Friendship Circle Preschool Lesson Plan: Practicing Kindness
Quick Summary Table
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Topic | Friendship Circle – Practicing Kindness and Taking Turns |
| Age Group | Preschool (3–5 years) |
| Objectives | Teach kindness, taking turns, communication, teamwork |
| Key Activities | Warm-up discussion, explain rules, friendship ball game, turn-taking stations |
| Materials Needed | Soft ball/bean bag, friendship poster, music player, reward stickers |
| Skills Developed | Social skills, patience, listening, speaking kindly |
| Extension Ideas | Friendship Tree project, “The More We Get Together” song |
Learning social skills is a significant part of preschool learning. Through group activities like a Friendship Circle, preschoolers can learn great qualities like sharing, kindness, and taking turns in a fun and interactive way.
In this Friendship Circle preschool lesson plan, children will form friendships, develop communication, and discover the joy of working together.
Objectives: Friendship Circle Preschool Lesson Plan
- Encourage peer kindness.
- Teach children how to take turns graciously.
- Build communication and listening skills.
- Encourage feelings of belonging and cooperation.
Preschool Social Skills Statistics
| Statistic | Data Source | Key Insight |
|---|
| 85% of preschoolers improve social skills through group activities | National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) | Group activities like circles help majorly in social development. |
| 73% of teachers report better behavior when using kindness-based games | Early Childhood Education Journal | Kindness activities improve classroom behavior. |
| 60% of children learn turn-taking faster when playing structured games | Child Development Research Center | Structured circle games speed up sharing and patience learning. |
Materials Needed
- Softball or bean bag
- Friendship Circle sign/poster
- A music player with lively music
- Reward stickers or small badges
1. Warm-Up Discussion (5 minutes)
Begin by having the children form a circle.
Ask them simple questions like:
- “What is a good friend?”
- “How can we be kind to each other?”
Tip: Compliment all answers and encourage them ever so gently towards concepts like sharing, assisting, and waiting in turn.
2. Explain the Friendship Circle Rules (5 minutes)
Let’s describe that in the Friendship Circle:
- Listen when someone is speaking.
- We take turns.
- Say nice words like “please” and “thank you.”
3. Friendship Ball Game (10 minutes)
- Start the music and have the kids pass the ball around the circle.
- When the music ends, the child who holds the ball says something positive about a friend (e.g., “I like how Mia shares her toys!”).
- Continue the game until every child has had a turn.
4. Practice Turn-Taking Activities (10 minutes)
- Create mini stations (e.g., a colouring table, puzzle area, or make-believe play zone).
- Kids must ask politely and wait in line before using materials.
5. Wrap-Up and Reflection (5 minutes)
Bring the children back to the circle and say:
- “What was your favourite part?”
- “How did it feel to be kind and take turns?”
Praise them for their efforts and reward stickers or badges for teamwork in the Friendship Circle.
Assessment
- Observe children’s behaviour when doing activities.
- Mark patience, listening, and polite speech gains.
- Reward positive behaviour with kindness and taking turns.
Extension Activities
- Create a Friendship Tree in which each child puts on a leaf with an act of kindness they performed.
- Sing the “The More We Get Together” song as a daily reminder to be kind.