Circle of Kindness

Instructions:
1. The teacher will ask students to sit in a circle.
2. Each student will share one way they can be kind or supportive to a friend. For example, “I can help a friend if they drop their books.” or “I can listen to my friend if they are sad.”
3. The teacher will record these ideas on the board or a large piece of paper, creating a

Teacher Script: Your Buddy's Back!

Warm-Up: Circle of Kindness (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Let's start our day by sitting in a big circle. Today, we're going to talk about how we can be super friends and help each other. I want each of you to share one way you can be kind or supportive to a friend. For example, I might say, 'I can help a friend if they drop their books,' or 'I can listen to my friend if they are sad.' Who would like to start?"

(Allow each student to share. Write their ideas on the board or chart paper.)

Teacher: "Wow, those are fantastic ideas! Look at all the ways we can be kind and supportive. These ideas are all about being a good buddy, and that's exactly what we're going to explore today!"

Introduction: What is a Buddy? (10 minutes)

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 1)

Teacher: "Our lesson today is called Your Buddy's Back! because we're going to learn how to always have each other's backs!"

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Peer Support?)

Teacher: "First, let's talk about Peer Support. Can anyone guess what 'peer' means? That's right, it means your friends, classmates, people your age. So, peer support is all about helping your friends when they need it. Look at the slide, what are some ways we can offer peer support?"
(Allow students to respond, elaborate on examples like listening, helping with tasks, sharing.)

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 3: What is Allyship?)

Teacher: "Now, a super important word: Allyship. It might sound a bit big, but it just means standing up for others and making sure everyone feels included and safe. If you see someone being treated unfairly or left out, an ally steps in to help. How can you be an ally?"
(Guide students to examples like speaking up, inviting others to play, making sure everyone is happy.)

(Optional: Show the conceptual "Be a Buddy" Lecture Video if available. ~2-3 minutes)

Reading: Being a Buddy (10 minutes)

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Let's Read About Being a Buddy!)

Teacher: "Great job with those definitions! To understand peer support and allyship even better, we're going to read a short story called "Being a Buddy" Reading. You can read it quietly to yourselves, or we can read it together in small groups."
(Distribute "Being a Buddy" Reading and allow time for reading.)

Teacher: "Now that we've read the story, let's discuss it using our Discussion Prompts. What did the characters in the story do to show peer support? How did they show allyship?"
(Facilitate discussion based on the reading, using the Discussion Prompts to guide.)

Activity: What Would You Do? (15 minutes)

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 5: What Would YOU Do?)

Teacher: "Excellent discussion! Now, it's your turn to think about how you would be a buddy. We're going to look at some different situations. You can either act them out using our Role-Play Activity Cards in small groups, or you can write down your ideas on the "What Would You Do?" Worksheet."
(Distribute "What Would You Do?" Worksheet or Role-Play Activity Cards and divide students into groups if doing role-play. Circulate and assist students.)

Teacher: "Let's come back together. Who would like to share one of their ideas or show us a role-play?"
(Allow students to share and discuss their responses. Provide positive feedback and gentle guidance.)

Game: Allyship Bingo (10 minutes)

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Allyship Bingo!)

Teacher: "You're all doing so well! To end our learning about being buddies in a fun way, we're going to play Allyship Bingo Game! I'm going to call out different ways we can be supportive and allies. If you have that on your Bingo card, mark it off. If you get five in a row, shout 'Bingo!'"
(Distribute Allyship Bingo Game cards and explain the rules clearly. Call out scenarios related to peer support and allyship.)

Wrap-Up and Reflection (5 minutes)

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 7: Be a Buddy, Be an Ally!)

Teacher: "Fantastic job playing Allyship Bingo, everyone! Remember, being a good friend means helping each other, being kind, standing up for what's right, and including everyone. These are important skills for our classroom and for life!"

Teacher: "For homework, or as a longer project, you will start working on your My Allyship Project Guide. This project will let you show what you've learned about being a great buddy. I will give you the Allyship Project Rubric so you know how you'll be graded."

(Transition to Your Buddy's Back! Slide Deck - Slide 8: Your One-Word Takeaway)

Teacher: "To finish up, let's do a quick One-Word Takeaway Cool Down. I want each of you to think of one word that you learned today, or one word that describes how you feel about being a buddy. It could be 'kind,' 'helpful,' 'friendship,' 'brave' – anything!"
(Go around the circle, allowing each student to share their word.)

Teacher: "Thank you all for being such wonderful learners today! Remember to use your new buddy skills every day!"

Assessment (Optional, 5 minutes)

Teacher: "To see how much you've learned, you can complete the Peer Support Quiz now or take it home to finish. We will go over the answers using the Peer Support Quiz Answer Key."

