Introduction
As educators, it’s essential to teach PreK students about the relationships they have with different people in their lives. Developing an understanding of these relationships helps them interact appropriately with others and fosters healthy social-emotional growth. In this blog post, we will discuss a concept called the Relationship Ruler, which can help students choose actions and words that match how close they are to someone. The Relationship Ruler includes five groups: Family, Close Friends, Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers.
No-Prep Activity: The Relationship Ruler Collage
This engaging no-prep activity helps PreK students visualize their relationships using the Relationship Ruler concept. It requires no preparation or materials from the educator, making it an easy-to-implement activity in the classroom.
- Ask students to think about the different people in their lives and categorize them into the five groups of the Relationship Ruler: Family, Close Friends, Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers.
- Using a large sheet of paper, have students draw a vertical ruler and label each section with the appropriate group names.
- Encourage students to draw or write the names of people they know in each section of the ruler, placing them closer or farther away from themselves based on their level of closeness.
- Once they have completed their collages, ask students to share their Relationship Rulers with the class, explaining the different relationships they have with each person.
This activity helps students reflect on their relationships and understand the different levels of closeness they have with various people in their lives.
Discussion Questions
Use these questions to stimulate further discussions among your students about their relationships and the Relationship Ruler concept:
- Why is it important to understand the different levels of closeness we have with people in our lives?
- How do our actions and words change based on our level of closeness with someone? Can you give some examples?
- How can knowing about the Relationship Ruler help us make better choices when interacting with others?
- What are some ways we can build stronger relationships with our friends and acquaintances?
- How can understanding the Relationship Ruler help us be more respectful and considerate of other people’s feelings?
Related Skills
In addition to understanding relationships, there are other relevant skills that PreK students can benefit from learning. These include:
- Empathy: Developing the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
- Active listening: Learning to listen attentively and respond appropriately to others.
- Respect for personal boundaries: Understanding and respecting the personal space and boundaries of others.
- Conflict resolution: Learning to resolve disagreements in a healthy and constructive manner.
- Cooperation: Working together with others to achieve shared goals.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help your PreK students develop social-emotional learning skills, sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. You’ll find valuable materials that can support your students’ growth and help them navigate their relationships with confidence.
