Social Skills Safari

Madison Janicola

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Social Skills Safari

Build empathy and communication skills

In this lesson, students will embark on a 'Social Skills Safari' where they will engage in role-playing and interactive games to learn essential social skills such as empathy, active listening, and effective communication. This lesson is important as it helps young students develop foundational social skills that are crucial for their personal and academic growth, enabling them to interact positively with peers and adults.

Audience

Kindergarten to 3rd Grade

Time

45 mins

Approach

Build empathy and communication skills

Materials

Role-playing scenario cards, Empathy discussion questions, Active listening worksheet, Communication game instructions, and Markers and paper

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Welcome students to the 'Social Skills Safari'.
Briefly explain the importance of social skills like empathy, active listening, and communication.
Introduce the activities planned for the lesson.

Step 2

Role-Playing Activity

15 mins

Divide students into small groups.
Distribute role-playing scenario cards to each group.
Instruct students to act out the scenarios, focusing on empathy and understanding others' perspectives.
After each role-play, discuss as a class what was learned.

Step 3

Empathy Discussion

10 mins

Use the empathy discussion questions to facilitate a class discussion.
Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings about the scenarios.
Highlight key points about understanding and valuing others' emotions.

Step 4

Active Listening Exercise

10 mins

Hand out the active listening worksheet.
Pair students and have them practice active listening with each other.
Discuss the importance of listening attentively and how it affects communication.

Step 5

Communication Game

5 mins

Explain the rules of the communication game.
Have students participate in a quick game that emphasizes clear and effective communication.
Reflect on how communication can be improved in everyday interactions.

Step 6

Closure

5 mins

Recap the key social skills learned during the lesson.
Encourage students to practice these skills in their daily lives.
Thank students for their participation and enthusiasm.

Worksheet

Role-Playing Scenario Cards

These cards contain different scenarios for students to role-play, focusing on empathy and understanding others' perspectives.

A friend is feeling sad because they lost their favorite toy.

Someone is new to the school and doesn't know anyone.

A classmate is being left out of a game during recess.

A student is upset because they didn't do well on a test.

Discussion

Empathy Discussion Questions

These questions are designed to guide a discussion on empathy and understanding others' feelings.

How did you feel when you were acting out the scenarios?

Encourage students to express their emotions and relate them to the scenarios.

Why is it important to understand how others feel?

Discuss the role of empathy in building relationships and resolving conflicts.

Can you think of a time when you showed empathy to someone?

Allow students to share personal experiences and reflect on their actions.

Worksheet

Active Listening Worksheet

This worksheet helps students practice active listening skills through paired activities.

What did your partner say was their favorite activity?

Listen carefully to your partner's response.

How did it feel to be listened to attentively?

Reflect on the experience of being heard.

Reading

Communication Game Instructions

Instructions for a quick game that emphasizes clear and effective communication among students.

Pair up students and have them sit back-to-back.
One student describes a simple drawing without naming it, while the other tries to draw it based on the description.
After a few minutes, compare the drawings and discuss what made communication effective or challenging.