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Social Skills: Your Secret Superpower

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Whitney Vaught

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Social Skills: Your Secret Superpower Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify key social skills and understand their importance in building positive relationships and navigating social situations effectively.

Developing strong social skills helps students communicate better, resolve conflicts peacefully, build friendships, and feel more confident in school and life.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, scenario-based activity, and reflective cool-down.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Social Skills Slide Deck, Warm-Up: Social Skills Survey, Social Scenarios Activity Cards, Cool-Down: One-Word Reflection, and Teacher Script: Social Skills

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Social Skills Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Social Skills Slide Deck, Warm-Up: Social Skills Survey, Social Scenarios Activity Cards, Cool-Down: One-Word Reflection, and Teacher Script: Social Skills.
  • Ensure projector or whiteboard is ready for presentation.
  • Print or prepare to display the Social Scenarios Activity Cards.
  • Prepare small groups for the activity if desired (e.g., pre-assign groups or have a quick grouping method).

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the topic of social skills.
  • Distribute or display the Warm-Up: Social Skills Survey.
  • Have students complete the warm-up individually.
  • Briefly discuss some responses as a class, using guiding questions from the Teacher Script: Social Skills.

Step 2

What Are Social Skills? (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Use the Social Skills Slide Deck to define social skills and discuss their importance.
  • Facilitate a short discussion about specific examples of social skills (e.g., active listening, empathy, cooperation, clear communication, conflict resolution).
  • Encourage students to share their own experiences where social skills were helpful or challenging, guided by the Teacher Script: Social Skills.

Step 3

Social Scenarios Activity (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups.
  • Provide each group with a few Social Scenarios Activity Cards.
  • Instruct groups to read each scenario and discuss how they would use social skills to navigate the situation effectively.
  • Circulate among groups, offering guidance and prompting discussion using the Teacher Script: Social Skills.
  • Bring the class back together for a brief share-out of one or two scenarios.

Step 4

Cool-Down & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Distribute or display the Cool-Down: One-Word Reflection.
  • Ask students to reflect on what they learned and write down one word that describes an important social skill or something they will try to practice.
  • Collect cool-down responses or have a few students share their words.
  • Thank students for their participation and emphasize the ongoing importance of practicing social skills in daily life, using prompts from the Teacher Script: Social Skills.
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Slide Deck

Social Skills: Your Secret Superpower!

What are social skills and why do they matter?

Get ready to unlock your social superpowers!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of social skills. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear 'social skills.' This slide sets an engaging tone.

What ARE Social Skills?

Social skills are the ways we communicate and interact with others. They help us:

  • Make friends
  • Work in groups
  • Understand feelings
  • Solve problems
  • Handle disagreements

Explain that social skills are like tools in a toolbox, helping us interact effectively. Encourage students to think about different situations where they use these 'tools.' Refer to the Warm-Up questions. (See Teacher Script: Social Skills for more detailed talking points).

Why Are They So Important?

Imagine trying to build a tower without the right tools... tough, right?

Social skills are YOUR essential tools for:

  • Building strong friendships
  • Working well with others
  • Feeling confident in different situations
  • Understanding what others might be thinking or feeling
  • Solving problems peacefully

Discuss how good social skills can make daily life smoother and more enjoyable. Ask students for examples of when strong social skills have helped them or someone they know. Connect this to real-life situations like group projects, new friendships, or resolving a small conflict. (See Teacher Script: Social Skills for more detailed talking points).

Time for Action: Social Scenarios!

You'll work in small groups to solve some social challenges.

For each scenario:

  1. Read the situation carefully.
  2. Discuss with your group: Which social skills would you use?
  3. How would you respond or act in that situation?

Be ready to share your group's ideas!

Introduce the activity. Explain that they will be working in small groups to tackle different social challenges. Emphasize that there's no single 'right' answer, but the goal is to think about applying the social skills discussed. Remind them to think about 'what would a social superpower do?' (See Teacher Script: Social Skills for more detailed talking points).

Keep Practicing Your Superpowers!

Just like any superpower, social skills get stronger with practice!

Keep using your listening ears, your empathy shields, and your communication rays.

What's one social skill you'll try to use more this week?

Conclude the lesson by bringing it back to the idea of superpowers. Reiterate that practicing social skills makes them stronger. Encourage students to keep an eye out for opportunities to use their social superpowers. Thank them for participating. (See Teacher Script: Social Skills for more detailed talking points).

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Warm Up

Social Skills Survey: Warm-Up

Instructions: Read each statement and circle the answer that best describes you. There are no right or wrong answers!

  1. When someone is talking, I usually listen carefully without interrupting.

    • Always
    • Sometimes
    • Rarely

  2. I find it easy to start a conversation with someone new.

    • Always
    • Sometimes
    • Rarely

  3. If a friend is upset, I try to understand how they are feeling.

    • Always
    • Sometimes
    • Rarely

  4. When I disagree with someone, I try to find a solution that works for everyone.

    • Always
    • Sometimes
    • Rarely

  5. I feel comfortable working in a group with classmates.

    • Always
    • Sometimes
    • Rarely







Quick Reflection:

What is one social skill you think is really important? Why?












