Students will learn and practice sharing, kindness, and responsibility through discussion, role-play, and a commitment chart, building foundational citizenship skills.
Cultivating empathy and responsibility in Kindergarten fosters a positive classroom climate, strengthens peer relationships, and empowers young learners to make thoughtful contributions in school and beyond.
Kindergarten
15 minutes
Interactive stories, role-play, and chart reflections.
5 minutes
2 minutes
4 minutes
5 minutes
4 minutes
Being Good Citizens in Our Classroom and Community!
Welcome students and introduce today’s topic. Use a puppet to say: “Today we are going to learn how to be good citizens by sharing, being kind, and taking responsibility. Let’s become Little Citizens with Big Impact!”
• Think about what makes a good friend or classmate.
• Turn and talk with a partner.
• Be ready to share one idea!
Ask students to turn to a partner and discuss what makes a good friend or classmate. After 30 seconds, call on volunteers to share ideas. Record key words on the board.
Maya and James both want the shiny red truck at the same time. What could they do to share and be kind?
Display the Sharing Scenario Cards. Read the scenario aloud. Ask: “How would you solve this problem? How can they share?” Highlight words: share, wait, take turns, kind.
Invite students to form pairs, choose a scenario card and puppet friends, then act out their scenario. Circulate, prompt with questions like “Can you show me kind words?” and praise examples of sharing.
Think about one way you will be a good citizen today. Place a sticker on the chart to show your promise.
Point to the Responsibility Sticker Chart. Ask each student: “How will you be a good citizen today?” Invite them to name one way and place a sticker on the chart.
You are sharing, being kind, and taking responsibility. Keep up the great work every day!
Praise the class for their ideas and participation. Remind them to practice sharing, kindness, and responsibility all day. End with a round of applause!
Cut out each card along the dotted line. Read each scenario, then draw or write one way the friends could share or take turns.
Instructions: When you show good citizenship by sharing, being kind, or helping, write your promise in the chart and place a sticker in the “Sticker” column next to your name.
| Name | My Promise (How I’ll Be a Good Citizen Today) | Sticker |
|---|---|---|
Teacher (holding a puppet): “Hello, Little Citizens! Meet Coco the Classroom Cat. Coco wants to learn how to be a great friend just like you. Today, we’re going to learn how to be good citizens by sharing, being kind, and taking responsibility.
Teacher: “What does being a good friend or classmate look like? Think with me: maybe it’s sharing a toy, using kind words, or helping someone who falls down. Who has an idea?”
Wait for hands.
Teacher (as students share): “I heard ’sharing toys,’ ’smiling at friends,’ and ’helping pick up papers.’ Those are wonderful! Great thinking, everyone.”
Teacher (click to slide): “Now let’s turn and talk with our neighbor for 30 seconds. Tell them your best idea of being a good friend or classmate.”
Set timer for 30 seconds.
Teacher: “Okay, let’s share out! Maya, what did you talk about?”
Student: “I said saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’”
Teacher: “Yes, polite words are kind words! Thank you, Maya.”
Teacher: “Who else? Carlos?”
Student: “Helping someone who is sad.”
Teacher: “That’s caring. Excellent!”
Teacher (displaying a card from the Sharing Scenario Cards): “Here’s our first story. Maya and James both want the shiny red truck at the same time. What could they do to share and be kind?”
Teacher: “I’ll call on some helpers. First, what’s one idea?”
Student: “They could take turns pushing it.”
Teacher: “Yes! Taking turns is sharing. Who has another idea?”
Student: “They can count to thirty while one plays, then switch.”
Teacher: “Brilliant! Counting helps us be fair. We use sharing, kind words, and patience.”
Teacher (pointing to the screen): “See the words share, kind, and help? Those are our good-citizen words.”
Teacher: “Let’s practice being good citizens. First, find a partner. Then pick one scenario from the Sharing Scenario Cards and two Puppet Friends.”
Teacher: “You’ll act out the story, showing how to share, use kind words, or help each other. You have two minutes to plan and practice.”
Circulate around groups
Teacher (to Group A): “Can you show me how you ask kindly for a turn?”
Teacher: “Great job waiting patiently!”
Teacher (after 2 minutes): “Time’s up! Let’s watch one or two groups.”
Invite a pair to perform.
Teacher: “Thank you for showing sharing and kind words! Clap for them!”
Teacher (back on carpet, pointing to the Responsibility Sticker Chart): “I saw so many examples of sharing and kindness. Thank you! Now it’s your turn to make a promise.”
Teacher: “Think of one way you will be a good citizen today. When I call your name, say your promise out loud and place a sticker next to it on our chart.”
Call names one by one.
Teacher: “Olivia?”
Student: “I will share my crayons.”
Teacher: “Thank you, Olivia. Place your sticker.”
Continue until all students have placed a sticker.
Teacher: “Look at all our promises! You are sharing, being kind, and taking responsibility. Give yourselves a big round of applause!”
Teacher (with puppet): “Coco says: ‘Hooray for Little Citizens!’ Remember to shine all day by sharing, helping, and using kind words.”
Teacher: “Have a wonderful day being great citizens in our classroom and community!”
End with applause and dismiss.
