Introduction

Helping others is a fundamental skill that contributes to the development of positive relationships and friendships among elementary students. When we help people, we are being good friends, and it encourages others to have good thoughts about us. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity that educators can use to teach students the importance of helping others, followed by discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to continue teaching social-emotional learning skills.

No-Prep Activity: The Helping Hands Game

This simple, yet effective activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. The objective of the activity is to encourage students to recognize situations where they can help others and practice offering assistance.

1. Ask the students to stand in a circle and explain the rules of the game.
2. One student will start by miming a task that requires help (e.g., carrying a heavy box, struggling to open a jar, or tying shoelaces).
3. The student standing to their right should observe the situation and ask if they can help. Once they have offered help, they should mime assisting the first student with the task.
4. The game continues with the second student now miming a task that requires help, and the next student offering assistance.
5. Encourage the students to come up with different scenarios that require help and to practice asking for assistance in a polite manner.

This activity promotes the understanding of helping others and the impact it has on building positive relationships and friendships.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Helping Hands Game, engage students in a discussion using the following questions:

• How did it feel when someone offered to help you with your task? How do you think it made the other person feel when you helped them?
• Can you think of a time when you helped someone outside of this activity? How did it make you feel?
• Why is it important to offer help even if we are busy or focused on something else?
• How can helping others contribute to building positive friendships and relationships?
• What are some other ways we can show kindness and empathy towards others?

Related Skills

Helping others is just one of the many social-emotional learning skills that contribute to the development of positive relationships and friendships among elementary students. Other related skills include:

• Active listening: Paying attention and responding appropriately to others during conversations.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Cooperation: Working together with others to achieve a common goal.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing and resolving disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the importance of helping others and its role in building positive relationships and friendships, we encourage you to explore more social-emotional learning skills. Sign up for free samples of our skill-building materials and resources designed specifically for educators working with elementary students. By incorporating these skills into your teaching, you will contribute to the development of well-rounded, empathetic, and compassionate students who are prepared to navigate the complexities of social interactions and relationships.