Social Skill Stars: Session 1 Activity

Objective: Students will practice sharing and turn-taking by engaging in a partner activity that uses visual supports to guide each step.

Time: 4 minutes

Materials:

• Sharing Picture Cards
• Small toys or manipulatives (e.g., cars, blocks)
• Sharing Tokens or Stickers
• Turn-Taking Mats (labeled “My Turn” and “Your Turn”)

Instructions:

1. Partner Pairing (1 minute)
   • Divide students into pairs and seat them across from each other.
   • Give each pair two identical toys, two Sharing Picture Cards, and two turn-taking mats.
2. Guided Turn-Taking Rounds (2 minutes)
   • Demonstrate using the mats and cards:
     • Place the “My Turn” mat in front of you, pick up the toy, and say “My turn, please.”
     • After 10 seconds or a signal, swap the “My Turn” mat with the “Your Turn” mat and pass the toy to your partner.
     • Use simple phrases such as “Your turn” and “Thank you” when passing or receiving.
   • Circulate and prompt students as needed, offering a Sharing Token when they complete a round without prompts.
3. Reflection & Reinforcement (1 minute)
   • Ask each pair to demonstrate one more turn-taking exchange using their mats and cards.
   • Praise positive behaviors and hand out any remaining tokens to reinforce sharing.

Visual supports and kinesthetic movement help SPED kindergarteners clearly see expectations and practice sharing in a calm, structured way.

Social Skill Stars: Session 1 Game – “Pass the Bear”

Objective: Reinforce sharing, turn-taking phrases, and calm behavior through a fun, musical passing game.

Time: 3 minutes

Materials:

• Plush bear or soft toy
• Soft music playlist (or instrument to play/stop music)
• [Sharing Tokens or Stickers]
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby

Instructions:

1. Gather in a Circle
   • Have students sit or stand in a loose circle so they can easily pass the bear.
   • Explain that when the music plays, they will gently pass the bear to a peer.
2. Start the Music and Passing
   • Play soft, upbeat music.
   • Model passing the bear: “I’m giving the bear to you. It’s your turn.”
   • Encourage students to use a calm voice and make eye contact when they pass the bear.
3. Music Stops – Practice Turn-Taking Language
   • Stop the music after 5–10 seconds.
   • The student holding the bear says “It’s your turn,” then hands it to someone who hasn’t had it yet.
   • The receiving student responds with “Thank you.”
4. Reinforce and Calm
   • Praise each correct turn-taking phrase with a token or sticker.
   • If a student shows frustration or over-excitement, invite them to take three deep breaths together or briefly visit the Calm-Down Corner before rejoining the circle.
5. Continue Rounds
   • Resume the music and repeat until each student has practiced passing at least once or until time is up.

Variation:

• Change the voice: whisper “It’s your turn” or say it in a silly voice to keep engagement high.

This out-of-seat, musical activity supports visual and verbal learners, builds social phrasing skills, and integrates calming strategies when emotions rise.

Social Skill Stars: Session 2 Activity

Objective: Students will practice asking for and giving turns in a simple board game using visual prompts and supportive language.

Time: 4 minutes

Materials:

• Simple board game (e.g., Color Path)
• Picture Dice
• Turn-Taking Picture Cards
• Game Tokens or Stickers
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby

Instructions:

1. Group Setup (1 minute)
   • Divide students into pairs or small trios.
   • Provide each group with a board, Picture Dice, and a set of Turn-Taking Picture Cards.
   • Explain: “We’ll roll, move a token, then use our cards to ask ‘Your turn’ and say ‘Thank you.’”
2. Guided Play Rounds (2 minutes)
   • Model one complete round:
     • Roll the Picture Dice, move your token to that color space.
     • Hold up the “Your Turn” card, say “Your turn.”
     • Pass the dice; partner holds the “My Turn” card, says “My turn,” then rolls.
   • Students play 2–3 quick turns, using their cards to cue each step.
   • Circulate, gently prompt language (“Your turn,” “My turn,” “Thank you”) and hand out a token or sticker each time a smooth exchange occurs.
3. Reflection & Share (1 minute)
   • Ask one or two pairs to demonstrate their turn-taking: “Show us how you asked for a turn.”
   • Praise clear language and calm play: “Great job saying ‘Your turn’ and waiting!”
   • Remind students they can use the Calm-Down Corner if they feel upset during the game.

