Introduction

In the world of special education, it’s essential to teach students the importance of helping others. Helping skills not only foster positive relationships, but also promote a sense of community and empathy among students. When students learn to help others, they become better friends, and people have positive thoughts about them. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity that educators can use to teach helping skills, along with discussion questions and related skills for students.

No-Prep Activity: Role-Playing Helping Scenarios

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It’s designed to help students practice helping skills in various situations.

1. Begin by explaining to the students that they will be practicing helping others in different scenarios.
2. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
3. Present a scenario to the students, such as a classmate having difficulty opening a door, carrying a heavy item, or needing assistance with a task.
4. Ask one student to play the role of the person in need, while the other student(s) will play the role of the helper(s).
5. Encourage the helper(s) to think about how they can offer assistance and demonstrate empathy in the situation.
6. After each scenario, discuss as a group how the helper(s) showed kindness and understanding.
7. Rotate roles and scenarios, allowing each student to practice both the helper and the person in need roles.

Discussion Questions

After completing the activity, engage the students in a discussion using the following questions:

1. How did it feel to help someone in need? How do you think it made the other person feel?
2. Why is it important to help others even if we’re busy or focused on something else?
3. How can we recognize when someone needs help, and what are some ways we can offer assistance?
4. Can you share an example of a time when you helped someone or someone helped you? How did it impact your relationship with that person?
5. How can practicing helping skills improve the classroom environment and relationships among students?

Related Skills

Beyond helping skills, there are other relevant skills that can enhance students’ social-emotional learning and foster positive relationships in special education settings. Some of these skills include:

• Active listening: Paying attention to what others are saying and demonstrating understanding through verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Empathy: Putting oneself in another person’s shoes and understanding their feelings and perspectives.
• Cooperation: Working together with others to achieve a common goal or complete a task.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements and finding solutions that are fair and respectful to all parties involved.
• Respect: Treating others with kindness and valuing their opinions and feelings.

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned about teaching helping skills and fostering positive relationships in special education, it’s time to take the next step. We invite you to sign up for free samples of this skill and other related materials to enhance your students’ social-emotional learning journey. By incorporating these valuable resources into your curriculum, you can create a supportive and empathetic classroom environment where all students can thrive.