Lesson Plan
Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great!
Students will work in a group to complete a challenge and name one activity that helps them feel rested and happy.
Learning to cooperate and take care of ourselves are important life skills. This lesson helps young students understand how working together makes things more fun and how taking time to rest makes us feel good.
Audience
Kindergarten
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Hands-on activities and guided discussion.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or chalk, Slide Deck, Building blocks or cups (for tower challenge), Team Tower Challenge Game Instructions, Large paper or poster board, Crayons or colored pencils, and 'Sharpen the Saw' Ideas Poster
Prep
Gather Materials & Review
15 minutes
- Review the Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Gather building blocks or cups for the 'Team Tower Challenge.'
- Print or prepare the large paper/poster board and art supplies for the 'My Happy Place' activity.
- Prepare the projector/whiteboard for the Slide Deck.
Step 1
Team Building Warm-Up Game
10 minutes
The Human Knot (Simplified)
- Objective: To get students working together and laughing.
- Instructions:
- Ask students to stand in a circle.
- Have each student reach across the circle with their right hand and grab the hand of a classmate opposite them.
- Then, have them reach with their left hand and grab the hand of a different classmate.
- The goal is for the class to untangle themselves without letting go of anyone's hands, forming a single circle again.
- Teacher Script: (Refer to Script: Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great!)
Step 2
Group Challenge: Build a Tower
20 minutes
The Great Tower Challenge!
- Objective: Students will cooperate to build the tallest possible tower.
- Instructions:
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
- Give each group a set of building blocks or cups.
- Explain the challenge using the Team Tower Challenge Game Instructions: Each group must work together to build the tallest freestanding tower in 10 minutes.
- Circulate among groups, offering encouragement and observing teamwork.
- After 10 minutes, have each group show their tower.
- Teacher Script: (Refer to Script: Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great!)
Step 3
Discussion: What Made Us a Good Team?
10 minutes
Reflecting on Teamwork
- Objective: Students will identify positive aspects of cooperation.
- Instructions:
- Bring students back together as a whole class.
- Lead a discussion using prompts from the Slide Deck and the Script: Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great!:
- "What was easy about working together?"
- "What was tricky?"
- "What did you do to help your team?"
- "Why is it important to work together?"
- Emphasize key concepts like listening, sharing, and helping.
- Introduce the concept of 'Sharpen the Saw' (taking care of ourselves) as another way to work together by making sure everyone is ready to learn and play.
Step 4
'My Happy Place' Drawing Activity
15 minutes
My Happy Place
- Objective: Students will identify and illustrate an activity that helps them feel rested and happy (self-care).
- Instructions:
- Introduce the concept of 'sharpening the saw' – doing things that make us feel good, rested, and ready to learn.
- Show the class the 'Sharpen the Saw' Ideas Poster for inspiration.
- Give each student a piece of paper and crayons/colored pencils.
- Ask them to draw their 'Happy Place' – an activity they do that helps them feel rested and happy (e.g., reading, playing outside, quiet time, sleeping).
- While students are drawing, circulate and ask individuals about their drawings.
- Teacher Script: (Refer to Script: Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great!)
Step 5
Closing Mindful Moment
5 minutes
Breathe and Be Happy
- Objective: Students will practice a brief mindful moment to conclude the lesson.
- Instructions:
- Ask students to find a comfortable seated position.
- Lead a simple breathing exercise: "Let's take three deep breaths together. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Imagine you're blowing out a candle."
- Remind them that taking quiet moments can help them feel calm and happy.
- Teacher Script: (Refer to Script: Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great!)
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Slide Deck
Welcome! Let's Work Together!
What does it mean to work together?
Welcome students and introduce the idea of working together. Ask them what 'working together' means to them.
Warm-Up: The Human Knot
Hold hands, don't let go!
Untangle yourselves as a team!
Explain the Human Knot warm-up. Ensure students understand the goal is to untangle without letting go.
Challenge Time! Team Tower!
Work with your team.
Build the tallest tower you can!
Use your blocks or cups.
Introduce the Team Tower Challenge. Emphasize teamwork and the goal of building the tallest tower.
Our Team Tower: What Happened?
What was easy?
What was tricky?
How did you help your team?
Why is working together important?
Facilitate a discussion about the challenge. Use these prompts to guide their reflection on teamwork.
Sharpen the Saw: Feel Great!
Just like a saw needs to be sharp,
We need to take care of ourselves!
What makes you feel rested and happy?
Introduce the concept of 'Sharpen the Saw' – taking care of ourselves. Show the 'Sharpen the Saw' Ideas Poster here.
My Happy Place Drawing
Draw an activity that makes you feel rested and happy!
Your special 'Happy Place' activity.
Explain the 'My Happy Place' drawing activity. Encourage them to think about what makes them feel good.
Quiet Time: Breathe and Be Happy
Let's take some quiet breaths.
In through your nose, out through your mouth.
Feeling calm and happy!
Lead the mindful moment. Guide students through deep breaths and reinforce the idea of calming down.
Script
Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great! Script
Slide 1: Welcome! Let's Work Together!
"Good morning, wonderful learners! Look at our exciting title today: 'Let's Work Together, Let's Feel Great!' What do you think that means? What does it mean to 'work together'? (Pause for responses). Yes! It means helping each other, sharing, and being a team! We're going to have a super fun time today learning all about working together and how to feel great!"
Slide 2: Warm-Up: The Human Knot
"To get our brains and bodies ready for teamwork, we're going to play a game called 'The Human Knot'! Everyone, please stand up and form a circle. Now, reach your right hand across the circle and gently hold the hand of a friend. (Help students if needed). Great! Now, with your left hand, reach across and hold the hand of a different friend! (Again, assist as needed)."