This activity combines hands-on game play with visual supports to reinforce cooperative language and turn-taking for SPED kindergarteners.

Social Skill Stars: Session 2 Game – “Pass the Dice”

Objective: Practice asking for and giving turns in a fun, musical way, using turn-taking phrases and calm behavior.

Time: 3 minutes

Materials:

• Picture Dice
• Turn-Taking Picture Cards
• Soft music player or instrument to start/stop music
• Game Tokens or Stickers
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby

Instructions:

1. Gather in a Circle
   • Arrange students in a circle for easy passing.
   • Explain that while music plays they will gently pass the dice and use calm words.
2. Start the Music and Passing
   • Play soft, upbeat music.
   • Model passing the dice: “I’m giving the dice to you. It’s your turn.”
   • Encourage students to make eye contact and use a calm voice.
3. Music Stops – Practice Turn-Taking Language
   • After 5–10 seconds, stop the music.
   • The student holding the dice holds up the “My Turn” card, says “My turn,” and rolls the dice.
   • They then hold up the “Your Turn” card, say “Your turn,” and pass the dice to a peer who hasn’t gone yet.
   • The receiving student responds with “Thank you.”
4. Reinforce and Calm
   • Praise each correct phrase (“My turn,” “Your turn,” “Thank you”) with a token or sticker.
   • If a student appears frustrated, invite them to take three deep breaths or visit the Calm-Down Corner briefly before rejoining.
5. Continue Rounds
   • Resume the music and repeat until every student has had at least one turn or time is up.

Variation:

• Use a timer (5 seconds per pass) instead of music with a buzzer signal.
• Change the passing style (e.g., gentle roll) to practice different motor skills.

This quick, musical dice game reinforces visual and verbal turn-taking supports and integrates calming strategies.

Social Skill Stars: Session 3 Activity – Kind Words Role-Play

Objective: Students will practice selecting and using polite phrases in guided role-play scenarios, then demonstrate at least one kind phrase to a peer.

Time: 4 minutes

Materials:

• Kind Words Picture Cards
• Kind Words Role-Play Scenario Cards
• Kindness Tokens or Stickers
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby

Instructions:

1. Pair Up & Distribute (30 seconds)
   • Divide students into pairs.
   • Give each pair a stack of Kind Words Role-Play Scenario Cards and a set of Kind Words Picture Cards.
   • Explain: “You will take turns acting out the picture and using a kind phrase from the cards.”
2. Model One Scenario (30 seconds)
   • Teacher or aide models: draw a scenario (e.g., a friend is sad) and choose a picture card (“You’re okay,” “I’m here for you”).
   • Say the phrase clearly and point to the matching card.
3. Role-Play Rounds (2 minutes)
   • Round 1: Student A shows their scenario to Student B. Student B looks through the picture cards, selects one, and says the kind phrase.
   • Give a Kindness Token when the phrase matches the scenario and is said kindly.
   • Swap roles for Round 2 with a new scenario card.
4. Quick Share & Praise (1 minute)
   • Invite one or two pairs to demonstrate their favorite scenario and phrase: “Show us how you used your kind words.”
   • Praise each pair: “Wonderful job saying ‘Thank you for helping!’”
5. Calm-Down Reminder
   • If any student feels unsure or upset, remind them they can use the Calm-Down Corner tools (stress ball, breathing visuals) before rejoining.

This structured role-play with visual supports helps SPED kindergarteners identify, select, and practice kind words in social situations.

Social Skill Stars: Session 3 Game – “Compliment Catch”

Objective: Reinforce use of kind words and compliments in a fun, active way while practicing calm behavior and turn-taking.

Time: 3 minutes

Materials:

• Soft ball or plush toy
• Kind Words Picture Cards
• Kindness Tokens or Stickers
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby

Instructions:

1. Gather in a Circle
   • Have students stand or sit in a loose circle so they can easily toss the ball to each other.
   • Remind them to use gentle hands and calm voices.
2. Explain the Game
   • Tell students: “When you catch the ball, look at our Kind Words cards, pick one or think of your own kind phrase, and say it to a friend before tossing the ball.”
   • Model a turn: catch the ball, say “You’re a great friend!” and pass it gently to a peer.
3. Play “Compliment Catch”
   • Toss the ball to a student.
   • The catcher chooses a kind phrase (using a picture card if needed) and says it to someone in the circle (“I like your drawing!”), then tosses the ball to that person.
   • Continue until each student has had at least one turn catching, complimenting, and tossing.
4. Reinforce and Calm
   • After each compliment, praise the student with a Kindness Token or Sticker.
   • If a student seems shy or frustrated, offer a prompt: show them a picture card or invite them to take three deep breaths before their turn.

