Introduction

Inclusion is a vital aspect of social-emotional learning for students in Special Education. It is essential to teach our students the importance of including others, regardless of their differences. By fostering an inclusive environment, we can help reduce instances of bullying and promote a positive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. This blog post will provide an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach their students the value of inclusion.

No-Prep Activity: The Inclusion Circle

This activity is designed to help students understand the importance of including others and practice inviting them to join in. It requires no preparation or materials from the educator.

1. Have the students stand in a circle, leaving one student standing outside of the circle.
2. Explain that the student outside the circle represents someone who has not been included in an activity or conversation.
3. Ask the students in the circle to think of a way they can invite the excluded student to join them. They can use phrases like “Hey, want to join us?” or “Come play with us!”
4. Once the excluded student has been invited and included, have another student step outside the circle and repeat the process.
5. Continue the activity until every student has had a turn being both included and excluded.

After the activity, discuss with the students how they felt when they were excluded and how it felt to be invited to join the group. This will help them understand the impact of their actions on others’ feelings.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about inclusion:

1. How did it feel when you were outside the circle and waiting to be included? How did you feel after being invited in?
2. Why is it essential to include others, even if they are different from us?
3. Can you think of a time when you felt excluded? How did that make you feel?
4. What are some ways you can include others in your everyday life?
5. How does following the Golden Rule – treating others how you want to be treated – relate to inclusion?

Related Skills

Teaching students about inclusion can also help them develop other essential social-emotional skills, such as:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Active listening: Paying full attention to what others are saying and making an effort to understand their perspective.
• Cooperation: Working together with others toward a common goal.
• Respect: Treating others with kindness and valuing their opinions and feelings.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the importance of inclusion in Special Education and have some ideas for activities and discussions, it’s time to put these concepts into practice. To help you get started, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of materials that focus on inclusion and other essential social-emotional skills. By incorporating these resources into your lessons, you can create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all your students.