Project Work (Beyond Lesson, Flexible)

Teacher: "Over the next few days/week, you will be working on your My Allyship Project Guide. Remember to refer to the Allyship Project Rubric to understand the expectations for your project. This is a chance to show your creativity and understanding of how to be an amazing ally!"

Being a Buddy: A Story of Support

Once upon a time, in a bright and busy classroom, there were two friends named Leo and Mia. Leo loved to draw dragons, and Mia loved to build towering castles with blocks. They always played together during free time.

One sunny Tuesday, a new student named Sam joined their class. Sam was very quiet and sat alone during playtime, looking a little shy. Leo and Mia noticed that Sam wasn't joining any of the games. Some other kids whispered, "Sam is all by himself."

Leo felt a little nervous, but he remembered what his teacher said about being kind. He looked at Mia, and Mia gave him a small nod. Together, they walked over to Sam.

"Hi, Sam!" said Leo with a friendly smile. "I'm Leo, and this is Mia. Do you like drawing or building? We're about to start a new drawing!"

Sam looked up, surprised, but a small smile grew on his face. "I like building," he mumbled.

"Great!" said Mia. "We have lots of blocks. Do you want to help me build the tallest castle ever?" Mia moved some blocks aside to make room for Sam.

Sam's eyes lit up. "Really?" he asked. Leo and Mia both nodded.

As Sam started to help Mia, another student, Tom, walked by and grumbled, "Why are you playing with him? He's new and doesn't know how to play our games."

Leo took a deep breath. He knew it was important to be an ally. "Hey, Tom," Leo said kindly but firmly, "Sam is our new friend. Everyone should get a chance to play. We can even teach him our games!"

Tom thought about it for a moment, seeing how happy Sam looked. "Okay," Tom said, "maybe I'll come see your castle later."

Sam, Mia, and Leo kept building and drawing, laughing and sharing ideas. Sam didn't feel shy anymore. He felt happy and included because Leo and Mia showed him what it means to be a true buddy. They offered peer support by inviting him to play and helped him feel welcome, and Leo showed allyship by standing up for him.

From that day on, Sam, Leo, and Mia became the best of friends, always remembering to support each other and make sure everyone felt like they belonged.

Discussion Prompts: Being a Buddy

After reading "Being a Buddy: A Story of Support," let's talk about what we learned!

1. What did Leo and Mia do when they saw Sam sitting alone? Why was that a kind thing to do?
   
   
   
   
2. When Tom said Sam didn't know how to play their games, what did Leo do? Why was it important for Leo to say something?
   
   
   
   
3. How did Sam feel at the beginning of the story? How did he feel at the end? What made the difference?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Can you think of a time when you saw someone who needed a friend or someone to stand up for them? What happened?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. What does "peer support" mean in your own words, after reading the story?
   
   
   
   
6. What does "allyship" mean in your own words, after reading the story?
   
   
   
   
7. What is one thing you can do this week to be a better buddy or ally to someone in our class?

What Would You Do? Worksheet

Read each situation below and write down or draw what you would do to be a good buddy or an ally.

Situation 1

Your friend Maya is feeling sad because she accidentally broke her favorite crayon. What would you do or say to show her peer support?

Situation 2

You see a new student, Alex, sitting alone during lunch. No one is talking to him. What would you do to be an ally and make him feel included?

Situation 3

During a game on the playground, some kids are telling your classmate, Ben, that he isn't good enough to play with them. What would you do to show allyship to Ben?

Situation 4

Your friend Sam is having trouble understanding a math problem during class, and you know how to do it. What would you do to offer peer support?

Situation 5

Someone in your class makes a joke about another student's lunch that makes them feel bad. What would you do to be an ally and show support to the student whose feelings were hurt?

Role-Play Activity Cards

Instructions: Cut out these cards. In small groups, pick a card and act out the situation. Show how you would use peer support or allyship to help.

Card 1: Sad Friend

Situation: Your friend, Lily, lost her favorite toy during recess and is very upset. She's sitting by herself with tears in her eyes.

Your Task: Show how you would offer peer support to Lily. What would you say or do to help her feel better?

Card 2: Left Out

Situation: A new student, Omar, is standing alone at the edge of the playground while everyone else is playing a game of tag. He looks shy and a little sad.

Your Task: Show how you would be an ally to Omar. How would you make sure he feels included in the fun?

Card 3: Unkind Words

Situation: During art class, some kids are making fun of another student's drawing, saying it's

Allyship Bingo!

Instructions: Mark off a square when your teacher calls out an action that shows peer support or allyship. Get five in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) and shout "BINGO!"