Variation:

• Use a timer: give students 5 seconds to think of a kind phrase before tossing.
• Change the toss style: roll on the floor, underhand, or into a soft bucket to practice different motor skills.

This out-of-seat, kinesthetic game supports visual and verbal learners by combining movement, picture supports, and positive reinforcement for kind language.

Social Skill Stars: Session 4 Activity – Calm-Down Strategy Practice

Objective: Students will identify and practice at least one calm-down strategy using visual prompts and hands-on tools.

Time: 4 minutes

Materials:

• Anger Management Picture Cards
• Stress Balls or Fidgets
• Breathing Visual Posters
• Calm-Down Corner Tools (e.g., stress ball, sensory bottle)
• Calm Stickers or Tokens

Instructions:

1. Gather & Review (30 seconds)
   • Sit in a small circle in or near the Calm-Down Corner.
   • Show the Anger Calm-Down Social Story briefly and ask: “What can we do when we feel angry?”
2. Explore the Picture Cards (1 minute)
   • Lay out the Anger Management Picture Cards face up.
   • Invite each student to pick one card showing a calm-down strategy (e.g., deep breathing, squeezing a ball).
   • Ask them to name the strategy and show it to the group.
3. Practice the Strategy (2 minutes)
   • One at a time, have each student use their chosen tool:
     • If they picked the breathing card, they stand and practice breathing in for 4 counts, out for 4 counts while pointing to the Breathing Visual Poster.
     • If they picked squeezing a ball, they squeeze the stress ball slowly while counting quietly.
   • After the student demonstrates, the group practices together once.
   • Give each student a Calm Sticker or Token for sharing and practicing.
4. Reflection & Next Steps (30 seconds)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Ask: “Which calm-down strategy helped you feel better?”

This brief, hands-on activity uses visual supports and calming tools to help SPED kindergarteners recognize and practice anger-management techniques in a safe, structured setting.

Social Skill Stars: Session 4 Game – “Freeze Dance Calming Poses”

Objective: Reinforce recognition of feelings and practice calming strategies using movement and a freeze-dance format.

Time: 3 minutes

Materials:

• Soft music player or instrument to play/stop music
• Anger Management Picture Cards
• Stress balls or fidgets
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby

Instructions:

1. Gather in a Circle
   • Have students stand in a loose circle so they can dance safely.
   • Explain: “When the music plays, we dance. When it stops, we practice a calm-down strategy.”
2. Dance & Move
   • Play soft, upbeat music.
   • Encourage students to dance, wiggle, or sway in their space.
3. Freeze & Name Feeling
   • Pause the music randomly after 10–15 seconds.
   • When music stops, students freeze.
   • Point to one student to pick an Anger Management Picture Card, name the feeling shown, and choose that calming strategy.
4. Demonstrate & Practice
   • The student models the calm-down strategy (e.g., deep breaths, squeezing a ball), narrating steps: “In… two… three… out… two… three.”
   • Invite the group to follow along once.
5. Continue Rounds
   • Resume music and repeat until each student has practiced a strategy or time is up.
6. Reinforce & Calm
   • Praise each child for identifying a feeling and demonstrating the strategy; hand out Calm Stickers or Tokens.
   • If a student seems upset or overstimulated, guide them to the Calm-Down Corner for extra support before rejoining.

Variation:

• Instead of feelings, call out a specific strategy card for the freezer to practice.
• Use a soft pillow or plush toy toss to choose who leads the calming pose.

This active, out-of-seat game engages SPED kindergarteners with music and movement, integrates visual anger-management supports, and practices calm-down strategies in a fun, structured way.

Social Skill Stars: Session 5 Activity – Integrative Role-Play Review

Objective: Students will apply sharing, turn-taking, kind words, and calm-down strategies by acting out scenarios and using visual supports.

