Grades 3–5 · 4 sessions · 25 minutes each
Social Skills Small Group
Start conversations, listen, share ideas, and find fair ways to disagree.
What to bring · Display or print the game card for the session. The PDF includes all four cards.
Session activities
Session 1 · Conversation circleStart and keep a conversation going
Start · 2 minutes
“Letʼs try a quick group activity. You can play, point, or watch.” Put the illustrated game card where everyone can see it. 2.
Try one turn · 3 minutes
Read the game card aloud. Say, “Hereʼs one move you could try. You said games. What kind do you like? Who wants to try the first turn?” 3.
Play · 17 minutes
Play two rounds with a partner. Switch who goes first in the second round. Say, “Ready for another round?” Repeat with a new choice until itʼs time to wrap up. If a student needs help, say, “Try my example with me, or watch one more turn.” 4.
Talk it over · 3 minutes
“What helped the conversation keep going? Show or tell us one thing you noticed. Thanks for playing.”
Student game card
Choose one: music, games, food, or something you enjoy. Say your choice. The next person asks one question about it, then takes a turn.
One move to try: “You said games. What kind do you like?”
Talk about it: What helped the conversation keep going?
Session 2 · Listen and say it backShow someone you heard them
Start · 2 minutes
“Letʼs try a quick group activity. You can play, point, or watch.” Put the illustrated game card where everyone can see it. 2.
Try one turn · 3 minutes
Read the game card aloud. Say, “Hereʼs one move you could try. I heard you say you like music. Did I get that right? Who wants to try the first turn?” 3.
Play · 17 minutes
Play two rounds with a partner. Switch who goes first in the second round. Say, “Ready for another round?” Repeat with a new choice until itʼs time to wrap up. If a student needs help, say, “Try my example with me, or watch one more turn.” 4.
Talk it over · 3 minutes
“What could you say to check that you heard someone correctly? Show or tell us one thing you noticed. Thanks for playing.”
Student game card
Tell a partner one thing you enjoy. Your partner says back one thing they heard. Switch. Do it again with a different choice.
One move to try: “I heard you say you like music. Did I get that right?”
Talk about it: What could you say to check that you heard someone correctly?
Session 3 · Build an idea togetherAdd an idea to someone else’s idea
Start · 2 minutes
“Letʼs try a quick group activity. You can play, point, or watch.” Put the illustrated game card where everyone can see it. 2.
Try one turn · 3 minutes
Read the game card aloud. Say, “Hereʼs one move you could try. We could play music and take turns picking a song. Who wants to try the first turn?” 3.
Play · 17 minutes
Play two rounds with a partner. Switch who goes first in the second round. Say, “Ready for another round?” Repeat with a new choice until itʼs time to wrap up. If a student needs help, say, “Try my example with me, or watch one more turn.” 4.
Talk it over · 3 minutes
“What did someone else add that made the plan better? Show or tell us one thing you noticed. Thanks for playing.”
Student game card
Let’s plan five minutes of fun for this group. I’ll start with music. Take turns adding a suggestion that could go with something we already heard.
One move to try: “We could play music and take turns picking a song.”
Talk about it: What did someone else add that made the plan better?
Session 4 · Find a fair choiceHear two preferences and find a fair way to decide
Start · 2 minutes
“Letʼs try a quick group activity. You can play, point, or watch.” Put the illustrated game card where everyone can see it. 2.
Try one turn · 3 minutes
Read the game card aloud. Say, “Hereʼs one move you could try. We can start with the quiet game and switch halfway through. Who wants to try the first turn?” 3.
Play · 17 minutes
Play two rounds with a partner. Switch who goes first in the second round. Say, “Ready for another round?” Repeat with a new choice until itʼs time to wrap up. If a student needs help, say, “Try my example with me, or watch one more turn.” 4.
Talk it over · 3 minutes
“What made the plan fair? Show or tell us one thing you noticed. Thanks for playing.”
Student game card
Choose a quiet game or a movement game. Point left for quiet or right for movement. Hear one reason from each side. Together, choose a way to give both choices a turn.
One move to try: “We can start with the quiet game and switch halfway through.”
Talk about it: What made the plan fair?