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Support Squad

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Lesson Plan

Building Our Squad

Students will identify and organize members of their emotional support network by creating a “Support Squad” chart listing family, friends, and community helpers, and will recognize who they can turn to when they need help.

Building a clear picture of personal support networks boosts social-emotional awareness, resilience, and helps 1st graders feel connected and empowered to seek help when they need it.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

8 minutes

Approach

Guided discussion followed by hands-on chart creation.

Materials

Team You Slide Deck, Squad Shuffle Warm-Up, Large Chart Paper, and Colored Markers

Prep

Prepare Materials

3 minutes

  • Review the Team You Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with key talking points.
  • Print or set up the Squad Shuffle Warm-Up activity sheet.
  • Place a large sheet of chart paper and colored markers at the front of the room.

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

2 minutes

  • Display the title “Support Squad” on the board.
  • Lead the Squad Shuffle Warm-Up to get students thinking about who helps them.
  • Ask volunteers to share one person they listed.

Step 2

Guided Discussion

2 minutes

  • Use the Team You Slide Deck to show categories: Family, Friends, Community Helpers.
  • Ask students to name examples for each category and discuss how they offer support.

Step 3

Chart Creation

3 minutes

  • Divide chart paper into three sections: Family, Friends, Community Helpers.
  • Have students come up and write or draw one person in each section who supports them.
  • Encourage use of colored markers for visuals.

Step 4

Share & Reflect

1 minute

  • Step back and review the completed Support Squad chart as a class.
  • Prompt students: “Who can you talk to if you feel sad or need help?”
  • Praise their work and reinforce that asking for support is brave.
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Slide Deck

Team You

Let’s meet our Support Squad!

Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to meet our Support Squad—people who help us feel safe and happy every day. Get ready to think about your own team!

Family

Your family members are part of your Support Squad:
• Parents or guardians
• Brothers or sisters
• Grandparents or other relatives

Point to each bullet and ask for examples: “Who in your family helps you when you feel sad?”

Friends

Friends help us feel happy and supported:
• Classmates
• Neighborhood pals
• Best buddies

Ask: “What does a friend do when you’re upset?” Encourage them to share a quick story.

Community Helpers

People in our community keep us safe and healthy:
• Teachers and school staff
• Police officers and firefighters
• Doctors, nurses, and librarians

Show pictures of each helper (optional). Discuss: “Help me name some jobs in our town that support us!”

Think About Your Squad

Who would you add to each column?
Draw or write their names on our chart paper!

Prepare chart paper divided into three columns labeled Family, Friends, Community Helpers. Have markers ready.

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Warm Up

Squad Shuffle Warm-Up

Objective: Energize students and prime thinking about their support network by having them call out names of people who help them.

Time: 2 minutes
Materials: Open space in the classroom

Instructions

  1. Get Ready to Shuffle (30 seconds)

    • Have students stand behind their chairs with about an arm’s length of space around them.
    • Explain that on each teacher clap they will shuffle (quick side-to-side steps) in place.

  2. Shuffle & Shout (1 minute)

    • Lead three quick claps: on the third clap, students freeze and shout one name of someone in their “Support Squad.”
    • Round 1: Call out a Family member.
    • Round 2: Call out a Friend.
    • Round 3: Call out a Community Helper.
    • Optional Round 4: Students choose any person they want to add to their squad.

  3. Quick Debrief (30 seconds)

    • Ask a few students to share why they chose the person they shouted.
    • Praise their enthusiasm and remind them we all have people we can turn to for help.





Teacher Notes:

  • Encourage loud, clear responses and celebrate every answer.
  • Use this warm-up to transition into creating the class “Support Squad” chart on chart paper.
  • Reference the categories on the Team You Slide Deck as students respond.
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