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Who's in Your Circle?

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Lesson Plan

Support Circle Lesson Plan

Students will identify members of their support network by creating a visual friendship map and discuss the importance of healthy relationships.

Helping students recognize who supports them builds self-awareness, social skills, and a sense of belonging, promoting emotional well-being and resilience.

Audience

2nd Grade Class

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive mapping and group sharing.

Materials

Prep

Materials Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Engagement

5 minutes

  • Display slide 1 from Circle of Support Slides and welcome students
  • Ask: “Who helps you when you feel happy or sad?”
  • Explain: “Today we’ll learn what a support circle is and map our own.”

Step 2

Explore Support Networks

5 minutes

  • Show slides 2–4 defining family, friends, teachers, and community helpers
  • Invite students to name people in each category who support them
  • Emphasize that everyone has a unique circle of support

Step 3

Friendship Map Craft

15 minutes

  • Distribute Friendship Map Craft Templates and art supplies
  • Instruct students to draw themselves in the center
  • Ask them to add names or pictures of people who support them around the circle
  • Encourage coloring and decorating their maps

Step 4

Sharing & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Use prompts from Sharing and Reflection Discussion Guide
  • Invite volunteers to share one person from their map and explain why they’re important
  • Ask: “How can you be a good friend or supporter to others?”
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Slide Deck

Who’s in Your Circle?

Today we will learn about the people who help and support us every day.

Welcome students and introduce today’s topic. Ask: “Who helps you when you feel happy or sad?” Tell them: “Today we’re going to learn about our support circle and map out the people who care about us.”

What Is a Support Circle?

A support circle is the group of people who care about you and help you when you need it.

Explain the term “support circle.” You might say: “A support circle is all the people who care about you and help you feel safe and happy.”

People in Your Circle

• Family: parents, siblings, grandparents
• Friends: classmates, neighbors
• Teachers: your school teachers, coaches
• Community Helpers: doctors, firefighters, mail carriers

Read each category and give examples. Encourage students to name someone in each group who supports them.

Friendship Map Activity

  1. Draw yourself in the center of the circle.
  2. Around you, add names or pictures of people who support you.
  3. Decorate with colors and stickers!

Introduce the Friendship Map craft. Say: “Now we’ll create our own map showing our support circle.”

Let’s Begin!

Grab your template, pencils, crayons, and markers. Start drawing your support circle now!

Distribute the Friendship Map templates and art supplies. Remind students of the time limit and encourage creativity.

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Activity

Friendship Map Craft Template

Description: Students will create a visual map of their support network by drawing themselves at the center and adding people who support them around the circle.

Materials:

Template Guide:
Each sheet shows a large central circle labeled “Me” with six blank circles arranged around it. Students can add more circles if they need to include additional supporters.

Instructions:

  1. Distribute the Friendship Map template and art supplies to each student.
  2. Ask students to draw themselves in the central circle and write their name under or inside it.
  3. Have students draw lines connecting the center circle to each surrounding circle.
  4. In each surrounding circle, students write or draw a person who supports them (e.g., family, friends, teachers, community helpers).
  5. Encourage students to decorate their map with colors, stickers, or small drawings that represent their supporters.
  6. Invite students to circle one person on their map and think about why this person is important to them.

Reflection Prompts:

  • Who is one person in your circle?



  • How does this person help you feel supported?






  • How can you be a good friend or supporter to others in return?
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Discussion

Sharing and Reflection Discussion Guide

Purpose:
This guide helps students talk about their Friendship Maps, build listening skills, and deepen understanding of healthy relationships.

Teacher Instructions:
• Arrange students in a sharing circle.
• Review these norms before you begin:
– Listen quietly when others speak.
– Raise your hand to share.
– Speak kindly and respectfully.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. Who is one person you included in your circle? Why did you choose them?




    Follow-up: What makes this person special to you?


  2. How does this person help you feel supported?







    Follow-up: Can you share a time when they helped you?


  3. How can you be a good friend or supporter to someone else?







    Follow-up: What actions show others that you care?


  4. What is one thing you could do this week to thank someone in your support circle?







    Follow-up: How will you let them know they matter?

Closing Reflection:
Invite students to name one new idea they learned from a classmate today.

Thank everyone for sharing and remind them that healthy relationships help us all grow and feel safe.

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