Introduction
As educators, we often encounter situations where students are tempted to copy inappropriate behavior from their peers in an attempt to gain attention or look cool. It’s essential to teach kindergarten students the importance of using appropriate behavior in the classroom and resisting the urge to mimic others just for laughs. In this blog post, we’ll explore a no-prep activity to help students understand the consequences of copying inappropriate behavior and encourage them to make better choices.
No-Prep Activity: The Copycat Game
This simple, no-prep activity is designed to help kindergarten students understand the importance of appropriate behavior in the classroom. Here’s how it works:
- Ask the students to sit in a circle.
- Explain that they will be playing a game called “The Copycat Game” where they will take turns demonstrating an action, and the person next to them will decide whether to copy the action or not.
- Start the game by performing an appropriate action (e.g., giving a thumbs up or clapping hands).
- The student next to you decides whether to copy your action or not. If they choose to copy, the game continues clockwise with the next student deciding whether to copy the action or not. If they choose not to copy, they perform a new action, and the game continues.
- As the game progresses, occasionally demonstrate an inappropriate action (e.g., throwing an object or sticking out your tongue). This will give students an opportunity to practice making the right decision about whether to copy the behavior or not.
- After a few rounds, stop the game and discuss the choices students made during the activity.
Discussion Questions
After playing the Copycat Game, use the following questions to stimulate further discussions:
- Why is it important to think before copying someone else’s actions?
- How can we make sure we’re using appropriate behavior in the classroom?
- What are some other ways to make friends laugh without copying inappropriate behavior?
- How did it feel when you decided not to copy an inappropriate action during the game?
- What can we learn from Julie’s experience in the story about thinking before acting?
Related Skills
Teaching students about appropriate behavior in the classroom is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other relevant skills for kindergarten students include:
- Recognizing and understanding emotions
- Developing empathy for others
- Maintaining self-control
- Building positive relationships with peers and adults
- Practicing effective communication
Next Steps
If you found this activity helpful and want to explore more resources for teaching Social-Emotional Learning skills, sign up for free samples of Everyday Speech materials. You’ll find a variety of engaging activities, videos, and lessons to help your kindergarten students develop essential life skills and navigate social situations with confidence.