"Okay, here's the challenge! Without letting go of anyone's hands, your job is to untangle yourselves to form one big circle again! It might look tricky, but remember, you have to work together, talk to each other, and figure it out as a team. Ready? Go!" (Circulate and offer gentle encouragement. Allow about 8-10 minutes for the activity, or until most groups have untangled or made significant progress).
"Wow! Look at all that teamwork! Give yourselves a big round of applause! That was a fantastic start to our teamwork adventure."
Slide 3: Challenge Time! Team Tower!
"Now that we're warmed up, it's time for our 'Team Tower Challenge'! I'm going to divide you into small groups. (Divide students into groups of 3-4). Each group will get a pile of building blocks or cups. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to work together to build the tallest tower you can in just 10 minutes!"
"Remember the rules for our Team Tower Challenge Game Instructions: You must all work together, share the materials, and help each other. Who thinks their team can build the tallest tower? (Encourage enthusiasm). Let's see! On your marks, get set, BUILD!" (Set a timer for 10 minutes. Circulate, observe, and take notes on examples of teamwork. Offer positive reinforcement.)
"Time's up, tower builders! Everyone, please stop building. Wow! Look at all these amazing towers! Let's give each group a cheer for their hard work!"
Slide 4: Our Team Tower: What Happened?
"Let's talk about our tower challenge. We all worked so hard! I have some questions for you. Think about what happened in your group. You can look at our slide for some ideas to help you think."
"First, what was easy about working together to build your tower? (Pause for responses). Yes, sometimes it's easy to share ideas or pass blocks."
"What was tricky or a little bit hard about working together? (Pause for responses). It's okay if it was tricky sometimes! Maybe you both wanted the same block, or had different ideas. How did you solve those tricky parts?"
"How did you help your team? What did you do to be a good teammate? (Praise specific examples of sharing, listening, offering ideas)."
"And finally, why do you think working together is important? (Connect to making things bigger, better, and more fun). That's right! When we work together, we can do amazing things!"
Slide 5: Sharpen the Saw: Feel Great!
"We just learned how important it is to work together, but there's another super important way we can all 'work together' – and that's by taking care of ourselves! Our slide says 'Sharpen the Saw: Feel Great!' Have you ever seen a saw? A saw needs to be sharp to work well. Just like a saw, we need to take care of ourselves so we can feel strong, happy, and ready to learn and play!"
"What are some things that make you feel rested and happy? (Accept all appropriate responses. Point to the Sharpen the Saw Ideas Poster for more inspiration). See? There are so many ways to 'sharpen our saw'!"
Slide 6: My Happy Place Drawing
"Now, you get to show me your favorite way to 'sharpen the saw'! I'm going to give you a piece of paper, and I want you to draw your 'Happy Place.' Your Happy Place is an activity that makes you feel rested and happy. Maybe it's reading a book, playing quietly with your toys, taking a nap, or playing outside. Think about what makes your body and mind feel good and calm. Then, draw it!" (Distribute paper and crayons. Circulate, asking students about their drawings and encouraging them to explain their 'happy place' activity.)
Slide 7: Quiet Time: Breathe and Be Happy
"Amazing drawings, everyone! It's so good to know what helps us feel great. To end our lesson today, let's have a quick, quiet moment to 'sharpen our saw' right now. Everyone, please sit comfortably. Let's take three slow, deep breaths together. Breathe in through your nose (demonstrate), and out through your mouth, like you're gently blowing out a candle. (Repeat three times)."
"How do you feel after those breaths? (Prompt for calm, relaxed, peaceful). Remember, taking these quiet moments can help you feel calm and happy, ready for whatever comes next. Thank you for being such great teammates and for learning about how to feel great today!"
Game
Team Tower Challenge: Game Instructions!
Goal: Work with your team to build the tallest freestanding tower possible!
Materials:
- Building blocks, plastic cups, or other safe stacking materials
Rules:
- Teams: You will work in small teams of 3-4 students.
- Share Materials: Everyone in the team must share the building materials fairly. No hoarding!
- Work Together: You must talk to your teammates and help each other. Listen to everyone's ideas.
- Hands On: Everyone in the team should try to help build the tower with their hands.
- Freestanding: Your tower must stand up by itself when time is called. No leaning on the wall or other objects!
- Time Limit: You will have 10 minutes to build your tower.
Winning: The team with the tallest tower that can stand on its own at the end of 10 minutes wins the challenge (and bragging rights for great teamwork)!
Remember to:
- Listen to your friends.
- Share your ideas and materials.
- Help each other!
Good luck, team! Let's build some amazing towers!
Activity
'Sharpen the Saw' Ideas Poster
How Do YOU Feel Happy and Rested?
Taking care of ourselves is like sharpening a saw – it helps us be our best!
Ideas for Feeling Great!
- Read a favorite book
- Draw or color
- Play quietly with toys
- Listen to calming music
- Take a nap or rest
- Go for a walk outside
- Talk to a grown-up about feelings
- Cuddle with a pet or stuffed animal
- Drink some water
- Eat a healthy snack
What's your 'Happy Place' activity?
Journal
My Happy Place Journal
What makes you feel rested and happy?
Just like we learned today, taking care of ourselves helps us feel great and ready to learn and play! This is like 'sharpening our saw'.
Think about what you do that makes you feel peaceful, rested, or super happy. This is your 'Happy Place' activity!
Draw your 'Happy Place' activity in the space below. You can also try to write some words about it!
My Happy Place activity is:
It makes me feel: