Lesson Plan

Personal Space Foundations

Students will learn the meaning of personal space by defining boundaries, observing modeled examples, and practicing with visual aids to recognize comfortable distances.

Teaching personal space helps students with autism feel safe, lowers social anxiety, and builds foundational skills for respectful interactions.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Introduction

5 minutes

Step 2

Discuss Personal Space

10 minutes

Step 3

Bubble Buddy Practice

10 minutes

Step 4

Cool-Down & Reflection

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Session 1: Personal Space Foundations

Warm-Up & Introduction

What Is Personal Space?

Inside vs. Outside the Bubble

Too Close or Just Right?

Bubble Buddy Practice

Cool-Down & Reflection

Worksheet

Activity

Warm Up

Cool Down

Lesson Plan

Reading Signals

Students will learn to recognize and interpret body signals that indicate comfort or discomfort with personal space, practicing respectful response strategies.

Understanding nonverbal signals helps students with autism notice when someone’s bubble is invaded, promoting respectful interactions and reducing social anxiety.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Signal Introduction

5 minutes

Step 2

Identifying Comfort Levels

10 minutes

Step 3

Puppet Pair Practice

10 minutes

Step 4

Worksheet & Cool-Down

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Session 2: Reading Signals

Warm-Up & Signal Introduction

What Are Body Signals?

Identifying Comfort Levels

Puppet Pair Practice

Worksheet & Cool-Down

Worksheet

Lesson Plan

Asking for Space

Students will learn to use polite verbal phrases to ask for personal space and practice responding when others request more space.

Teaching clear, respectful language empowers students with autism to advocate for their comfort and recognize others’ needs, improving social confidence and reducing misunderstandings.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Review

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduce Asking Phrases

10 minutes

Step 3

Phrase Practice

5 minutes

Step 4

Role-Play Scenarios

7 minutes

Step 5

Cool-Down & Reflection

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Session 3: Asking for Space

Warm-Up & Review

Introduce Asking Phrases

Phrase Practice

Role-Play Scenarios

Cool-Down & Reflection

Worksheet

Lesson Plan

Keeping Your Cool

Students will learn self-regulation strategies to calm their bodies and minds when their personal space feels invaded by practicing coping tools and recognizing internal signals.

Helping students with autism develop calming strategies reduces anxiety and prevents outbursts when someone enters their bubble, supporting positive social interactions.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Check-In

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduce Calming Strategies

10 minutes

Step 3

Strategy Stations

10 minutes

Step 4

Cool-Down & Reflection

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Session 4: Keeping Your Cool

Warm-Up & Check-In

Introduce Calming Strategies

Strategy Stations

Cool-Down & Reflection

Worksheet

Lesson Plan

Bubble Hero Challenge

Students will consolidate their personal space and boundary skills by leading and responding to real-world scenarios in a fun challenge, then reflect on and plan for future use.

Reviewing and applying learned skills in a game format boosts confidence, generalizes learning, and empowers students with autism to advocate for and respect personal boundaries.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Quick Review

5 minutes

Step 2

Bubble Hero Challenge Game

15 minutes

Step 3

Reflection & Share

5 minutes

Step 4

Pledge & Closing

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Session 5: Bubble Hero Challenge

Warm-Up & Quick Review

Bubble Hero Challenge Game