lenny

Play Together, Grow Together

user image

Lesson Plan

Play Together, Grow Together

Initiating Play and Reciprocal Play

This lesson plan is designed to help 3rd grade students learn the skills of initiating and engaging in reciprocal play. Through a series of 15 sessions, students will explore the concepts of fair play, taking turns, and respecting others' feelings. This lesson is important as it fosters social skills, empathy, and cooperation among students, which are essential for building healthy relationships and a positive classroom environment.

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

15 sessions of 25 minutes each

Approach

Game-Based Learning, Trauma-Informed Teaching

Materials

Video: Respecting Each Other in School, Video: Sesame Street: How to be a Good Friend, Video: Story: A Little Respectful Spot, Discussion Questions, and Activity Materials (e.g., balls, jump ropes, board games)

Step 1

Session 1: Introduction to Play

25 mins

  • Begin with a brief discussion on what play means to the students.
  • Introduce the concept of initiating play and why it's important.
  • Activity: Have students pair up and practice introducing a game to each other, focusing on clear communication and invitation.

Step 2

Session 2: Video Viewing and Discussion

25 mins

  • Show the video Respecting Each Other in School.
  • Facilitate a discussion using the discussion questions to reflect on the video.
  • Encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences related to play.

Step 3

Session 3: Cooperative Game

25 mins

  • Introduce a cooperative game such as 'Human Knot' or 'Group Juggle'.
  • Explain the rules: For 'Human Knot', students stand in a circle, reach across to grab hands with two different people, and work together to untangle without letting go. For 'Group Juggle', students form a circle and toss a ball to each other in a set pattern, adding more balls as they get comfortable.
  • Emphasize the importance of teamwork and communication.
  • Reflect on how cooperation enhances play.

Step 4

Session 4: Play Stations Introduction

25 mins

  • Introduce different play stations with various games and activities (e.g., board games, jump rope, ball games).
  • Explain the rules and objectives of each station.
  • Activity: Students rotate through stations, practicing initiating play and taking turns.

Step 5

Session 5: Practicing Initiation

25 mins

  • Students practice initiating play at each station.
  • Rotate groups to ensure everyone experiences each activity.
  • Activity: Encourage students to invite others to join their game, focusing on inclusive language and gestures.
    • Examples of inclusive language: "Would you like to join us?", "We'd love to have you play with us!", "Come and be part of our team!"
    • Examples of inclusive gestures: Smiling, making eye contact, waving someone over, offering a high-five.

Step 6

Session 6: Taking Turns

25 mins

  • Focus on the importance of taking turns.
  • Use role-playing scenarios to practice turn-taking.
  • Activity: Play a game like 'Duck, Duck, Goose' to reinforce turn-taking in a fun way.

Step 7

Session 7: Respecting Feelings

25 mins

  • Show the video Story: A Little Respectful Spot.
  • Discuss how to recognize and respect others' feelings during play.
  • Use examples from the video and personal experiences.
  • Activity: Role-play different scenarios where feelings might be hurt and discuss how to handle them.

Step 8

Session 8: Cooperative Games

25 mins

  • Show the video Sesame Street: How to be a Good Friend.
  • Introduce games that require teamwork and cooperation, such as 'Capture the Flag' or 'Relay Races'.
  • Explain the rules and emphasize the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.
  • Reflect on how cooperation enhances play.

Step 9

Session 9: Conflict Resolution

25 mins

  • Teach strategies for resolving conflicts during play.
  • Role-play common playground conflicts and solutions.
  • Activity: Use a 'Peace Path' where students walk through steps to resolve a conflict, practicing active listening and compromise.

Step 10

Session 10: Creative Play

25 mins

  • Encourage students to create their own games.
  • Discuss how creativity can enhance play experiences.
  • Activity: Provide materials like paper, markers, and small objects for students to invent a new game and teach it to the class.

Step 11

Session 11: Empathy in Play

25 mins

  • Explore the role of empathy in play.
  • Use storytelling to illustrate empathetic interactions.
  • Activity: Read a story about friendship and discuss how characters show empathy, then role-play similar scenarios.

Step 12

Session 12: Reflective Play

25 mins

  • Encourage students to reflect on their play experiences.
  • Discuss what they learned and how they can apply it.
  • Activity: Have students draw or write about a play experience that taught them something new.

Step 13

Session 13: Play Leadership

25 mins

  • Discuss what it means to be a leader in play.
  • Conduct a leadership inventory activity where students identify their strengths and areas for improvement in leadership.
  • Activity: Assign students as 'play leaders' for a day, guiding a game and ensuring everyone is included.

Step 14

Session 14: Inclusive Play

25 mins

  • Explore ways to include everyone in play.
  • Discuss the importance of inclusivity and diversity.
  • Activity: Play a game like 'Buddy Tag' where students pair up and work together, ensuring no one is left out.

Step 15

Session 15: Celebration and Reflection

25 mins

  • Celebrate the skills learned over the sessions.
  • Reflect on personal growth and set goals for future play.
  • Activity: Host a 'Play Fair' where students showcase their favorite games and what they've learned.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Discussion

Play Discussion Questions

This discussion will help students reflect on the video and their own experiences with play.

What did you notice about how the characters in the video initiated play?

Encourage students to think about specific actions or words used by the characters.







Why is it important to take turns and respect others' feelings during play?

Discuss how taking turns can make play more enjoyable for everyone.







Can you share a time when you had to initiate play with someone new? How did it go?

Allow students to share personal stories and discuss different outcomes.







lenny
lenny