will learn three easy ways!

1. Invite Someone to Play!

Use your words to ask a friend to play with you.

  • "Want to play with cars?"
  • "Let's build a tower!"

Introduce the first way: Inviting someone. Emphasize using words.

2. Join In!

See friends playing? You can ask to join!

  • Watch first to see what they are doing.
  • Then ask: "Can I play too?"

Explain the second way: Joining play. Emphasize watching first.

3. Share a Toy!

Offer a toy to a friend.

  • "Do you want to play with this block?"
  • "Here's a crayon for you!"

Introduce the third way: Sharing a toy. Explain it's a kind way to start.

Let's Review!

Remember these three ways:

  1. Invite a friend
  2. Join their play
  3. Share a toy

You can do it! ✨

Quick review of all three methods. Encourage them to try these new skills.

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Activity

How to Start Playing!

1. Invite Someone to Play!

  • "Want to play with cars?"
  • "Let's build a tower!"




2. Join In!

  • Watch first 👀
  • Then ask: "Can I play too?"
  • Or: "What are you playing?"




3. Share a Toy!

  • "Do you want this block?"
  • "Here's a crayon for you!"




(Include simple, clear icons for each step)

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Script

Inviting Someone to Play Script

Teacher: "(Name of student), let's practice inviting (Name of peer/teacher) to play. Remember to look at them and use a clear voice."

Student (practicing): "Hi (Friend's Name), do you want to play with the blocks with me?"

Teacher: (Providing feedback) "Great job! That was a clear invitation!" or "Almost! Remember to look at your friend when you ask."

Student (practicing): "Hey (Friend's Name), want to build a tall tower together?"

Teacher: (Providing feedback) "Perfect! You used a friendly voice!"




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Script

Joining Play Script

Teacher: "(Name of student), now let's practice joining play. Imagine (Name of peer/teacher) is playing with the cars."

Teacher: (To the student) "First, watch what they are doing. What do you see?"

Student (observing): (Might point or say) "Cars!"

Teacher: "Good! Now, how can you ask to play?"

Student (practicing): "Can I play cars too?"

Teacher: (Providing feedback) "Excellent! You asked politely!" or "Good try! Remember to wait for a pause in their play before asking."

Student (practicing): "What are you building? Can I help you with that?"

Teacher: (Providing feedback) "Wonderful! Asking about their play first is a great idea!"




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Script

Sharing Toys Script

Teacher: "(Name of student), let's practice sharing a toy to start playing. You have a few blocks, and (Name of peer/teacher) doesn't have any."

Teacher: (To the student) "How can you offer a block to (Name of peer/teacher)?"

Student (practicing): "Do you want this block?"

Teacher: (Providing feedback) "Fantastic! That's a kind way to share!" or "Good! Make sure you hold it out for them to take."

Student (practicing): "Here's a red car for you to play with!"

Teacher: (Providing feedback) "Perfect! Offering a specific toy is very helpful!"




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Worksheet

Let's Practice Playing! 🎨

(Draw a line from the picture to the right way to start playing!)

Scenario 1: A friend is playing with a dollhouse by themselves.

Picture of a child playing alone with a dollhouse.




  • A. "Can I play dollhouse too?"
  • B. Take a doll and start playing.




Scenario 2: You have two toy trucks, and a friend is sitting nearby.

Picture of a child with two trucks, another child looking on.




  • A. Keep both trucks to yourself.
  • B. "Do you want to play with this truck?"




Scenario 3: You want to play with blocks, and a friend is looking at them.

Picture of a child next to blocks, another child watching.




  • A. "Want to build with blocks with me?"
  • B. Start building by yourself.




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