lenny

Solving People Puzzles!

user image

Lesson Plan

Solving People Puzzles!

Students will be able to identify a conflict, express their feelings, and try simple solutions like sharing or taking turns.

Learning to resolve conflicts peacefully is a foundational social-emotional skill that helps children build positive relationships, understand others' perspectives, and develop self-regulation.

Audience

Pre-K Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through stories, discussion, and role-playing, students will practice conflict resolution.

Materials

Slide Deck: Solving People Puzzles!, Picture cards depicting common conflicts (e.g., two children wanting the same toy, one child knocking down another's block tower), Puppets or stuffed animals for role-playing, Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling Today?, Activity: Solution Spinners, and Cool Down: What Can We Do?

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling Today?

5 minutes

  • Use the Warm-Up: How Are You Feeling Today? to gauge students' emotions and set a positive tone. Ask students to point to the feeling face that matches how they feel and briefly share why, if they want.

Step 2

Introduction: What's a People Puzzle?

5 minutes

  • Display the first slide of the Slide Deck: Solving People Puzzles!.
    - Explain that sometimes when we play with friends, things can get tricky, like a 'people puzzle'.
    - Ask: 'Has anyone ever had a problem with a friend?' Allow a few brief responses.

Step 3

Understanding Conflict with Picture Cards

10 minutes

  • Show students one of the picture cards depicting a conflict.
    - Ask: 'What's happening in this picture? How do you think the children are feeling?' (Use emotion words from the warm-up).
    - Guide students to identify the 'people puzzle' in the scenario.
    - Introduce simple solutions: 'What could they do to solve this puzzle? Maybe share? Take turns? Use your words?'
    - Repeat with 2-3 other picture cards, focusing on identifying the problem and brainstorming solutions together.

Step 4

Activity: Solution Spinners

5 minutes

  • Introduce the Activity: Solution Spinners. Explain that these spinners have ideas for solving people puzzles.
    - Divide students into small groups or pairs.
    - Give each group a spinner and a conflict scenario (verbally or using a simplified picture card).
    - Have them spin to find a solution and briefly discuss how it could help.

Step 5

Cool Down: What Can We Do?

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Cool Down: What Can We Do? sheet.
    - Ask students to draw or tell you one way they can solve a 'people puzzle' next time.
    - Reiterate that it's okay to have 'people puzzles' and that we can always find a way to solve them peacefully.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Solving People Puzzles!

Learning to be friends!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of solving problems with friends. Keep it light and engaging.

What's a People Puzzle?

Sometimes playing with friends can be tricky, like a puzzle! What happens when we both want the same toy?

Ask students if they've ever had a problem with a friend. Encourage them to share simple examples without naming names.

Look! A People Puzzle!

What's happening here? How do they feel? What can they do?

Show a picture card of two kids pulling a toy. Ask about feelings and brainstorm solutions: share, take turns, find another toy.

Another People Puzzle!

Oh no! What went wrong? How can we fix it?

Show a picture card of one child crying because their block tower was knocked down. Discuss feelings and how to say 'sorry' or help rebuild.

Our Solution Spinner!

Let's find some ideas to solve our people puzzles!

Introduce the 'Solution Spinner' activity. Explain that there are many ways to solve problems.

We Can Solve Puzzles!

It's okay to have a 'people puzzle'. We can always find a kind solution!

Recap that it's okay to have problems and we can always find kind ways to solve them.

lenny

Warm Up

How Are You Feeling Today?

Look at the feeling faces below. Point to the face that shows how you are feeling right now.

Draw or paste feeling faces here (e.g., happy, sad, angry, surprised, silly)

Can you tell a friend or your teacher why you feel that way? (Optional)




lenny
lenny

Activity

Solution Spinners: Solving People Puzzles!

Materials:
- Printed Solution Spinner (cut out and assemble with a paperclip and pencil as a spinner)
- Picture cards of conflict scenarios

Instructions:
1. Look at the picture card. What's the problem or 'people puzzle'?
2. Spin the spinner! What solution did you land on?
3. Talk with your group: How can this solution help solve the 'people puzzle' in the picture?

---
Solution Spinner Options (to be drawn/written in spinner sections):

Section 1: Share! (Draw two children sharing a toy)

Section 2: Take Turns! (Draw two children waiting patiently for a turn)

Section 3: Use Your Words! (Draw a speech bubble with 'I don't like that' or 'Please stop')

Section 4: Ask a Teacher! (Draw a child talking to an adult)

Section 5: Say Sorry! (Draw one child giving another a hug or saying sorry)

Section 6: Find Another Toy! (Draw a child playing with a different toy)

lenny
lenny