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Activity

Social Scenarios Activity Cards

Instructions: In your groups, read each scenario. Discuss the following:

  • What social skills would be most helpful in this situation?
  • How would you use those skills to respond or act?
  • What might be the best outcome?

Scenario 1: Group Project Trouble

You are working on a group project, and one member isn't doing their share of the work. The deadline is getting close, and you're worried about your grade.













Scenario 2: Lunchtime Exclusion

You see a new student sitting alone at a lunch table. You remember what it felt like to be new.













Scenario 3: Misunderstanding a Friend

Your friend seems really quiet and withdrawn, and they've been ignoring your messages. You're not sure why they're acting this way, and you're feeling a little hurt.













Scenario 4: Accidental Bump

You accidentally bump into someone in the hallway, and their books fall everywhere. They look annoyed.













Scenario 5: Different Opinions

Your classmates are arguing about which game to play during free time. Everyone has a strong opinion, and it's starting to get heated.













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Cool Down

One-Word Reflection Cool-Down

Instructions: Think about what we discussed today about social skills. In the space below, write ONE WORD that describes:

  • An important social skill you want to practice, OR
  • Something new you learned about social skills, OR
  • How you feel about using social skills.




My word is:












(Optional: Briefly explain why you chose that word.)

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Script

Teacher Script: Social Skills

Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important for how we get along with others, both in school and outside of it. We're going to explore what I like to call your 'Social Superpowers!'"

Teacher: "To get us started, I have a quick Warm-Up: Social Skills Survey for you. I'm going to put it on the screen/hand it out. Please take about 2-3 minutes to answer honestly. There are no right or wrong answers, just what you genuinely feel."

(Allow students time to complete the warm-up.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's briefly touch on this. No need to share your exact answers, but by a show of hands, how many of you sometimes find it easy to start a conversation with someone new? How about trying to understand how a friend is feeling?"

Teacher: "Take a look at your last reflection question: 'What is one social skill you think is really important? Why?' Does anyone feel comfortable sharing their thoughts on this?"

(Call on 2-3 students to share their ideas, validating their responses.)

What Are Social Skills? (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Great responses! Let's dive a bit deeper. What are social skills, really? (Transition to Social Skills Slide Deck - Slide 2).

Teacher: "As you can see, social skills are essentially the ways we communicate and interact with others. They're like a toolkit we use every day to navigate the world around us. Think about what we just discussed – things like listening, understanding feelings, working together. These are all part of our social skills toolbox."

Teacher: "Why do you think these skills are so important? (Transition to Social Skills Slide Deck - Slide 3). Why do they matter in your life right now?"

(Listen to student responses, drawing connections to their experiences.)

Teacher: "Exactly! Good social skills help us build strong friendships, succeed in group projects, and even handle disagreements more calmly. They help us understand others better and help others understand us. It's truly a superpower that makes life smoother and more enjoyable."

Teacher: "Can anyone give me an example of a time when good social skills really made a difference for them, or for someone they observed?"

(Call on a few students. Prompt them to identify which specific social skill was used.)

Social Scenarios Activity (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now that we've talked about what social skills are and why they're important, it's time to put your superpowers to the test! (Transition to Social Skills Slide Deck - Slide 4).

Teacher: "I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will receive some Social Scenarios Activity Cards. Your task is to read each scenario and discuss:

  1. What social skills would be most helpful in this situation?
  2. How would you use those skills to respond or act?
  3. What might be the best outcome?"

Teacher: "Remember, there's no single perfect answer. The goal is to think critically and apply what we've learned. I'll be walking around to listen and answer any questions. You'll have about 7-8 minutes for this, then we'll share out a few."

(Divide students into groups and distribute the Social Scenarios Activity Cards. Circulate, listen, and provide prompts as needed.)

Possible prompts during activity:

  • "Which specific skill are you focusing on here?"
  • "How would that skill change the outcome?"
  • "What if the other person reacts differently? How would your social skills help then?"
  • "Is there another way to look at this situation?"

(After 7-8 minutes, bring the class back together.)

Teacher: "Alright everyone, let's come back together. Can one group share a scenario and their discussion about it? Which scenario did you find most interesting or challenging?"

(Call on 1-2 groups to share. Briefly discuss their chosen social skills and proposed actions.)

Cool-Down & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Fantastic discussions, everyone! You clearly have some powerful social skills already, and you're getting even better at recognizing and using them. (Transition to Social Skills Slide Deck - Slide 5).

Teacher: "Just like any superpower, social skills get stronger with practice. The more you use them, the more natural and effective they become."

Teacher: "To wrap up our lesson today, I'd like you to complete this Cool-Down: One-Word Reflection. Think about everything we discussed. What is ONE WORD that describes an important social skill you want to practice, or something new you learned, or how you feel about using social skills?"

(Allow students 2 minutes to write their word. Collect responses or have 2-3 students share their words and why they chose them.)

Teacher: "Thank you for sharing and for your excellent participation today! Remember to keep practicing your social superpowers every day. They will help you build amazing relationships and navigate all kinds of situations. Have a great rest of your day!"

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