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Solo Helping Hands

Lesson Plan

Helping Hands Lesson Plan

Students will recognize that everyone needs help sometimes and practice both asking for and offering help through real-life scenarios to build empathy and teamwork.

Building empathy and strong communication skills helps third graders collaborate, feel supported, and contribute positively to their classroom community.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive story, collaborative activities, and personal reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

5 minutes

  • Ask students: “Can you remember a time you needed help?”
  • Invite volunteers to share their experiences
  • Record keywords or phrases on chart paper
  • Highlight that everyone sometimes needs help

Step 2

Story Time

10 minutes

  • Present the Helping Hands Story Slides
  • Pause after key scenes to ask: “Who needed help here? How did they ask?”
  • Encourage students to notice both asking for and offering help in the story

Step 3

Hands-On Activity

10 minutes

  • Arrange students in pairs
  • Give each pair 2–3 Helping Hands Scenario Cards
  • In each scenario, one student practices asking for help and the other practices offering help
  • Rotate roles and circulate to provide feedback and support

Step 4

Reflection

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Helping Hands Reflection Worksheet
  • Ask students to draw or write one time they asked for help and one time they offered help
  • Invite a few volunteers to share their reflections with the class
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Slide Deck

Helping Hands: Mia’s Story

Let’s find out how Mia learns that everyone needs help sometimes!

Introduce the story: “Today we’ll read about Mia and see how asking for and offering help can make tough moments easier.”

Mia Paints a Picture

Mia was painting a beautiful picture for art class. She used bright red paint to make the flowers pop.

Describe the scene: “Mia is excited to paint in art class. Notice her bright smiles and colorful paints.”

Uh-oh! A Spill!

Suddenly, Mia’s paint jar tipped over, and red paint spilled all over her table.

Pause here. Ask: “Uh-oh! Who needs help? What could Mia say or do?”

A Helping Hand

Mia looked worried. Her friend Jamal saw the spill and said, “I can help you clean up!”

Ask: “How did Jamal offer help? Have you ever been helped like this?”

Working Together

Mia and Jamal grabbed paper towels and wiped up the paint together. It was gone in no time!

Highlight teamwork: “Working together can solve problems faster.”

Block Tower Trouble

Later, Mia built a tall tower of blocks. It wobbled and crashed to the floor.

Pause: “What happened to Mia’s block tower? Who needs help now?”

Mia Offers Help

Mia helped her classmate Luna pick up the blocks. She said, “Let me give you a hand!”

Discuss offering help: “What did Mia do to help Luna? How did Luna feel?”

Everyone Needs Help

Mia realized that everyone needs help sometimes. Asking and offering help makes things better!

Wrap up: “What did we learn about asking for and offering help? How can you be a helper today?”

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Activity

Helping Hands Scenario Cards

These scenario cards help students practice asking for and offering help. In each scenario, one student will play the “Asker” and the other will play the “Helper.” After a few minutes, students switch roles.

Download the cards as slips for each pair

Scenario 1: Spilled Snack

Situation: You carried your snack tray in the cafeteria and accidentally tipped it, spilling juice and crackers on the floor.

Asker prompt: “Could someone please help me clean up?”


Helper prompt: “Sure! Let me grab some napkins.”


Scenario 2: Stuck Zipper

Situation: Your jacket zipper is stuck, and you can’t zip it up before going outside to recess.

Asker prompt: “Can you help me with my zipper?”


Helper prompt: “I can help you, hold it steady.”


Scenario 3: Heavy Art Box

Situation: You need to bring the art supplies box back to your desk, but it’s too heavy to carry alone.

Asker prompt: “Would you mind helping me carry this box?”


Helper prompt: “I’ll take one side—let’s do it together!”


Scenario 4: Lost Pencil

Situation: You can’t find a pencil when it’s time to start writing your journal entry.

Asker prompt: “Has anyone seen a pencil I could borrow?”


Helper prompt: “Here, you can borrow mine.”


Scenario 5: High Shelf Book

Situation: A book you need for reading time is on the top shelf, and you can’t reach it.

Asker prompt: “Can you reach that book for me?”


Helper prompt: “Sure, I’ll get it down for you.”


Scenario 6: Torn Art Paper

Situation: Your friend’s drawing paper got a tear, and they look upset.

Asker prompt (your friend): “Can you help me tape this back together?”


Helper prompt: “Let me grab some tape and fix it for you.”


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Worksheet

Helping Hands Reflection Worksheet

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________________

  1. Draw or write about a time you needed help:











  2. Draw or write about a time you offered help:











  3. Why is it important to ask for help?






  4. Why is it important to offer help?






  5. List three ways you can help someone else today:
  • ___________________________


  • ___________________________


  • ___________________________


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Lesson Plan

Solo Helping Hands Plan

The student will understand that everyone needs help sometimes by watching an animated video, discussing how to ask for and offer help, practicing through guided one-on-one role-play, and reflecting on personal experiences.

Building self-advocacy and empathy helps third graders feel confident reaching out when they need support and offering assistance to others in a caring way.

Audience

3rd Grade (Individual)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Video viewing, guided discussion, one-on-one role-play, personal reflection

Materials

Prep

Prepare One-on-One Session

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Video

8 minutes

Step 2

Guided Discussion

7 minutes

  • Ask targeted questions:
    • “How did Hunter know when to ask for help?”
    • “Who did Hunter turn to, and why?”
    • “How did Hunter say ‘thank you’ afterward?”
  • Highlight polite phrases (e.g., “Could you please…?”, “Thanks for helping!”).
  • Jot down two or three key ideas on paper.

Step 3

One-on-One Role-Play

10 minutes

  • Explain: “We’ll practice asking for and offering help with these scenario cards.”
  • Student plays the Asker first; you play the Helper. Use 2–3 cards:
    • Student reads the scenario and asks for help using polite phrases.
    • Teacher responds as the Helper, modeling kind offers.
  • Switch roles so the teacher becomes the Asker and student the Helper.
  • Provide positive feedback on clear requests and kindness.

Step 4

Reflection

5 minutes

  • Give the student the Helping Hands Reflection Worksheet.
  • Ask them to draw or write:
    1. A time they needed help.
    2. A time they offered help.
  • Finally, list two polite phrases they’ll use next time they need help and one way they can help a friend today.
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