Lesson Plan
Respect: Treat Others How?
Students will be able to define respect, identify respectful and disrespectful behaviors, and practice respectful interactions with peers and adults.
Understanding and practicing respect is crucial for creating a positive classroom environment and fostering healthy relationships. This lesson helps students build empathy and social awareness.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, role-playing, and guided reflection.
Materials
- Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck, - Respectful Start Warm-Up, - Respect in Action Activity, - Respectful Sort Activity, - My Respect Journal, - Teacher Script for Respect, - Chart paper or whiteboard, - Markers, and - Scissors (if doing 'Respectful Sort Activity')
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Respectful Start Warm-Up (1 per student).
- Prepare chart paper or a whiteboard for brainstorming definitions and examples.
- Print copies of My Respect Journal (1 per student).
- Print copies of either Respect in Action Activity or Respectful Sort Activity (1 per group or student, depending on chosen activity).
- Review the Teacher Script for Respect to guide discussions and activities.
- Gather markers or pens for students, and scissors if using the 'Respectful Sort Activity'.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Respectful Start
5 minutes
- Distribute the Respectful Start Warm-Up to each student.
2. Ask students to complete the prompt: "Respect means..."
3. Briefly discuss a few student responses to get the class thinking about the topic.
Step 2
What is Respect?
10 minutes
- Present the first few slides of the Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck.
2. Lead a class discussion using the Teacher Script for Respect to define respect together.
3. Brainstorm 'Looks Like, Sounds Like, Feels Like' for respect on chart paper/whiteboard. Encourage students to give examples from school, home, and community.
Step 3
Respect in Action Activity (Choose One)
15 minutes
Teachers can choose between two activities:
Option 1: Respect in Action Activity (Role-Playing)
- Introduce the Respect in Action Activity using the Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck and Teacher Script for Respect.
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
- Provide each group with a scenario from the activity and ask them to role-play both a disrespectful and respectful response.
- After role-playing, each group shares one scenario and their respectful resolution with the class.
Option 2: Respectful Sort Activity
- Introduce the Respectful Sort Activity using the Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck and Teacher Script for Respect.
- Distribute the activity sheet to each student or group.
- Instruct students to sort the behaviors into "Respectful" and "Disrespectful" categories.
- Discuss the classifications as a class, encouraging students to explain their reasoning.
Step 4
Reflect and Journal
10 minutes
- Distribute My Respect Journal to each student.
2. Prompt students to reflect on what they learned and write about how they can show respect more often.
3. Encourage sharing with a partner or the whole class if time permits.
Step 5
Cool-Down: One Word Wonder
5 minutes
- Ask students to think of one word that describes how they will show respect moving forward.
2. Have students share their word as an exit ticket. This can be done verbally or by writing it on a sticky note to place on the door.
Slide Deck
Respect: Treat Others How?
How do we show others we care?
What does it mean to be respectful?
Why is respect important in our classroom and lives?
Welcome students and introduce the topic of respect. Ask students what comes to mind when they hear the word 'respect'. Encourage a few initial thoughts.
What is Respect?
Respect means...
- Showing kindness
- Listening to others
- Valuing differences
- Being considerate
Review responses from the Respectful Start Warm-Up. Facilitate a class discussion to collaboratively define respect. Guide them towards understanding respect as treating others and ourselves with kindness and consideration, valuing differences.
Respect: Looks Like, Sounds Like, Feels Like
Respect Looks Like:
(e.g., sharing, waiting your turn, making eye contact)
Respect Sounds Like:
(e.g., 'Please,' 'Thank you,' 'Excuse me,' calm voices)
Respect Feels Like:
(e.g., safe, valued, heard, happy)
Use a chart or whiteboard to record student ideas for 'Looks Like', 'Sounds Like', and 'Feels Like' respect. Encourage concrete examples from school, home, and their community. (Refer to Teacher Script for Respect)
Respect in Action!
Time to practice!
- Work in small groups.
- Read your scenario.
- Role-play both a disrespectful and a respectful response.
- Share your respectful solution with the class!
Introduce the Respect in Action Activity. Explain that they will work in groups to role-play scenarios and demonstrate respectful behavior. Emphasize that it's okay to make mistakes and learn from them. The teacher can choose this activity or the following sorting activity.
