Session Script: Super Social Skills: Kindergarten Adventures in Friendship

Introduction (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, friends! Welcome to our Super Social Skills adventure. Today, we're going to learn about being kind and friendly to everyone. Who can tell me what it means to be kind?"

(Wait for a few responses. If needed, gently prompt with: "Being kind means sharing your smile and helping a friend." Then, smile and nod to all answers.)

Teacher: "Great job! Let’s move into our fun welcome activity. I want everyone to stand in a circle. When I say 'friendship wave', we will all wave and say 'hello'. Let’s try it together! Ready? Friendship wave!"

(Encourage participation, ensuring that the student suspected of autism feels comfortable. Provide extra reassurance by gently inviting them or celebrating their efforts.)

Core Activity or Lesson Focus (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now that we are ready to learn, we're going to talk about another way to show kindness: sharing our feelings and listening to each other. I will read a short story about a character named Sammy, who learns how to make friends by sharing and listening. Listen carefully and imagine how Sammy feels."

(Read the story with animated expression and varied tone. Pause to ask engaging questions.)

Teacher: "How do you think Sammy felt when he shared his toy?"

(After a brief discussion, continue by saying:)

Teacher: "Our next activity is a fun role-play! I will ask for volunteers to act out a friendly greeting. Remember, a smile and kind words make us all feel good. Who would like to try?"

(Select a couple of volunteers. If the student suspected of autism seems hesitant, invite them with extra encouragement: "It’s okay to try. We’re here to help each other have fun!")

Teacher: "Let’s practice saying, 'Hi, friend! I like your smile!' Repeat after me slowly: 'Hi, friend! I like your smile!'"

(Repeat the phrase a couple of times, making sure everyone gets a turn to practice.)

Discussion & Reflection (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Now, let’s sit down in our learning circle. Who can share what they liked best about our activities today?"

(Encourage several responses. Offer guiding prompts like: "I really liked when we shared our kind words. How did that make you feel?")

Teacher: "Wonderful sharing, everyone! Remember, when we use kind words and share our smiles, we make our classroom a happy place. Keep practicing these skills at home, too. Great job today, friends!"

Teacher: "Before we say goodbye, does anyone have a question or want to share another idea on how to be kind?"

(Provide space for responses, and if time allows, briefly acknowledge them.)

Teacher: "I’m so proud of all of you. Let's give ourselves a round of applause for working together! See you next time on our next Super Social Skills adventure!"

Kindness Worksheet

1. Draw Your Kindness

Imagine a time when you were kind to someone or someone was kind to you. Draw a picture of that moment below. Use as many colors as you like!

2. Match the Kind Actions

Draw a line from the action on the left to the answer on the right that best shows how the action makes someone feel.

• Sharing a toy            Happy
  
• Helping a friend            Loved
  
• Saying kind words            Special
  

(Students can draw a line connecting each pair.)

3. Complete the Sentence

Fill in the blank with your own kind word or action:

"When I see someone feeling sad, I will ____________________ to make them feel better."

4. Circle the Kind Words

Read the words below and circle the words that show kindness:

happy, mad, smile, share, rude, kind, shout, gentle

Remember, kindness makes our classroom a great place to learn and play!

Sammy's Friendship Adventure

Once upon a time, in a bright and cheerful neighborhood, there lived a little boy named Sammy. Sammy loved to explore, play, and make new friends. But sometimes, Sammy felt a little shy when meeting someone new.

One sunny day, as Sammy was playing in the park, he saw a friend sitting alone on a bench. The friend looked a bit sad. Sammy remembered what his teacher had told him about kindness. He gathered his courage and walked over with a smile.

"Hi! My name is Sammy. Would you like to play with me?" he said in a friendly voice. The friend looked up and smiled a little. Together, they played games like tag and hide-and-seek. Sammy learned that by sharing his smile and kind words, he could bring joy to others.

During the game, Sammy also shared his favorite toy. His new friend became happy and laughed, and soon, more children joined in. They played together, shared snacks, and helped each other build a giant block tower. All the friends felt close and cared for one another.

