Introduction

Everyone has their own opinions and feelings about various topics. As educators, it’s essential to teach students the importance of being aware of how often they disagree with others. Agreeing more often can lead to positive feelings and better interpersonal relationships, while constantly disagreeing may cause conflicts or make others feel uncomfortable. This blog post will provide an engaging no-prep activity to help elementary students practice agreeing more often, along with discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to enhance their social-emotional learning journey.

No-Prep Activity

This activity is called “Agree to Disagree” and requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It can be done in a classroom or online setting. Here’s how it works:

1. Divide students into small groups of 3-4.
2. Present a simple topic for students to discuss, such as their favorite ice cream flavor or favorite season.
3. Ask students to share their opinions within their groups and practice agreeing with others’ ideas before sharing their own. Encourage them to use neutral or friendly words and tones while agreeing.
4. After a few minutes of discussion, have each group share their final agreed-upon idea with the class.
5. Repeat the activity with different topics, encouraging students to agree more often than they disagree.

This activity helps students understand the importance of agreeing with others and remaining calm and friendly during discussions, while also teaching them when to stand up for their own opinions in situations that involve unkind, hurtful, or rule-breaking ideas.

Discussion Questions

• How did it feel to agree with others’ ideas before sharing your own? Did it make the conversation more enjoyable?
• Can you think of a situation where agreeing with someone else’s idea was the right thing to do, even if you had a different opinion?
• How can you determine when it’s best to agree with others and when it’s important to stand up for your own opinion?
• Why is it essential to remain calm and friendly when agreeing with someone else’s idea?
• How can practicing agreeing more often improve your relationships with your peers and teachers?

Related Skills

While learning to agree more often is crucial, there are other related skills that can further enhance students’ social-emotional development. Some of these skills include:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to what others are saying and showing empathy and understanding.
• Conflict resolution: Effectively addressing disagreements and finding fair solutions that benefit everyone involved.
• Assertiveness: Expressing one’s own thoughts, feelings, and opinions in a respectful and confident manner.
• Collaboration: Working together with others to achieve a common goal, while respecting their ideas and contributions.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about this engaging no-prep activity and its benefits in social-emotional learning, it’s time to take the next step in your journey as an educator. Sign up for free samples of this skill and many others at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with the tools and materials needed to help your students develop essential skills that will improve their interpersonal relationships and overall well-being.