Time: 4 minutes

Materials:

• Session 5 Review Picture Cards
• Social Stories on hand: Sharing Social Story, Turn-Taking Social Story, Kind Words Social Story, Anger Calm-Down Social Story
• Tokens or Stickers
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby

Instructions:

1. Pair Up & Distribute (30 seconds)
   • Divide students into pairs and give each pair one Session 5 Review Picture Card.
   • Explain: “Each card shows a scenario. You’ll act it out and use the right skill we’ve learned.”
2. Model One Example (30 seconds)
   • Teacher models with a volunteer: pick a card (e.g., two friends waiting for a turn), name the skill (“Turn-taking”), point to the Turn-Taking Social Story, then act out asking “Your turn” and passing a toy.
3. Role-Play Rounds (2 minutes)
   • Round 1: Student A reads or describes the picture; Student B uses the appropriate skill (sharing phrase, turn-taking language, kind words, or a calm-down strategy) and points to its social story or picture support.
   • Swap roles for Round 2 with a new card.
   • Circulate and prompt: “Which social story helps you? Show me!”
   • Award a token or sticker for each correct role-play.
4. Quick Share & Praise (1 minute)
   • Invite one or two pairs to demonstrate their favorite scenario and skill: “Show us how you shared/knew it was your turn/gave a compliment/took a deep breath.”
   • Praise each demonstration and hand out any remaining tokens.

This integrative activity uses visual scenario cards and social stories to help SPED kindergarteners practice and generalize multiple social skills in familiar contexts.

Social Skill Stars: Session 5 Game – “Roll & Role Relay”

Objective: Reinforce and integrate sharing, turn-taking, kind words, and calm-down strategies in a fast-paced, dice-based game that keeps students moving and engaged.

Time: 3 minutes

Materials:

• Picture Dice or Spinner with four icons (share, turn-taking, kind words, calm-down)
• Simple board game path (e.g., Color Path) with start and finish
• Game tokens or small counters
• Session 5 Review Picture Cards laid out nearby
• Social Stories on hand: Sharing Social Story, Turn-Taking Social Story, Kind Words Social Story, Anger Calm-Down Social Story
• Calm-Down Corner accessible nearby
• Tokens or stickers for reinforcement

Instructions:

1. Gather at the Game Board
   • Arrange students around the board so each child has space to roll and move a token.
   • Review the four skill icons on the dice/spinner and their meanings using the Session 5 Review Picture Cards.
2. Roll & Role Sequence
   • Student A rolls the dice (or spins).
   • Identify the icon rolled:
     • Share (two hands exchanging)
     • Turn-Taking (arrow between two figures)
     • Kind Words (speech bubble with heart)
     • Calm-Down (deep-breath icon)
   • Move your game token forward one space.
   • Perform the corresponding skill:
     • Share: hand one of your tokens to a peer and say aloud “Here you go.”
     • Turn-Taking: hold up a Turn-Taking Picture Card, say “Your turn,” and pass the dice.
     • Kind Words: give a genuine compliment to a classmate (“I like your drawing!”).
     • Calm-Down: take two deep breaths together, modeling with the Breathing Visual Poster.
3. Reinforcement & Support
   • After each action, the teacher/aide hands out a sticker or token for correct performance and calm engagement.
   • If a student struggles or appears upset, invite a quick visit to the Calm-Down Corner (stress ball or breathing visuals) before rejoining.
4. Continue Rounds
   • Play continues clockwise, with each student rolling, moving, and role-playing their skill.
   • The game ends when time is up or when a token reaches the finish space.

Variation:

• Use a soft ball toss instead of dice: catcher picks a skill card and acts it out.
• Add a “star” space on the board that lets a student pick any skill of their choice.

This energetic, integrative game allows SPED kindergarteners to practice all four social skills in a meaningful, visually supported sequence while promoting calm behavior and positive reinforcement.

Sharing Picture Cards

Cut out each card along the dotted lines. Each card shows a picture description and the phrase to help children practice sharing.

Card 1
[Picture: a child holding a single toy]
Phrase: “My turn.”

Card 2
[Picture: one child gently handing a toy to another]
Phrase: “Your turn.”

Card 3
[Picture: an hourglass or clock]
Phrase: “Wait.”

Card 4
[Picture: a child raising hand or looking polite]
Phrase: “Please.”

Card 5
[Picture: two children smiling and giving a high-five]
Phrase: “Thank you.”

Sharing Social Story

Page 1
Sharing is when I let my friend play with my toy.


Page 2
First, I hold the toy and say, “Your turn.”


Page 3
Then I wait patiently. I can look at the Sharing Picture Cards to remind me to wait.


Page 4
When it comes back to me, I say, “My turn, please.”


Page 5
After I finish, I say, “Thank you.”
Sharing makes playtime fun for everyone!