"No human is an island." This timeless adage emphasizes the inherent interconnectedness of human beings. Humans are social creatures who thrive on connections with others, and through these interactions, they find meaning and purpose in life.
From the moment kindergartners step into the classroom, they begin to understand the truth behind this adage. They realize their happiness and growth are tied to the interactions and relationships they build with their teachers and peers. As homes of learning, schools are responsible for nurturing this understanding and teaching young students how to cultivate meaningful connections.
Through a puppet play and SEL activity, this evidence-based SEL lesson teaches kindergartners the key to healthy interactions: treating others the way they want to be treated. This foundational lesson equips kindergarten students with respectful behavior and essential relationship skills that set the stage for their social-emotional development.
Beloved puppet characters Picks-It and Nix-It start this lesson with an imaginative puppet play. Here, they welcome students to the Getting Along with Others Island. Then, they explain that getting along with others goes beyond being nice; it is treating others better with positive actions. Afterward, they introduce the concepts students will learn in the subsequent lessons.
"Setting clear expectations for student behavior is a behavior management strategy that can help teachers mold their students into socially healthy individuals."
Following the puppet play, students engage in a thoughtful class discussion about how they wish to be treated by others. Drawing from their responses, the teacher highlights the golden rule: treating others with the same kindness and respect they desire. Instilling this principle fosters positive interactions, nurturing lasting and meaningful connections among the students.
The lesson continues with an engaging activity that invites students to establish classroom rules for getting along with others. This set of rules is called the Code of Conduct, and it aims to have students uphold the golden rule of treating others positively. Setting clear expectations for student behavior is a behavior management strategy that can help teachers mold their students into socially healthy individuals.
During the activity, students contribute positive actions they wish to be treated with. These are then rephrased to align with the core concepts that the unit will explore. The teacher elaborates on these concepts through helpful examples to help kindergartners grasp them better.
The lesson concludes with the completion of the Code of Conduct. This code serves as a gentle reminder to kindergartners about the profound impact of their actions on others. With this understanding, students can observe positive behavior when engaging with their caregivers, teachers, and peers. These positive interactions lay the foundation for meaningful and long-lasting relationships, offering kindergartners a sense of social acceptance and happiness that accompanies genuine connections.
Pasela is a digital product presented by Positive Action.
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