Caller's List (Teacher Only):

(Cut these strips out and draw them from a hat, or read them aloud in any order)

• Listened when a friend was sad
• Helped a friend pick up dropped items
• Invited a new kid to play
• Stood up for someone being teased
• Offered to share your snack
• Complimented a classmate
• Made sure everyone got a turn
• Asked a quiet friend to join a group
• Said "That's not fair" when something was wrong
• Shared a pencil with a friend
• Comforted a friend who was hurt
• Smiled at someone new
• Told a teacher about unfair play
• Encouraged someone who was trying something new
• Said "Good job!" to someone
• Helped clean up a mess
• Gave a high-five for effort
• Said "Let's play together"
• Helped a friend with a tricky word

Peer Support Quiz Answer Key

Here are the answers and explanations for the Peer Support Quiz:

Question 1

What does 'peer support' mean?

• A. Playing alone
• B. Helping your friends
• C. Telling on your friends
• D. Ignoring others

Correct Answer: B. Helping your friends
Reasoning: Peer support is all about offering help, comfort, and encouragement to people your age, like your friends or classmates.

Question 2

Which of these is an example of 'allyship'?

• A. Only playing with your best friend
• B. Standing up for someone who is being teased
• C. Keeping a secret that hurts someone
• D. Laughing when someone falls down

Correct Answer: B. Standing up for someone who is being teased
Reasoning: Allyship means supporting and standing up for others, especially when they might be treated unfairly or left out. Option B directly shows this action.

Question 3

Imagine your friend dropped all their books. What is one thing you could do to show peer support?

Possible Answer: I could help my friend pick up their books. (Other answers showing direct help or kindness are also acceptable.)
Reasoning: Peer support involves actively helping a friend in need.

Question 4

Why is it important to include everyone in games and activities?

Possible Answer: It's important because everyone deserves to feel happy and like they belong. No one likes to feel left out. (Other answers focusing on belonging, kindness, or fairness are also acceptable.)
Reasoning: Including everyone is a key part of allyship and helps create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Question 5

If you see someone sad, how can you show peer support?

• A. Walk away
• B. Ask them to play with you
• C. Tell them to stop being sad
• D. Listen to them and ask if they need help

Correct Answer: D. Listen to them and ask if they need help
Reasoning: While asking them to play (B) could be helpful, the most direct peer support for someone who is sad is to listen to their feelings and offer assistance. Telling them to stop being sad (C) is not supportive, and walking away (A) is ignoring their feelings.

My Allyship Project: Be a Buddy!

Objective: To show your understanding of peer support and allyship by creating something that encourages others to be good friends and stand up for each other.

Instructions: Choose ONE of the following project ideas. Be creative and show what you know about being a super buddy and ally!

Project Options:

Option 1: Create a Poster

Design a colorful poster that explains peer support and allyship. Your poster should include:

• A clear title.
• Definitions or examples of peer support.
• Definitions or examples of allyship.
• Pictures or drawings that show these ideas.
• A message encouraging others to be good buddies.

Option 2: Write a Short Story

Write a short story about characters who show peer support or allyship. Your story should include:

• Characters and a setting.
• A problem where someone needs help or support.
• How one or more characters act as a peer supporter or ally.
• A positive outcome or lesson learned.
• (Bonus: Include drawings with your story!)

Option 3: Design a Comic Strip

Create a comic strip that tells a story about peer support or allyship. Your comic strip should have:

• At least 4-6 panels.
• Characters who demonstrate peer support or allyship.
• Speech bubbles or captions to tell the story.
• Clear drawings that show the actions and feelings.

Option 4: Write and Perform a Short Skit

Work with a small group (if allowed by your teacher) to write and perform a short skit about peer support or allyship. Your skit should:

• Have a clear situation where support is needed.
• Show characters actively giving peer support or acting as allies.
• Have a message about why it's important.
• (Perform for the class or record a video if possible!)

Important Dates:

• Project Start Date: [Teacher will fill in date]
• Project Due Date: [Teacher will fill in date]
• Presentation Date (if applicable): [Teacher will fill in date]

Remember to look at the Allyship Project Rubric to understand how your project will be graded! Good luck, and have fun being creative!

Allyship Project Rubric

Student Name: ____________________________

Project Title: _____________________________

Instructions: This rubric will be used to grade your "My Allyship Project." Please review it carefully to understand the expectations.

Teacher Comments:

Total Score: ______ / 20

One-Word Takeaway

Instructions:
1. Think about everything we learned today about peer support and allyship.
2. Choose ONE word that describes what you learned or how you feel about being a buddy.
3. Share your word with the class as an exit ticket.

Examples:
* Kind
* Helpful
* Friendly
* Brave
* Together
* Included
* Fair

My word is: