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Social Skills

CLICK HERE FOR SMALL GROUP SURVEYS AND FORMS.
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Kindergarten - 1st Grade

For my youngest students, I offer small group sessions on social skills. I invite all students to participate in kindergarten and follow-up in 1st Grade for students who need extra work (or for new students). Each small group gets 6 sessions. Some teachers prefer 1 group of 4-5 students at a time, while other teachers like rotating groups every week. In the end, every student gets the same number of sessions; the delivery is the only thing that varies. These lessons can easily be adapted for older students.

Lesson 1:

We begin with a review of the rules and purpose of the group (learning how to be star students). Then, to build group rapport, we play a get-to-know-you game that I created: Jungle Fun. I used cardboard, construction paper, and stickers to create the game. Game pieces are Legos.
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Directions
File Size: 18 kb
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Me Cards
File Size: 9 kb
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You Cards
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Lesson 2:

Our second session starts with a review of our rules. We also set a goal for the number of "happy cup" points we want to earn. The purpose of this lesson is to reflect on the qualities of good friends. We watch a clip from Cars (when Lightning McQueen decides to "lose" the big race in order to save an injured car). Students reflect on Lightning McQueen's choices in the clip and draw their responses on their workpage. I keep a copy for my records.
Workpage
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Cars Characters (For Discussion)
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Lesson 3:

After a quick review of our rules and goal-setting (points), we begin our third session. For this lesson, students are learning and reflecting on the importance of sharing. We start by reading It's Mine! (I read aloud, changing some of the bigger words to help my students better understand). After reviewing the story, we discuss ways that we must share at school. Students draw their ideas on their workpage. I keep a copy for my records. 
Sharing Workpage
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Lesson 4:

The focus for Lesson 4 is on how to positively identify and express our feelings. We do this by playing a board game I created called The Feelings Highway. Just like Jungle Fun, I created this game with cardboard, construction paper, and stickers. Game pieces are toy cars. I keep records by writing on the back of the checklist.
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Directions
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Cards (Front)
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Feelings Checklist
File Size: 290 kb
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Cards (Back)
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Lesson 5:

After a quick review of our rules and goal-setting (points), we begin our fifth session. The focus of this lesson is on how to keep friendships, particularly when you have feelings of jealousy (friends making other friends). We watch a clip from Toy Story, where Woody feels like he is losing his friends to Buzz, the cool new toy. After watching, we reflect as a group on how Woody, Buzz, and Woody's friends could have responded differently. Then, I give a workpage to each student. I keep a copy for my records.
Toy Story Workpages
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Lesson 6:

This is our final lesson. We look back on our work and reflect on how far we have come. I remind students about our rules and let students know that if they have more points in the happy cup, they not only get their regular rewards, they also get to pick a prize from my prize box. I have dollar store items (i.e. Playdough, markers, etc.) for students to choose in addition to "free" items like coupons to eat lunch with a friend in my office. We typically play Jungle Fun again to see how much we have learned about one another since the group began. Refer to Lesson 1 for more details.
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Additional Lessons

If you need more sessions or perhaps more of a variety, here are some additional lessons for you to try:

Beanie Baby Stories

I use my old Beanie Babies in many of my lessons. Any stuffed animal would work, though. For these sessions, I have students apply what they have learned to their own Beanie Baby, creating a story that demonstrates their understanding of a particular topic, such as positively identifying and expressing feelings or making and keeping friends. Here are two sample workpages:
Writing Page
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Super Student Workpage
File Size: 19 kb
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Beauty and the Beast

The effects of positive and negative behaviors. Click here to purchase Beauty and the Beast.
Beauty and the Beast Workpage
File Size: 148 kb
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Group Book

One of my favorite activities is creating a group or class book. In a small group, students can share their story with the rest of their class, which helps reinforce the positive message. Here is a sample book template:
Star Student Book Template
File Size: 208 kb
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Story

I wrote a story about handling anger and frustration called The Day Jace Kelly Popped.
The Day Jace Kelly Popped
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Follow-Up Activities (Created by Renee Stack):
Lesson
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Handout
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My Volcano

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This story is a great way to discuss self-control. The image of a volcano is clear to students, who often describe their actions or feelings as "explosions." I share this book with my students, then have them reflect using the "My Volcano" workpage. Students have to discuss their behaviors (specific to their own behavior patterns) and the consequences of those behaviors. When I follow-up with students as a group or individually, I often revisit their volcano pictures to help reinforce the connection between our actions and our consequences.
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My Volcano (Workpage)
File Size: 148 kb
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Metaphor Basket

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I got this idea from Pinterest (I find myself saying that a LOT).

You can have students in your group pick objects that symbolize various feelings or situations they experience at school. Then, they share their interpretation with the group. Good opening activity.

Animal Projection Technique

The St. Louis Center for Play Therapy Training blog offers a lot of great information on play therapy techniques and credentialing.

This particular video shows an animal projection technique that can be used in small groups or during a classroom lesson (dividing the class into groups). The purpose of the activity is to help students identify their thoughts and behaviors and to reflect on how they interact with others.

View more play therapy instructional videos on Pam Dyson's YouTube channel.
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Robot Workshop

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At PBS Kids, there is a game called Tobey's Robot Workshop. Students can create their own robot and decide on how their creation feels: elated, angry, confident, enthusiastic, fiesty, frantic, frustrated, or glum. Students also decide on their robot's talent and special powers, such as clapping, destroying, and hugging.

You could have students create robots that are similar to themselves. This would allow for great group discussions.

Feelings and Food

This is a fun activity for individual and small group counseling settings that helps students identify and express their feelings. I typically provide a small snack, a napkin or plate, and a camera to take pictures of the feelings. I print a copy for the student to use in his/her classroom and one for myself as a back-up (and for my records). In some situations, I send an additional copy home after discussing with the student's parents.

View other ESC.org video podcasts here.

Facial Expressions and Body Language

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Understanding how to read the people around you is an important social skill. Facial expressions and body language, in general, provide helpful social cues.
For this activity, students receive a picture of a child and must identify how that child is feeling. Then, students write or draw what caused that feeling (hypothesis). Finally, students share their ideas and reflect as a group.
Pictures (6 total)
File Size: 270 kb
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Angry Birds (Extension)

This is an extension of what The Home Teacher Blog already created.

I start the group by showing the "Angry Birds Space" video (top left). Students watch to see how the birds respond when their eggs are taken away. After watching, we reflect as a group.

Then, I assign each student a bird and they have to come up with a positive choice they could make when angry. Students can write and/or draw their responses. When the students are finished, we share our work.

We end the session by watching the "Something PIG is coming!" video (bottom left).  We discuss how and when we would use our positive choices at school.
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Work Pages (PDF)
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Work Pages (WORD)
File Size: 86 kb
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For the Birds

Want more great short films?
Buy the DVD here!
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One of my favorite Pixar short films is called "For the Birds." It's about a group of birds with poor social skills. I use this film to discuss the types of behaviors that students see or engage in at school. The worksheets are a great way for students to express how they would respond to these situations.
For the Birds Worksheets (PDF)
File Size: 298 kb
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Boundin'

I know I say this all the time, but Pixar is one of the best resources for school counselors.

"Boundin'" is part of Pixar's short film collection. As described on Amazon: "A shearing leaves a dancing sheep humiliated until a jackalope passes by and demonstrates that it's what's inside that counts."
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PDF
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WORD
File Size: 47 kb
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I use this short film with my small groups to help build positive relationships. After viewing the video, we discuss how the sheep felt and how the jackalope was a good friend. Then, I give each student a workpage (above). I write a group member's name on each student's paper, then explain that they must write and/or draw something nice about that person. In this way, they are acting like the jackalope, helping their group friends feel good about themselves. 

Once everyone has finished their work, we share our words and/or pictures one at a time. Then, I ask for the receiver to say how they feel after hearing the positive feedback - I record their response at the bottom of the paper. I make copies of the projects for my own documentation, but let the students keep their originals, which serve as a reminder of how valued they are.

The video is also great with individual students who may focus on the negative aspects of their life or have anxiety about the bad things that could happen. The jackalope shows the sheep that bad things happen and sometimes, you just need to keep moving forward until you feel better again; you can't let every little thing get you down.

Partly Cloudy

"Partly Cloudy," as you can see in the trailer below, is about a world where clouds create little bundles of joy (babies, puppies, kittens, and other adorable creatures) for storks to deliver to loving homes. However, within this sugary sweet world lives a gloomier cloud who likes to create more unique and, at times, unappreciated gifts, such as sharks, crocodiles, and porcupines. This cloud's poor stork is visibly exhausted and falling apart at the seams. One day, the storm cloud's stork friend flies to a neighboring cloud - when old gloomy sees this, his thundering anger builds and his rain tears fall. But, have no fear! The weakened stork returns with a bundle of his own: a helmet and shoulder pads to help make the journeys easier.

So, how could a school counselor use this story? I think there are two excellent ways.
1. The storm cloud has a hard time expressing his feelings, so this movie could spark discussion on how to positively manage strong emotions.
2. Sometimes students who are outside the mainstream are confused why the general population doesn't reach out to be their friend. I think "Partly Cloudy" could help these students reflect on the importance of the quality of their friends vs. the quantity. Being unique is great, but it can also make it more challenging to find great friend matches. It's hard being friends with someone you don't have anything in common with, so naturally, if you think and act outside the box, then you'll have fewer great friends at your disposal. Therefore, you need a plan for how to seek out the right peers.

I created two workpages (below) that could help students organize their thoughts and create a plan of action for finding and developing positive friendships.
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Presto

Have you ever wondered what happens the moment before the curtain opens on a great magic show? Well, Presto will show you just that. The humor (and lesson for our students) comes from a magician's rabbit, a fiesty assistant that desperately wants a carrot to settle its rumbling tummy.
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This short film can teach our students about patience and self-control, but also about recognizing and responding to other people's feelings. There are some slightly inappropriate aspects of this film (slapstick humor, such as a ladder to the groin and electric shock), so use your best judgement. Enjoy!
PDF
File Size: 38 kb
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Beautiful Oops

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Beautiful Oops is one of my favorite books! It's all about looking at "mistakes" in a different way - as an opportunity for creativity and a new perspective. I've used this with students who struggle with perfectionism and anything that is unexpected. We started by reading the book, then I picked students at random to pick a "mistake" from my table (examples below). The students had to take their paper and turn it into something beautiful. Some of my students struggled, but all of them were able to complete the task. 1 student was absent, so there isn't a finished product for the crumpled paper.
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Shaun the Sheep

Shaun the Sheep is a cute character from Aardman Animations. On the Shaun the Sheep YouTube channel, you can find short videos that your students will love. I use them in my small groups to reflect on positive school behaviors and interpersonal skills. When students earn a "lunch in the school counselor's office" reward, sometimes I show these clips while we eat. Each clip sparks great group discussion about what it means to "play fair," show good sportsmanship, treat others with respect, and more.

Misc.

Lesson List
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