How to Promote Teamwork and Kindness Among Kindergartners

Healthy, nurturing relationships are important in children’s lives as they provide a sense of belonging, emotional support, and validation. Especially in schools, these relationships create a safe learning environment where children can thrive and feel secure.

That’s why nurturing students’ emotional intelligence and teaching them to treat others positively is as vital as teaching them numbers, scientific facts, and language. Social skills empower them to work effectively with others and apply their acquired knowledge to actions.

Positive Action recognizes the value of social skills in children’s mental health, personal growth, and future success. So, to ensure they grow with the competencies for nurturing meaningful connections and collaborations, *Positive Action *prepares this evidence-based SEL lesson perfect for kindergarten students.

This social-emotional learning lesson reinforces the positive actions for getting along with others and relationship-building. It uses puppet play and an exciting class activity to encourage kindergarten students to put the concepts they have learned into action. With its effective and reliable teaching methods, students are guaranteed to have a fun learning experience.

Two lovable puppets open the lesson and engage the young learners with an insightful class discussion. They are Picks-It Raccoon and Nix-It Panda, and they have made good friends with the students since the beginning of the *Positive Action *Kindergarten Curriculum.

During the play, the puppets remind the students of their adventures in the Getting Along With Others Island (which comes to life as a mural poster), particularly when Nix-It has entered a dark cave. In that story, the students learn that showing empathy and kindness toward others enhances their self-concept and strengths.

Afterward, a fun class activity ensues, putting the students’ understanding of *Positive Action *concepts to the test. In this activity, the students must pass through a dark cave. To do this, they need to make it to the end of an arranged passageway in the classroom while being blindfolded. Of course, the teacher ensures their safety.

Although the challenge seems simple, there is a fun, educational twist unbeknown to the students: one of them is hiding. The students need to figure out who among their friends and classmates is missing. Only then can they succeed in the challenge.

This class activity is not only intended to provide an enjoyable experience; it is also designed to encourage teamwork, respect, and caring. By participating, kindergarten students practice and embody the positive actions in their Code of Conduct—a set of classroom rules for behaving toward others.

After completing the class activity, the entire class rejoices. The students consider accomplishing the lesson an achievement, so they fill the classroom with cheers and congratulations. Then, their puppet companions announce even more exciting news: the students can unlock the second gate to Castle Self-Concept—their final destination in this adventure-themed Kindergarten curriculum.

Overall, the lesson imparts valuable wisdom to young learners: social interactions are not just an essential part of life; they are life. Whether in school, at home, or in their future endeavors, they will consistently interact with others.* *To prepare them for a lifetime of productive interactions, Positive Action gives students the education they need to create meaningful relationships and handle everything from non-verbal cues to uncomfortable situations.