At the end of the day, Sammy's heart was full. He had learned that being kind, sharing, and listening made him feel happy. Sammy knew that every day would bring a new chance to make someone smile.

And so, Sammy's adventure in friendship began, one kind act at a time. The park echoed with laughter, and the warm feelings of friendship lasted all day long!

Friendship Circle Discussion Guide

This guide is designed to help you facilitate a friendly and supportive conversation about friendship and kindness in your classroom. Use these questions and prompts as a starting point to encourage students to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences in a safe environment.

Guidelines for the Teacher

• Begin by sitting in a circle with your students. Explain that everyone’s ideas are important and that we are here to share and listen.
  
  
  
• Encourage all students to participate by asking open-ended questions.
  
  
  
• Use gentle prompts and reassurance, especially when trying to include the student suspected of autism.
  
  
  
• Keep the tone positive and supportive, praising students for their honesty and kindness.
  
  
  
• Allow extra time for responses and validate each contribution.

Prompts and Questions

1. Opening Question

• "What does being a good friend mean to you?"
  
  
  
  Encourage students to think about kind actions such as sharing, listening, and helping others.

2. Reflection on Activities

• "What was your favorite part of our activity today? Why did you like it?"
  
  
  
  Follow-Up: "How did it feel when someone said a kind word or smiled at you?"

3. Personal Experiences

• "Can you share a time when you made someone feel better with a kind act?"
  
  
  
  If students have difficulty, you can share a simple example such as helping a friend or sharing a toy.

4. Lessons from Sammy's Adventure (Link to Reading)

• "In the story 'Sammy's Friendship Adventure', how did Sammy show kindness?"
  
  
  
  Follow-Up: "What would you do in Sammy’s place? How do you think the friend felt when Sammy approached them?"

5. Closing Reflection

• "What is one kind thing you can do for a friend tomorrow?"
  
  
  
  Allow each student a moment to think and share their idea.

Follow-Up Discussion Points

• Discuss why everyone deserves to be treated kindly.
  
  
  
• Explore how sharing and listening can help build new friendships.
  
  
  
• Encourage students to think of ways they can help make the classroom a welcoming place for everyone.

Remember to keep the discussion natural, flexible, and inclusive. Use visual support or prompt cards if needed, especially for students who may need extra help expressing their thoughts.

Happy discussing and celebrating friendship!

Friendship Role-Play

This activity encourages students to practice social skills such as greeting, sharing, and listening through engaging role-play scenarios. It is designed to be fun, inclusive, and supportive, ensuring every student (including the student suspected of autism) feels comfortable participating.

Objectives

• Practice friendly greetings and kind words.
  
  
  
• Demonstrate listening skills and polite conversation.
  
  
  
• Encourage teamwork and empathy among classmates.

Materials

• Open space for role-play (a classroom circle or cleared area).
  
  
  
• Optional props: hats, scarves, or simple costume pieces to indicate different roles.
  
  
  
• Session Script for guidance on greeting phrases and cues.

Instructions

1. Warm-Up:
   

   • Begin by gathering students into a circle. Ask them to recall one kind word or action from a previous session. Use a brief discussion prompt: "How does it feel when someone greets you nicely?"
     
     
     

2. Role-Play Setup:
   

   • Explain that today, students will practice different ways to greet a friend and use kind words. Emphasize that there's no right or wrong way; it's all about practice and having fun.
     
     
     
   • Divide students into small groups of 3-4. Provide gentle direction, ensuring that everyone gets a turn, and consider pairing the student suspected of autism with a supportive peer.

3. Role-Play Scenarios:

   • Provide several simple role-play prompts. For example:
     • Greeting a New Friend: One student acts as a new classmate who is a bit shy. The others practice welcoming them with a smile and kind words (e.g., "Hi, friend! I like your smile! How about we play together?").
       
       
       
     • Sharing a Toy or Story: One student pretends to have a favorite toy or story. Others ask if they can join in play or listen. Emphasize phrases like "May I play with you?" or "I’d love to hear your story."
       
