Lesson Plan
Squad Goals: Social Skills
To equip 5th-grade boys with essential social skills including active listening, empathy, clear communication, conflict resolution, and friendship building over a 6-week period.
Developing strong social skills helps students navigate friendships, manage disagreements, and build confidence, which are vital for academic and personal success. This group provides a safe space to practice these skills.
Audience
5th Grade Boys
Time
6 sessions x 30 minutes (180 minutes total)
Approach
Interactive discussions, role-playing, and guided activities.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials and Prepare
30 minutes
- Review all generated materials, including the Social Skills Group Slide Deck, and customize as needed.
- Print and cut out any activity cards or handouts specified for each week.
- Ensure you have a whiteboard or chart paper and markers available for each session.
- Arrange the meeting space to facilitate group discussion and activities.
Step 1
Week 1: Welcome & Active Listening
30 minutes
- Welcome & Group Norms (5 min): Welcome students, briefly introduce the purpose of the group. Establish 3-4 simple group norms (e.g., respect, confidentiality, participation).
- What are Social Skills? (5 min): Lead a brief discussion on what social skills are and why they're important. Use the Social Skills Group Slide Deck for visual support.
- Active Listening Introduction (10 min): Explain active listening (eye contact, nodding, summarizing). Demonstrate good vs. poor listening. Use Listening Activity Cards.
- Listening Practice (10 min): Pair students. Give each pair a card from Listening Activity Cards. One student shares a short story (2-3 sentences), the other practices active listening and summarizes. Discuss as a group.
Step 2
Week 2: Understanding Emotions & Empathy
30 minutes
- Check-in (5 min): Ask students to share one emotion they are feeling and why.
- Emotions Review (5 min): Briefly discuss common emotions and how they feel in our bodies. Use the Social Skills Group Slide Deck.
- What is Empathy? (10 min): Introduce empathy (putting yourself in someone else's shoes). Discuss scenarios where empathy is important. Use Emotion Cards to discuss how someone might feel in different situations.
- Empathy Practice (10 min): Present short scenarios. Students discuss how a person might feel and what an empathetic response would look like. Use additional prompts from Emotion Cards.
Step 3
Week 3: Clear Communication & 'I' Statements
30 minutes
- Check-in (5 min): Review previous week's topic: empathy.
- Importance of Clear Communication (5 min): Discuss how miscommunication can lead to problems. Introduce the idea of "I" statements as a way to express feelings and needs clearly without blaming. Use the Social Skills Group Slide Deck to show the "I" statement formula.
- "I" Statement Practice (10 min): Explain the "I" statement formula: "I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [why]. I need/want [solution]." Provide simple examples.
- Scenario Practice (10 min): Divide students into pairs or small groups. Distribute Communication Scenario Cards. Have them practice using "I" statements for each scenario. Circulate and provide feedback. Discuss some scenarios as a whole group.
Step 4
Week 4: Conflict Resolution & Problem Solving
30 minutes
- Check-in (5 min): Ask students about a time they had a disagreement with someone.
- Steps to Conflict Resolution (10 min): Introduce a simple 3-4 step conflict resolution process (e.g., 1. Stay Calm, 2. Talk it Out using 'I' statements, 3. Listen to Others, 4. Find a Solution Together). Use the Social Skills Group Slide Deck and distribute Conflict Resolution Steps Handout.
- Role-Playing Conflicts (15 min): Present simple conflict scenarios. Have students role-play, practicing the resolution steps. Provide feedback and guidance. Refer to Conflict Resolution Steps Handout.
Step 5
Week 5: Building and Maintaining Friendships
30 minutes
- Check-in (5 min): Discuss what makes a good friend.
- Qualities of a Good Friend (10 min): Brainstorm characteristics of positive friendships. Discuss how to be a good friend and how to choose good friends. Use the Social Skills Group Slide Deck and Friendship Qualities Worksheet.
- Friendship Scenarios (15 min): Present scenarios related to friendship challenges (e.g., a friend being left out, a new student joining the group). Students discuss how to respond effectively using the qualities discussed. They can write some ideas on their Friendship Qualities Worksheet.
Step 6
Week 6: Review, Practice & Celebration
30 minutes
- Review Key Skills (10 min): Briefly recap all the social skills covered: listening, empathy, communication, conflict resolution, friendship. Use the Social Skills Group Slide Deck.
- Social Skills Challenge (15 min): Divide into small groups. Give each group a few Social Skills Challenge Cards which present scenarios requiring them to use multiple skills learned. Groups discuss and present their solutions.
- Celebration & Closing (5 min): Acknowledge their hard work and progress. Encourage them to continue practicing these skills. Distribute a small certificate or positive note (optional).
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Activity
Listening Activity Cards
Cut out these cards. One student shares the topic on the card for 1-2 minutes, while the other student practices active listening. The listener then summarizes what they heard.