Respectful Sort Activity!
Time to think and sort!
- Work individually or in pairs.
- Read each behavior.
- Sort them into 'Respectful' or 'Disrespectful'.
- Be ready to explain your choices!
Introduce the Respectful Sort Activity as an alternative to the role-playing activity. Explain that students will categorize behaviors as respectful or disrespectful. Provide scissors if necessary for cutting.
My Respect Journal
Reflect and Write:
- What did you learn about respect today?
- How can you show more respect at school and at home?
- Write about a time you showed or received respect.
Transition to the journaling activity. Explain that this is a time for individual reflection. Distribute My Respect Journal and provide the prompt. Encourage thoughtful responses.
One Word Wonder: Moving Forward with Respect
What one word describes how you will show respect starting today?
Conclude the lesson by asking students to think of one word about how they will show respect moving forward as a cool-down/exit ticket.
Warm Up
Respectful Start Warm-Up
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Prompt: What does "respect" mean to you? Think about what it looks like, sounds like, or feels like when someone is being respectful.
Respect means...
Script
Teacher Script for Respect
Introduction (5 minutes)
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today we're going to talk about a really important topic: respect. When you hear the word 'respect,' what comes to your mind?"
(Wait for a few student responses. Acknowledge and affirm their ideas.)
"That's a great start! We all want to feel good and be treated kindly, right? Respect helps us do that. Let's look at our warm-up."
"I asked you to write what 'respect' means to you on your Respectful Start Warm-Up sheet. Who would like to share what they wrote?"
(Call on a few students to share their responses. Guide them to connect their ideas to treating others well.)
What is Respect? (10 minutes)
(Advance to Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Respect?)
"So, what exactly is respect? Based on our warm-up, we can see it involves treating people nicely. Let's think about some key ideas together. Respect means..."
"...showing kindness. It means thinking about how our words and actions affect others. Can someone give an example of showing kindness?"
(Allow responses.)
"...listening to others. When someone is speaking, what does it mean to truly listen respectfully?"
(Allow responses, guide towards eye contact, not interrupting.)
"...valuing differences. We are all unique and special! Respect means appreciating that everyone is different and treating everyone fairly, even if they have different ideas or come from different places. Why is it important to value differences?"
(Allow responses.)
"...being considerate. This means thinking about others' feelings and needs. If I borrow a friend's pencil, how can I be considerate?"
(Allow responses, guide towards asking, returning, not breaking.)
(Advance to Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck - Slide 3: Respect: Looks Like, Sounds Like, Feels Like)
"Now, let's make this super clear. What does respect look like? What can we see when someone is being respectful? Think about actions."
(Write student ideas on chart paper/whiteboard under "Looks Like." Examples: sharing, waiting your turn, helping others, making eye contact, sitting quietly when others speak.)
"Excellent! How about what respect sounds like? What words do we hear? What kind of voice do we use?"
(Write student ideas under "Sounds Like." Examples: "Please," "Thank you," "Excuse me," calm voices, listening quietly, asking instead of demanding.)
"Wonderful! And finally, what does respect feel like? How does it make you or others feel when respect is shown?"
(Write student ideas under "Feels Like." Examples: safe, valued, heard, happy, calm, understood, important.)
Respect in Action Activity (Choose One - 15 minutes)
(Advance to Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck - Slide 4: Respect in Action!)
"Now that we know what respect looks like, sounds like, and feels like, let's put it into action! You have two great activity options for the next 15 minutes. You can choose to do the role-playing activity or the sorting activity."
Option 1: Respect in Action Activity (Role-Playing)
"For the Respect in Action Activity, you'll work in small groups. I'm going to give each group a scenario. Your job is to first act out the disrespectful way to respond to the situation. Then, you'll act out the respectful way to respond. Think about everything we just discussed! After you've practiced both, choose one of your respectful solutions to share with the whole class. Remember to use your respectful voices and actions!"
(Divide students into groups, distribute scenarios from Respect in Action Activity. Circulate and provide support and guidance as groups work. After 10-12 minutes, bring the class back together for sharing.)
"Alright, let's hear from each group. Who wants to share their scenario and how they showed respect?" (Facilitate sharing. After each group, briefly highlight the key respectful behaviors demonstrated.)