       
       
     • Listening and Responding: Role-play a conversation where one student shares something exciting, and the others practice listening and asking a follow-up question (e.g., "That’s cool! What happened next?").

4. Practice Rounds:

   • Allow each small group 5 minutes per scenario. Circulate among groups to offer specific praise and gentle support, making sure that each student is actively participating.
     
     
     
   • For the student suspected of autism, provide additional guidance or a quiet signal if they feel overwhelmed. Encourage them to use pre-practiced phrases or gestures to participate comfortably.

5. Sharing with the Group:

   • After the role-play scenarios, regroup and invite a few groups to share what they practiced. Ask guiding questions such as, "What did you say to make your friend feel welcome?" or "How did it feel to share and listen to one another?"

Follow-Up Discussion

• Encourage students to talk about one kind thing they learned today.
  
  
  
• Ask, "What is one way you can use these skills at school or at home tomorrow?"
  
  
  
• Highlight that every kind word and action makes the classroom a happier place.

Tips for Success

• Use positive reinforcement: Praise each student for trying, regardless of perfection.
  
  
  
• Be patient and supportive, using visual cues or role cards if needed to support students who require extra guidance.
  
  
  
• Rotate roles to help students experience both speaking and listening roles.

Enjoy the fun role-play and continue celebrating friendship and kindness every day!

Kindness Bingo

Kindness Bingo is a fun and interactive game designed to help kindergarten students recognize and perform acts of kindness. This game reinforces the social skills learned in the lesson and provides a playful way for students to practice being kind to one another.

Objectives

• Recognize different kind actions and understand their positive impact.
  
  
  
• Encourage teamwork and supportive behaviors among classmates.
  
  
  
• Practice following directions and engaging in group activities.
  
  
  

Materials Needed

• Printable bingo cards with kind actions (e.g., "Smile at a friend", "Share a toy", "Say a kind word")
  
  
  
• Markers or stickers for students to cover the squares.
  
  
  
• A list of kind actions corresponding to the bingo card prompts.
  
  
  
• Optional: A small prize or certificate for the winner(s) to celebrate acts of kindness.
  
  
  

How to Play

1. Preparation:
   

   • Before the game, distribute a bingo card to each student. Each bingo card will contain several kind actions. Ensure that cards have a mix of common kind behaviors discussed during the lessons.
     
     
     

2. Game Introduction:
   

   • Explain the rules to the students in simple language. Emphasize that the goal is to mark off the kinds acts they either perform or see others perform during the class or day.
     
     
     

   • An example explanation: "Our bingo card has kind actions on it. When you see someone do one of these kind things, or if you do it, you can place a sticker on that square. When someone fills a row, column, or diagonal, they shout 'Bingo!' and win a fun prize!"

3. Gameplay:
   

   • Call out or show a kind action from your list one at a time. Alternatively, have students share examples of kind actions they performed or observed, and then mark those on the bingo cards.
     
     
     
   • As the game continues, encourage students to help each other notice kind behaviors and remind them why these actions are important.
     
     
     

4. Winning the Game:
   

   • The first student to cover a complete row, column, or diagonal on their bingo card shouts "Bingo!"
     
     
     
   • Celebrate the winner with clapping, praise, or a small prize. Continue playing so that multiple students can enjoy the game or use a new set of bingo cards for another round.
     
     
     

Adaptations for Inclusion

• For students who might need extra support (for example, the student suspected of autism), provide a simplified version of the bingo card or pair them with a buddy to help identify and mark kind actions.
  
  
  
• Use visual aids and clear, consistent language to ensure all students understand the game rules.
  
  
  

Follow-Up

• After the game, have a brief group discussion about the kind actions they noticed during play. Ask questions such as, "Which kind act did you like the best?" or "How did it make you feel to see someone being kind?"
  
  
  
• Reinforce that every kind act, no matter how small, makes our classroom a better place to learn and play.
  
  
  

Enjoy playing Kindness Bingo and keep spreading those kind actions all day long!