Card 1
Topic: Describe your favorite hobby or something you love to do outside of school.
Card 2
Topic: Share about a time you felt really proud of something you accomplished.
Card 3
Topic: Talk about your favorite movie, video game, or book and why you like it.
Card 4
Topic: Tell us about a memorable family vacation or a fun day you had recently.
Card 5
Topic: Describe your favorite food and how you would make it.
Card 6
Topic: Share something new you learned recently, either in school or outside of it.
Card 7
Topic: Talk about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
Card 8
Topic: Describe what you would do if you had a superpower for a day.
Activity
Emotion Cards
Cut out these cards. For each card, discuss:
- What emotion is shown/described?
- How might someone feel in this situation (body sensations, thoughts)?
- What would an empathetic response look like?
Card 1: Happy
- Scenario: You just won a big game with your team!
- Feeling: Joyful, excited, proud.
Card 2: Sad
- Scenario: Your favorite pet is sick.
- Feeling: Upset, worried, tearful.
Card 3: Angry
- Scenario: Someone unfairly blamed you for something you didn't do.
- Feeling: Frustrated, annoyed, furious.
Card 4: Surprised
- Scenario: A friend throws you a surprise birthday party!
- Feeling: Amazed, shocked (in a good way), delighted.
Card 5: Scared
- Scenario: You hear a strange noise outside your window at night.
- Feeling: Anxious, nervous, fearful.
Card 6: Frustrated
- Scenario: You've been trying to solve a tricky math problem for a long time and can't get it.
- Feeling: Annoyed, stuck, irritated.
Card 7: Confident
- Scenario: You are about to give a presentation on a topic you know very well.
- Feeling: Sure of yourself, brave, capable.
Card 8: Embarrassed
- Scenario: You tripped and fell in front of your whole class.
- Feeling: Ashamed, mortified, red-faced.
Activity
Communication Scenario Cards
Cut out these cards. In pairs or small groups, read each scenario and practice using an "I" statement to express feelings and needs.
Card 1
Scenario: Your friend keeps interrupting you when you're trying to tell a story.
- How would you use an "I" statement to express how you feel and what you need?
Card 2
Scenario: You and your friend made plans, but they showed up very late without telling you.
- How would you use an "I" statement to express your feelings and what you want for next time?
Card 3
Scenario: You lent a game to a friend, and they returned it damaged.
- How would you use an "I" statement to express your disappointment and what you hope will happen?
Card 4
Scenario: During a group project, one team member isn't doing their fair share of the work.
- How could you use an "I" statement to talk to your team member about the situation?
Card 5
Scenario: You feel left out when your two best friends start talking about something you weren't a part of.
- How would you use an "I" statement to share your feelings with them?
Card 6
Scenario: Your sibling took your toy without asking and now it's missing.
- How would you use an "I" statement to explain how you feel and what you want to happen?
Card 7
Scenario: A classmate keeps making jokes that you don't find funny and they're starting to annoy you.
- How would you use an "I" statement to let them know how you feel?
Card 8
Scenario: You are trying to explain something important to a friend, but they are looking at their phone and not paying attention.
- How would you use an "I" statement to express your feelings and what you need from them?
Worksheet
Conflict Resolution Steps: Find Your Way to Peace!
Disagreements happen, but how you handle them matters! Use these steps to help solve problems with others.
Step 1: Stay Calm!
- When you feel angry or upset, take a few deep breaths.
- Count to 10 in your head.
- Give yourself a moment before you speak.
- Why this helps: It keeps you from saying or doing things you might regret.
Step 2: Talk it Out Using "I" Statements
- Explain how you feel, not what they did wrong.
- Remember the "I" statement formula: "I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [why]. I need/want [solution]."
- Example: Instead of "You always hog the ball!", try: "I feel frustrated when I don't get a chance to play because I want to be part of the game too. I need us to share the ball more evenly."
Step 3: Listen to the Other Person
- Give them your full attention. Practice active listening!
- Try to understand their side of the story, even if you don't agree.
- Don't interrupt.
- Why this helps: Everyone wants to feel heard. It helps you understand the whole picture.
Step 4: Find a Solution Together
- Brainstorm ideas that work for both of you.
- Be willing to compromise (give a little, get a little).
- What's fair for everyone?
- Why this helps: It shows teamwork and respect, and usually leads to a better outcome for everyone.
Practice Scenarios:
Write down how you would use these steps to solve the following problems.
-
You and your friend both want to use the last art supply for your project. How do you resolve this?
-
Someone accidentally bumps into you and knocks your books to the floor. How do you handle this using the steps?
Worksheet
My Friendship Qualities Worksheet
Part 1: What makes a great friend?
Think about the best friends you know (real or from stories). What qualities do they have that make them great? List at least 5 qualities and explain why each is important.
