As educators, we often encounter situations where students want to be first in line, during games, or other activities. This desire to be first can sometimes lead to conflicts or hurt feelings among classmates. In this blog post, we will explore a simple, no-prep activity to teach students the importance of fairness and thinking about the good of the group when it comes to being first. We will also provide discussion questions, mention related skills, and encourage you to explore free sample materials at Everyday Speech.

Introduction

There are times when students might really want to be first, whether it’s in line for lunch or during a game. However, if they are always first, it can make others feel upset or left out. We need to teach our students the importance of being fair and making sure others get a chance to be first too. It’s crucial for them to understand that being first shouldn’t be their primary focus, but rather the well-being of the group as a whole.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s an easy-to-implement activity that requires no preparation or materials from the educator:

1. Ask the students to form a line as if they are waiting for something, like a turn on the playground or to enter a classroom.
2. Observe the students as they line up and make note of any pushing or shoving to be first.
3. Once the line is formed, ask the students to take a step back and look at the line. Then, ask them how they think the person at the front feels, and how the person at the back feels.
4. Next, ask the students to rearrange themselves in the line so that everyone gets a chance to be in different positions, including first and last.
5. After a few rounds of rearranging, have a group discussion about how it felt to be in different positions in the line and why it’s important to give everyone a chance to be first.

Discussion Questions

After completing the activity, engage your students in a conversation with the following discussion questions:

• How did it feel when you were first in line? How did it feel when you were last?
• Why do you think some people want to be first all the time?
• What are some ways we can make sure everyone gets a chance to be first?
• How does it affect the group when someone always wants to be first?
• Can you think of a time when you let someone else be first? How did it make you feel?

Related Skills

Beyond teaching fairness and group consideration, there are other important social-emotional learning skills that can be developed in students. These may include:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Conflict Resolution: Finding ways to settle disagreements peacefully and effectively.
• Cooperation: Working together with others to achieve a common goal.
• Respect: Showing regard for the feelings, wishes, and rights of others.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach students the importance of fairness and group consideration, we encourage you to explore free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources can help you further develop your students’ social-emotional learning skills and create a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment.