Introduction

As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students not only academic skills but also social-emotional skills that will help them navigate various situations in their daily lives. One such skill, particularly for PreK students, is learning to walk quietly and respectfully in the halls. This blog post will outline an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity designed to help young students practice walking quietly, as well as provide discussion questions and related skills to further enhance their social-emotional learning.

No-Prep Activity

This activity, called “Silent Steps,” requires no preparation or materials and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine. Here’s how it works:

1. Choose a specific time during the day when students will be walking in the halls, such as transitioning between activities or returning from a special class like speech therapy.
2. Explain to the students that they will be practicing their “Silent Steps” while walking in the halls. This means they will walk slowly, quietly, and respectfully, paying attention to their surroundings.
3. Before opening the door to the hallway, remind the students of their “Silent Steps” goal and ask them to demonstrate how they will walk. Praise their efforts and encourage them to maintain this behavior throughout the walk.
4. As you walk through the halls, provide positive reinforcement by acknowledging students who are exhibiting the desired behavior. For example, say, “I like how you’re walking in the halls.”
5. When you reach your destination, praise the group for their efforts and remind them to continue practicing their “Silent Steps” whenever they walk in the halls.

Discussion Questions

Following the activity, engage your students in a discussion to further explore the importance of walking quietly and respectfully in the halls. Here are some questions to help guide the conversation:

• Why is it important to walk quietly in the halls?
• How do you feel when you are walking quietly and respectfully?
• What are some other places where we should walk quietly and respectfully?
• How can we help our friends remember to use their “Silent Steps”?
• What are some other ways we can show respect for others in our school?

Related Skills

Teaching students to walk quietly in the halls is just one aspect of their social-emotional learning. Here are some other related skills that can be incorporated into your lessons:

• Active listening: Encourage students to listen carefully to their peers and teachers, both in the classroom and in the halls.
• Self-awareness: Help students become more aware of their own actions and how they affect others.
• Cooperation: Teach students the importance of working together and following rules to create a positive learning environment.
• Empathy: Foster an understanding of how others might feel in different situations, and encourage students to consider these feelings when interacting with their peers.

Next Steps

Now that you have a simple, no-prep activity to help your PreK students practice walking quietly in the halls, consider exploring more social-emotional learning activities and resources. To get started, sign up for free sample materials from Everyday Speech, which offers a variety of activities and resources designed to support the development of essential social-emotional skills in children and young adults.