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Quality:
Why it's important: -
Quality:
Why it's important: -
Quality:
Why it's important: -
Quality:
Why it's important: -
Quality:
Why it's important:
Part 2: Being a good friend
How can you show these qualities to your friends? Write down at least 3 actions you can take to be a good friend this week.
Part 3: Friendship Scenarios
Read the scenarios below. How would a good friend respond? What social skills would you use (listening, empathy, "I" statements, conflict resolution)?
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Your friend seems really quiet and sad at recess. You usually play tag together, but today they just want to sit on the bench.
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A new student joins your class, and they look a little lost during lunchtime. Your friends are all sitting together.
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You overheard a classmate saying something untrue about one of your friends. What do you do?
Activity
Social Skills Challenge Cards
Cut out these cards. In small groups, read the scenario and discuss how you would use the social skills you've learned (listening, empathy, "I" statements, conflict resolution, friendship building) to handle the situation.
Card 1: The Group Project Mix-Up
Scenario: You're working on a group project, and one of your teammates isn't pulling their weight. Another teammate is getting really frustrated and wants to tell the teacher.
- How do you use "I" statements to talk to the teammate who isn't participating?
- How do you use active listening and empathy to help your frustrated teammate?
- What's a fair solution for the group?
Card 2: The Lunchroom Drama
Scenario: You see a new student sitting alone at lunch. At the same time, two of your friends are having a loud disagreement about who gets to sit at a certain table.
- How can you show empathy to the new student?
- What steps can you take to help your friends resolve their conflict?
- How can you include everyone in a positive way?
Card 3: The Playground Problem
Scenario: During a game at recess, you accidentally bump into someone, and they fall. They get up looking really angry and accuse you of doing it on purpose.
- How do you stay calm in this situation?
- What "I" statement could you use to explain what happened and how you feel?
- How would you actively listen to their anger and then try to find a solution?
Card 4: The Misunderstood Message
Scenario: You sent a message to a friend about hanging out, but they misunderstood it and now think you're mad at them. They're avoiding you.
- How can you use clear communication to fix the misunderstanding?
- How can you show empathy for how your friend might be feeling?
- What action would you take to rebuild the friendship?
Card 5: The Unfair Game
Scenario: You're playing a game with a group of friends, and you notice one friend is constantly making up rules to benefit themselves, making others feel left out and frustrated.
- How can you use an "I" statement to address the unfairness without blaming?
- How can you listen to their perspective?
- What's a conflict resolution strategy to make the game fair for everyone?
Card 6: The Secret Sharing
Scenario: A friend tells you a secret and asks you not to tell anyone. Later, another friend asks you about the secret, putting you in an awkward position.
- What social skill relates to keeping promises and trust?
- How do you communicate clearly to the second friend without breaking trust?
- What might be the empathetic thing to do for both friends?
Slide Deck
Welcome to Squad Goals!
What are we doing here?
Our Group Rules:
Welcome students and introduce yourself. Explain the purpose of the group: to learn how to be awesome friends and problem-solvers. Go over a few simple group rules: listen, respect, and keep what's shared private.
Week 1: Active Listening
What is Active Listening?
Why is it important?
Introduce the concept of active listening. Explain that it's more than just hearing words; it's showing you understand. Emphasize eye contact (when comfortable), nodding, and asking clarifying questions. Demonstrate with a quick example.
Week 2: Empathy - Understanding Others
What are Emotions?
What is Empathy?
Why Empathy Matters:
Start by asking students about different emotions they know. Explain that understanding emotions, both our own and others', is the first step to empathy. Introduce empathy as 'walking in someone else's shoes.' Provide a simple example.
Week 3: Clear Communication & "I" Statements
Why is clear talking important?
The Power of "I" Statements!
Discuss how unclear communication can lead to misunderstandings. Introduce 'I' statements as a powerful tool. Explain the formula: "I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [why]. I need/want [solution]." Give a simple example relevant to 5th graders.
Week 4: Conflict Resolution
Conflicts Happen! It's Normal!
Steps to Solve a Conflict:
Acknowledge that conflicts happen and are normal. Present a simple step-by-step process for resolving conflicts. Emphasize staying calm and using 'I' statements from the previous week. Walk through each step with an example.
Week 5: Building Friendships
What makes a great friend?
How to be a good friend:
Engage students in a discussion about what makes a good friend. Brainstorm qualities together. Discuss the importance of being a good friend and how to recognize healthy friendships. Talk about how to handle tricky friendship situations.
Week 6: Skills Review & Celebration!
We've Learned So Much!
Keep Practicing!
You did it! Great job, team!
Quickly review all the skills covered throughout the 6 weeks. Lead into a final activity where students can apply multiple skills. Reinforce that these skills are for lifelong use. Celebrate their progress!