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Your Story, Our Start?

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Lesson Plan

Your Story, Our Start? Lesson Plan

To help students feel comfortable, share about their interests, feelings, and social connections, and to build rapport in a supportive small group.

Understanding students' interests, feelings, and social dynamics helps me, as the school psychologist, support their social-emotional growth and overall well-being, making school a more positive and connected place for everyone.

Audience

6th Grade Small Group (Low Cognition, Social-Emotional Focus)

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Friendly, guided conversation with simple questions and an engaging game.

Materials

"My Story & Social Check-in (Simple)", "Connecting Our Stories Slides (Simple)", and "Social This or That (Simple)"

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Hello and Let's Talk About Connecting!

2 minutes

  • Greet students with a warm, friendly smile.
    - Explain simply: "Hi everyone! This is our special time to get to know each other and talk about how we connect and share feelings. I want to learn what makes each of you special when you're with friends or in class!"
    - Show them the My Story & Social Check-in (Simple) and say it's like a guide for your chat, not a test.

Step 2

Sharing Our Stories & Social Ideas

5 minutes

  • Give each student a copy of the My Story & Social Check-in (Simple).
    - Explain: "You can write your answers, or we can just talk about them. It's okay to just tell me your ideas. I'll help you read or understand any question."
    - Read each question aloud, slowly, and wait for students to answer or talk about it. Focus on questions that help them think about themselves, social skills, and feelings.
    - Say "That's a great idea!" or "Thanks for sharing!" often. Let them know all answers are good.
    - Offer to write down their answers if they want to just talk.

Step 3

Play Social This or That!

5 minutes

  • Introduce the Social This or That (Simple) game.
    - Explain: "Now let's play a fun game called 'Social This or That'! I'll say two choices, and you tell me which one you like best and why."
    - Read the game rules clearly. Model picking a choice and sharing your own simple answer first. Encourage students to participate and share their reasoning. Help with reading and explaining choices as needed. Listen actively and validate their responses, encouraging them to listen to each other.

Step 4

Talking About Our Connections

2 minutes

  • After the game, lead a simple group chat, building on what was shared from both the questionnaire and the game.
    - Pick 1-2 interesting things each student shared about themselves, friends, feelings, or social activities. For example: "[Student Name], you said you like [social activity]. What makes that fun to do with others?" or "[Student Name], you told us [feeling]. What helps you when you feel that way?"
    - Listen carefully, show you care about their feelings, and nod to show you understand.
    - Share a very short, simple story about a time you connected with someone, if it feels right, to show it's okay to share.

Step 5

Wrapping Up Our Social Chat!

1 minute

  • Thank each student for sharing and for their time.
    - Explain why this talk is helpful: "Knowing all this helps me help you feel good, make friends, and have a great time learning in class!"
    - Remind them: "You can always talk to me about friends or feelings. I'm excited for us to have a great year together!"
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Slide Deck

Your Story, Our Start?

Let's Talk About Friends and Feelings!

Welcome the small group. As the school psychologist, use a calm, friendly voice. Explain that this is a special time to talk about friends, feelings, and how we connect.

Why Are We Talking Today?

• To learn about the amazing YOU!
• To know what makes you happy when you're with friends.
• To help everyone feel good and connect in our class!

Explain why you're meeting in simple words. Focus on how understanding each other helps everyone feel good and connect socially and emotionally.

Your Ideas Are Important!

We have some simple questions in our 'My Story & Social Check-in':
• They help us have a friendly chat.
• There are no wrong answers – just YOUR answers!
• We can fill it out together, or you can just tell me your ideas.

Introduce the questionnaire, mentioning it by its new name. Say it's okay to just talk and there are no wrong answers. Offer help with reading or writing.

What We'll Talk About:

• Fun things you do with friends.
• How you feel when you share.
• What helps you be a good friend.
• What you hope for with friends this year!

Briefly mention the types of social-emotional questions, including the new 'getting to know you' aspects.

What Happens Next?

• I'll use your ideas to help you feel good and connect in class.
• You can always talk to me about friends or feelings!
• Let's have a great year making friends!

Reassure them that their sharing helps you support their social-emotional development. Emphasize that you, as the school psychologist, are there to help with social skills and feelings.

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Worksheet

My Story & Social Check-in: Let's Talk About Me & My Friends!

Hello! This helps me learn about you. Just share what you think! Your answers help me understand you better and how to help you at school.

Part 1: Getting to Know Me!

  1. What is your name?


  2. Who lives at home with you? (like mom, dad, sister, grandma, pet, etc.)





  3. What is your favorite subject or class at school? (like art, gym, math, reading)


Part 2: All About My Social Self!

  1. What is one fun thing you LOVE to do with friends or family when you're not at school?


  2. What makes a person a really good friend? (Think about kind words or helpful actions!)





  3. How do you feel when you meet someone new? (like happy, a little shy, excited, etc.)





  4. What's a favorite game or activity you like to do WITH others?





Part 3: Being Social in Class

  1. What kinds of activities make working with classmates fun for you? (like talking in groups, sharing ideas, helping each other, etc.)





  2. When you have a problem with a friend or classmate, what helps you make it better?





  3. What's one thing you hope to learn or do better this school year to connect with others?


Part 4: Your Thoughts on Connecting

  1. What are you looking forward to doing with friends or classmates this school year?


  2. Is there anything that makes being with friends or in groups tricky for you sometimes?





  3. Is there anything else you want me to know about you that would help me support you with friends or social times at school?










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Game

Social This or That: Let's Choose and Chat!

Hello! This game helps us learn about each other by making fun choices. I will say two things, and you choose the one you like best. Then we can talk about why you chose it!

How to Play:

  1. I will read two choices, like "Cats or Dogs?"
  2. You point to or say the one you like more.
  3. Then, tell us why you chose it! (It's okay to just say a little bit.)
  4. Everyone listens nicely and respects each other's choices.

This or That Choices:

  • Play alone or Play with friends?
  • Super strength or Super speed?
  • Talk about your feelings or Draw your feelings?
  • Pizza or Tacos?
  • Help a friend or Get help from an adult?
  • Be invisible or Be able to fly?
  • Say "Sorry" first or Wait for someone else to say "Sorry"?
  • Read a book or Watch a movie?
  • Give a compliment or Get a compliment?
  • Work in a group or Work by yourself?
  • Summer or Winter?
  • Make a new friend or Play with old friends?
  • Go to the beach or Go to the mountains?
  • Solve a problem with words or Get mad?
  • Sweet snacks or Salty snacks?
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