Lesson Plan
Our Classroom Family Plan
Students will discover what makes their classroom a caring community, celebrate each other’s uniqueness, and practice kindness by creating and sharing ‘Kindness Pockets’.
Building a strong classroom family helps Pre-K students feel safe, valued, and connected, promoting empathy, cooperation, and positive social skills.
Audience
Pre-K
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Circle chat, read-aloud, craft & reflection.
Materials
Classroom Community Storybook, Family or Community Puppets, Chart Paper & Markers, Kindness Pockets Template, Heart Stickers or Sticky Notes, and Music Player & Friendly Song Track
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Gather and arrange all physical supplies within reach (puppets, chart paper, markers, stickers).
- Print enough copies of the Kindness Pockets Template for each student.
- Cue the Friendly Song on your music player for closing.
- Review the Classroom Community Storybook story to plan where to pause for discussion.
Step 1
Welcome & Introduction
5 minutes
- Invite children to sit in a circle and greet each by name to model being part of a family.
- Ask: “What makes our classroom feel like a family?”
- Encourage one or two responses and affirm each idea.
- Explain that today they’ll learn how to care for each other as a classroom family.
Step 2
Read-Aloud & Discussion
7 minutes
- Show the Classroom Community Storybook cover and introduce its theme.
- Read the story, pausing to ask questions like “How did the characters help each other?”
- After reading, chart student ideas about kindness and teamwork on the paper.
Step 3
Circle Activity: Our Classroom Family
8 minutes
- Use Family or Community Puppets to model greeting and complimenting a friend.
- Pass a puppet around; each child says one nice thing about the friend to their right.
- Teacher records key words (kind, helpful, friendly) on chart paper to highlight strengths.
Step 4
Kindness Pockets Craft
8 minutes
- Distribute the Kindness Pockets Template.
- Instruct students to fold and decorate their pocket with heart stickers or drawings.
- Once complete, each child writes or draws one act of kindness they will do and places it inside their pocket.
Step 5
Closing Reflection & Song
2 minutes
- Ask: “How will we show kindness this week?” Invite a few quick shares.
- Play the Friendly Song; encourage children to stand and do simple movements (clap, stomp).
- Remind students their classroom family grows stronger when everyone shares kindness.
use Lenny to create lessons.
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Slide Deck
Our Classroom Family
• We will learn what makes our classroom a caring community
• We will celebrate our uniqueness
• We will practice kindness together
Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to talk about how our classroom is like a family. Use this slide to introduce our topic and goals.
Welcome & Introduction
• Sit in a circle and greet each friend by name
• Discuss: “What makes our classroom feel like a family?”
• Share today’s learning goals
Invite students to sit in a circle. Greet each by name to model caring. Ask: “What makes our classroom feel like a family?” Affirm each response.
Read-Aloud & Discussion
• Introduce the story cover
• Read the story aloud
• Pause to ask: “How did the characters help each other?”
• Chart ideas about kindness and teamwork
Show the cover of the Classroom Community Storybook. Read slowly, pausing for comprehension questions.
Circle Activity: Compliments
• Model with Family or Community Puppets
• Pass a puppet; each child says one nice thing about the friend on their right
• Write key words (kind, helpful, friendly) on chart paper
Use your puppets to demonstrate how to give a compliment. Pass a puppet around so each child compliments the friend on their right. Record words on chart paper.
Kindness Pockets Craft
• Fold and decorate your pocket with stickers or drawings
• Draw or write one kind act you will do this week
• Place your idea inside your pocket
Hand out the Kindness Pockets Template. Guide children to fold, decorate, then draw or write one act of kindness to keep inside.
Closing Reflection & Song
• Share one way we will show kindness
• Play the Friendly Song and move together
• Remind children: kindness makes our classroom family stronger
Ask a few students: “How will we show kindness this week?” Then play the Friendly Song. Encourage simple movements like clapping or stomping.
Reading
Friends in Our Classroom
It was Monday morning in Mrs. Lee’s Pre-K class. A soft sunbeam danced across the circle of small chairs. Each friend came in smiling, hung up a backpack, and gave a happy wave to the person next to them.
Soon, Mrs. Lee brought out a big blue box full of colorful building blocks. Rosa reached in first and picked a red block. She noticed Leo looking at the box too. Rosa smiled and said, “Would you like one?” She handed him a bright blue block. Leo’s eyes lit up as he placed it carefully beside hers.
Next, Jamal and Kai sat side by side. Kai’s tower wobbled. Jamal whispered, “Let’s build it together!” They joined their blocks, stacking them higher and higher. When the tower fell, they laughed and tried again—this time as a team.
At snack time, Maya discovered she forgot her apple. Turtle Puppet gently asked, “Can someone share?” Mia broke her apple slice in half and offered one piece to Maya. Maya smiled wide and said, “Thank you for being kind.”
Before the day ended, Mrs. Lee asked, “How did we help each other today?”
• Rosa shared her block.
• Jamal and Kai built together.
• Mia shared her snack and said kind words.
Mrs. Lee beamed. “When we help, share, and use kind words, our classroom becomes one big caring family.” The children cheered, knowing they belonged to a special community of friends.
Activity
Kindness Pockets Template
Instructions for Teacher/Family:
- Print this page for each student.
- Cut out the outer rectangle along the solid lines.
- Fold up the bottom flap along the dotted line (this will become the front of your pocket).
- Fold in both side flaps and secure with glue or tape to form a pocket that opens at the top.
+-------------------------------------+
| |
| Front of Pocket |
| (Decorate me with hearts!) |
| |
+-------------------------------------+
|.................fold here...........|
+------------+ +----------+
| Side | | Side |
| Flap | | Flap |
+------------+ +----------+
1. Decorate the Front of Your Pocket
Use stickers, crayons, or markers to make your pocket bright and friendly!
2. Inside Your Pocket: Your Kindness Idea
Draw or write one kind thing you will do this week. Then tuck it into your folded pocket.