OR
(Advance to Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck - Slide 5: Respectful Sort Activity!)
Option 2: Respectful Sort Activity
"For the Respectful Sort Activity, you'll work individually or in pairs. I'm going to give you a sheet with different behaviors. Your job is to read each behavior and decide if it's a respectful behavior or a disrespectful behavior. You can cut them out and sort them into two piles, or simply draw lines to connect them to the correct category. Think about our 'Looks Like, Sounds Like, Feels Like' chart to help you!"
(Distribute Respectful Sort Activity sheets. Circulate and provide support. After 10-12 minutes, bring the class back together for discussion.)
"Let's discuss some of our choices. Can someone share a behavior they sorted into 'Respectful' and why? How about 'Disrespectful'?" (Facilitate discussion, clarifying any misunderstandings and reinforcing correct classifications.)
Reflect and Journal (10 minutes)
(Advance to Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck - Slide 6: My Respect Journal)
"Great job practicing respect! Now it's time to think a little more about it individually. I'm going to hand out your My Respect Journal pages."
"On this page, I want you to reflect on what you learned about respect today. Think about these questions: What did you learn about respect today? How can you show more respect at school and at home? You can also write about a time you showed or received respect."
"Take your time to write your thoughts. If you finish early, you can draw a picture of respectful behavior. We'll have a couple of minutes at the end for anyone who wants to share their reflections with a partner or the class."
(Distribute journals. Allow students to write. After about 7-8 minutes, invite a few students to share briefly if time allows.)
Cool-Down (5 minutes)
(Advance to Respect: Treat Others How? Slide Deck - Slide 7: One Word Wonder: Moving Forward with Respect)
"We're almost out of time, but before we go, I want you to think about one single word. This word should describe how you will show respect starting today, or what you will remember about respect moving forward."
"When I call your name, you can share your word as you leave, or write it on a sticky note to put on the door. It's our 'One Word Wonder' for respect!"
(Dismiss students by calling on them to share their word or collect sticky notes.)
Activity
Respect in Action Activity
Instructions: Work with your group to read each scenario. First, act out a disrespectful way to respond. Then, act out a respectful way to respond. Be ready to share your respectful response with the class!
Scenario 1: Sharing Materials
Your group only has one pair of scissors, and two people need them at the same time.
Disrespectful Response:
Respectful Response:
Scenario 2: Different Opinions
During a class discussion, a classmate shares an idea that is very different from yours, and you think it's wrong.
Disrespectful Response:
Respectful Response:
Scenario 3: Interrupting
You are talking to your teacher, and another student keeps interrupting you to ask their own question.
Disrespectful Response:
Respectful Response:
Scenario 4: Personal Space
You are working quietly at your desk, and a classmate keeps leaning over your shoulder to look at your paper.
Disrespectful Response:
Respectful Response:
Scenario 5: Accidents Happen
A classmate accidentally bumps into you in the hallway, causing your books to fall.
Disrespectful Response:
Respectful Response:
Activity
Respectful Sort Activity
Instructions: Read each scenario or behavior. Cut them out (or draw a line to connect them) and sort them into two piles: Respectful or Disrespectful. Be ready to explain your choices!
Behaviors to Sort
-
Calling a classmate a mean name
-
Waiting your turn to speak
-
Listening when someone is talking
-
Interrupting your friend
-
Sharing your toys with a sibling
-
Pushing past someone in line
-
Saying "please" and "thank you"
-
Making fun of someone's clothes
-
Helping a friend pick up dropped books
-
Ignoring someone when they ask for help
-
Using a quiet voice in the library
-
Drawing on a classroom desk
Sorting Area
Respectful Behaviors
Disrespectful Behaviors
Journal
My Respect Journal
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Reflecting on Respect
-
What is one new thing you learned about respect today?
-
Think about a time when someone showed you respect. How did it make you feel?
-
How can you show more respect to your family, friends, and teachers this week?
-
Draw a picture of yourself showing respect to someone.
Cool Down
One Word Wonder: Moving Forward with Respect
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Think about everything we discussed and practiced today about respect. Now, choose one word that describes how you will show respect starting today, or what you will remember most about respect.
My One Word Wonder for Respect: