Sharing Sparks Lesson Plan Sharing Sparks Friendships
Lesson Plan • 1st Grade Tier 1 SEL
Duration: 30 Minutes
Why This Matters
Teaching sharing promotes social-emotional growth, builds a supportive classroom culture, and helps 1st graders develop positive peer relationships. It fosters empathy and teamwork from a young age.
Learning Objective
Students will understand that sharing strengthens friendships and teamwork. They will practice sharing through story discussion, role-play, and reflection activities.
Preparation
Print and cut Sharing Scenario Cards .
Make copies of Sharing Reflection Worksheet .
Print and assemble Friendship Circle Tokens .
Gather a Storybook about Sharing (e.g., “The Sharing Circle”).
Gather small toys for demonstration.
Ensure whiteboard and markers are ready.
Materials Needed
Sharing Scenario Cards
Sharing Reflection Worksheet
Friendship Circle Tokens
Storybook about Sharing
Small Toys for Demonstration
Lesson Procedure
5m
Introduction and Story Time
Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
Read the Storybook about Sharing.
Pause to ask: “What might happen next?” and “Have you ever shared like this?”
Define sharing and discuss why people share.
5m
Group Discussion
Write key student responses on the whiteboard.
List examples of sharing from the story.
Emphasize how sharing creates happiness and friendships.
10m
Role-play Scenarios
Divide students into small groups of 3–4.
Give each group two Sharing Scenario Cards .
In turns, students act out each scenario, demonstrating sharing solutions.
Circulate, offer feedback, and award Friendship Circle Tokens for good sharing.
8m
Reflection Activity
Hand out Sharing Reflection Worksheet .
Students draw or write about a time they shared and their feelings.
Invite volunteers to share their reflections with the class.
2m
Closing and Celebration
Recap: “Sharing helps us make friends and feel good.”
Give each student a Friendship Circle Token to take home.
Encourage everyone to practice sharing today.
Sharing Sparks Deck Sharing Sparks Friendships
Kindness in Our Classroom
1st Grade
30 Minutes
Welcome everyone! Today we're learning how sharing creates friendships and makes us feel good. Introduce the lesson title and get students excited.
Our Goals Today
Understand that sharing makes friendships stronger
Find examples of sharing in stories and life
Practice sharing with friends during role-play
Reflect on how sharing makes us feel
Why Sharing Matters
Makes Friends
Sharing helps us make and keep friends.
Shows Kindness
It shows respect and love for others.
Builds Community
Creates a happy, caring classroom.
Story Time!
1
Sit in our Friendship Circle.
2
Listen to "The Sharing Circle".
3
Predict what happens next!
"Have you ever shared like this?"
Sharing means giving or taking turns so everyone feels happy.
Let's Talk!
What were some ways characters shared in the story?
How did sharing make them feel inside?
Whiteboard Ideas
Sharing Stars!
Time to act it out in your groups!
Get in groups of 3 or 4
Pick two Scenario Cards
Act out a kind solution!
Earn Friendship Tokens
My Sharing Spark
1
Draw a time you shared something.
2
How did it make you feel? Draw or write it!
3
Share your drawing with the class.
Worksheet Preview
Great Sharing!
"Sharing helps us make friends and feel good."
TAKE HOME A TOKEN
PRACTICE TODAY
Sharing Scenario Cards Activity Sharing Scenario Cards
Cut these cards along the dashed lines. Use them in small groups to practice finding kind solutions to sharing problems!
#1
The Busy Toy Car
Two friends want to play with the same toy car at recess.
"What could they do so both can have fun?"
#2
The Magic Brush
A friend asks for the paintbrush you’re using to paint.
"How can you share nicely?"
#3
The Final Piece
You have one puzzle piece left but your partner wants to try it.
"What is a fair way to share?"
#4
The Playground Swing
Only one swing is free and you both want a turn.
"How could you take turns?"
#5
The Extra Snack
You brought an extra snack and a friend forgot theirs.
"What could you say or do?"
#6
The Tall Tower
A friend wants to join you building a tall block tower.
"How can you include them?"
Teacher Tip: After students act out a solution, ask the "audience" to give a thumbs up if it was a kind way to share. Encourage using polite words like "Please," "May I," and "Thank you!"
Sharing Reflection Worksheet My Sharing Spark
Reflection Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Think about a time you shared something with a friend. It could be a toy, a snack, or even a turn!
1. Draw a picture of that moment:
2. What did you share?
3. How did it make YOU feel?
4. How did your FRIEND feel?
Sharing makes our classroom shine!
Friendship Circle Tokens Game Friendship Circle Tokens
Classroom Community Game Guide
What is this?
Use these tokens to recognize acts of sharing. Each time a student shares nicely—during role-play or free time—the teacher awards them a Friendship Circle Token. Collecting tokens builds excitement and shows how sharing lights up our classroom!
Setup
Print the **Tokens Page** and cut out the circles.
Display the **Our Friendship Circle** chart on a wall.
Keep tokens in a bowl or small box nearby.
How to Play
1
Catch Kindness: Whenever you see a student sharing kindly, announce: “Thank you for sharing, [Name]! You earned a Friendship Spark!”
2
Add to the Circle: Hand the token to the student. Let them stick it (using tape or sticky tack) onto the next empty spot on the Friendship Circle chart.
3
Celebrate! When the entire circle is filled with tokens, the whole class wins a "Sharing Celebration" (1-minute dance party, special sticker, or extra story time).
Teacher Tips
Peer Call-outs: Encourage students to spot each other sharing.Variety: Change the celebration reward to keep students motivated.Link back: Remind them how sharing made the characters feel in the story.
Printable Tokens & Chart
Friendship Sparks (Cut these out)
Spark!
Shared!
Kind!
Shine!
Spark!
Friend!
Spark!
Shared!
Kind!
Shine!
Spark!
Friend!
Our Friendship Circle
Filled with Kindness
"When every spot is filled, it's time to celebrate!"
