Tea Party Turns Teacher Guide
Group Lesson Resource
Tea Party Turns
Classroom Social Skills Lesson • Target: Group sharing & Turn-Taking
Group Structure
Optimized for a small group or full classroom divided into tables of 3-4 students. Peer modeling and structured circle rotations guide the tea party flow.
Group Objectives
- • Use verbal/visual scripts to ask the group peer for a toy.
- • Pass items **clockwise** around the table.
- • Wait with a group visual timer without grab attempts.
Stations & Prep
- ✓ 1 visual teapot per station
- ✓ Plastic teacups for every student
- ✓ 1 group sand timer per table
- ✓ Anchor Charts placed on tables
- ✓ Paper arrows showing clockwise flow
Table-Group Sharing Flow
Passing Pattern
1
Request Teapot (Student to Left)
"Teapot, please!" while holding out hands.
2
Acknowledge (Student with Teapot)
"Yes, wait 1 minute!" and flip visual timer.
3
Group Patience (Table Watch)
All table members take slow, quiet sips from their empty cups while waiting.
4
Timer Sound & Pass
Timer rings. Teapot goes to neighbor: "Here you go!"
Group Lesson Sequence
1. Whole-Group Demonstration (8 mins) Phase 1
Gather students on the carpet. Model the clockwise flow using oversized visually-coded arrows. Practice choral reading of the 4 steps on the Anchor Chart.
2. Table Play & Teacher Rotation (12 mins) Phase 2
Students sit at designated tables. Assign a "timer leader" at each table to turn the sand glass. Teacher circulates to offer prompt-fading support.
3. Group Debrief & Exit Routine (5 mins) Phase 3
Collect teapots. Distribute the individual "Practice Worksheets" to reinforce concepts cognitively, followed by self-reflection tickets.
Unit: Social Connections • Lesson 1: Group Sharing Page 1 of 2
Group Lesson Resource
Group Management & Data
ASD Accommodations for Larger Groups & Observation Sheets
Group Challenges
Problem: Waiting Distress in Large Circle
Solution: Limit groups to max 4 children. Give waiting students active roles, such as "pouring" pretend milk or holding sugar cube markers to occupy hands.
Problem: Distraction & Station Drift
Solution: Use tape or rubber spots on the floor to outline clear seating areas. Visual cards on tables show who is sitting at each spot.
Problem: Multiple Snatchers
Solution: Establish the "Cup Rule" — if the teapot is not at your cup, your cup must stay flat on the table, keeping hands visually anchored.
Station Visual Rules
Color-Coded Placeholders
Place red, yellow, and green cards on the table matching the clockwise path. Red shows who just turned; yellow is waiting; green is active teapot holder.
Clockwise Passing Arrows
Tape a circle of arrows in the middle of each station table. This acts as an explicit visual boundary for what "next" physically means.
Peer Play Partners
Ensure each small group contains at least one verbal peer model who can help trigger the "Yes, in 1 minute!" response reliably.
Classroom Group Sharing Observation Sheet
Mark: I (Independent), P (Prompted), W (Needs work). Track up to 6 children per sheet.
| Student Name | 1. Asking Script | 2. Timer Start | 3. Waiting Hands | 4. Clockwise Pass |
|---|
| 1. ___________________ | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W |
| 2. ___________________ | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W |
| 3. ___________________ | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W |
| 4. ___________________ | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W |
| 5. ___________________ | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W | I / P / W |
Group Play Observation Notes:
Unit: Social Connections • Lesson 1: Group Sharing Page 2 of 2
Tea Party Turns Practice Worksheet
Tea Party Sharing!
Let's practice taking turns with our friends.
Name:
Date:
A Draw a Line to the Right Number!
Look at the tea party step. Draw a line to the number that shows when we do it!
"Can I have a turn, please?"
We ask our friend with nice words.
"Here you go!"
We give the toy when the timer rings.
"Yes! In 1 minute."
We set the clock to count down.
Waiting with Calm Hands
We sit nicely and wait for the bell.
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
B Color the Happy Waiter Choice!
Color the happy face if it is a kind waiting choice!
Keep hands in my lap
✔ ✖
Grab and pull the teapot
✔ ✖
Use a sweet, soft voice
✔ ✖
Tea Party Turns Exit Ticket
My Daily Check-In Tea Party Hero!
My Sharing Ticket
Show how you shared at the tea party today!
My Name:
Today:
How did I share today?
✔
I used my tea party words
I said: "Can I have a turn, please?"
✔
I waited for the timer
I kept my hands safe and waited for the bell.
✔
I gave the toy to my friend
I said: "Here you go!" and handed it over.
How did my heart feel sharing today?
😊
Happy
😐
Okay
🥺
A Little Hard
