Recess can be a challenging time for students, especially when it comes to handling disappointments and maintaining positive attitudes. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of being a good sport at recess and provide an easy no-prep activity to help educators teach students essential social-emotional skills. By fostering a supportive environment, educators can ensure that recess is both fun and educational for everyone involved.

No-Prep Activity: The Compliment Train

Here is a simple, no-prep activity that encourages students to practice being a good sport and support their peers. The Compliment Train requires no materials, making it easy for educators to implement during recess.

1. Ask students to form a circle.
2. Choose a student to start the activity by paying a genuine compliment to the person on their left.
3. Continue around the circle, with each student complimenting the person on their left.
4. Once the compliments have gone all the way around the circle, ask students to reflect on how they felt during the activity.

This activity promotes a positive attitude, encourages students to support one another, and helps them practice good sportsmanship.

Discussion Questions

After the Compliment Train activity, use these discussion questions to engage students in further conversation:

1. How did it feel to receive a compliment from a peer? How did it feel to give one?
2. Can you think of a time when you were a good sport at recess? What did you do?
3. Why is it important to be a good sport, even when you’re feeling upset or disappointed?
4. How can being a good sport positively affect your relationships with your peers?
5. What are some strategies you can use to maintain a positive attitude during recess?

Related Skills

Being a good sport at recess is just one aspect of developing strong social-emotional skills. Other related skills that educators can focus on include:

• Conflict resolution: Teach students how to handle disagreements and find solutions that work for everyone.
• Empathy: Encourage students to put themselves in others’ shoes and consider their feelings.
• Active listening: Help students develop the ability to truly listen and understand what others are saying.
• Cooperation: Teach students the importance of working together and collaborating with others.

Next Steps

To help your students continue developing their social-emotional skills, consider incorporating more activities and resources into your lesson plans. Sign up for free samples of various skills, including being a good sport, at Everyday Speech. These resources can provide valuable support for educators working with students in Special Education and beyond.