Peer Mentor Student Workbook
Peer Leadership Program
Navigator Mentors & Buddies
6-Week Growth Lab
5th Grade Mentor:
4th Grade Buddy:
Meeting Day & Time: Faculty Advisor:
Our Partnership Pact
We promise to show up with respect, listen with curious minds, keep our shared stories safe, and help each other build real problem-solving power.
Mentor Pledge:
"I will guide, listen without judging, and help my buddy discover their own best solutions."
Mentor Signature:
Buddy Pledge:
"I will be honest, try new strategies, and ask for help when things feel tough."
Buddy Signature:
Our 6-Week Expedition Roadmap
W1: Connection Active listening & trust
W2: Feelings Radar Body clues & meter
W3: Calm Toolbox Reset techniques
W4: Problem Sizer Pause, size & S.T.E.P.
W5: Win-Win Deals I-messages & repair
W6: Celebration Growth recap & badge
Quick Launch: Rapid Radar (Interview each other!)
1. Favorite way to recharge after school:
2. One thing that always makes me smile:
3. A school subject or recess game I enjoy:
4. Our official secret high-five code name:
Peer Leadership Curriculum Page 1 · Mission Launch
WEEK 1
Building Strong Connections
Active Listening & Empathy
Mentor Coaching Prompt: "Connection starts when the other person feels truly heard. Today, we're practicing Whole-Body Listening and discovering what we share."
The Whole-Body Listening Checklist
Eyes Looking
Focusing on the speaker without looking away at distractions.
Ears Ready
Listening to understand the feelings behind the words.
Mouth Quiet
Waiting until they finish before speaking or reacting.
Heart Open
Caring about what matters to them, even if it's different.
Activity 1: The "Story Catcher" Mirror
5-7 Minutes
Directions: Buddy shares a 2-minute story about a high point and a low point this week. Mentor listens using Whole-Body Listening, then uses the sentence starter below to reflect what they heard. Then switch roles!
The Mirror Starter: "It sounds like you felt [feeling] when [what happened], is that right?"
What Mentor caught from Buddy's story:
What Buddy caught from Mentor's story:
Activity 2: Our Common Ground Bridge
Write 2 unique things about each of you in the side boxes, and 2 things you have in common in the center!
Just Mentor:
Both of Us!
Just Buddy:
Week 1 Check-In: Did we practice whole-body listening today?
Yes! Getting Better
Peer Leadership Curriculum Page 2 · Week 1
WEEK 2
Feelings Radar & Body Signals
Emotional Regulation Part 1
Mentor Coaching Prompt: "Feelings don't just happen in our brains—our bodies give us alert signals first! If we catch the signals early, we stay in control."
The Emotional Thermometer
RED ZONE Overheating
Furious, explosive, panicked, out of control.
Needs: Immediate Stop & Reset
YELLOW ZONE Warming Up
Frustrated, worried, silly, annoyed, restless.
Needs: Slow down & breathe
GREEN ZONE Optimal
Calm, focused, content, ready to learn & connect.
Needs: Keep the good momentum
BLUE ZONE Low Battery
Tired, sad, lonely, drained, sick.
Needs: Rest & gentle care
Body Alarm Detectives: Where do you feel stress first?
Check the body cues that happen to you when frustration starts to creep in:
Tight, clenched fists
Fast heartbeat
Stomach knots / churn
Hot, blushing face
Clenched teeth or jaw
Short, shallow breaths
Buddy's #1 early body signal:
Mentor's #1 early body signal:
Trigger Detective: What usually sparks the heat?
Mentor and buddy discuss: What is one school situation that pushes you into Yellow Zone?
Peer Leadership Curriculum Page 3 · Week 2
WEEK 3
The Calm-Down Action Toolbox
Emotional Regulation Part 2
Mentor Coaching Prompt: "Today we aren't just talking about calming down—we are test-driving three proven tools together right now so you have them ready when you need them."
1 The 4x4 Box Breathing Circuit
Try 3 Cycles Together
IN
Breathe In
Count 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
HOLD
Hold Gentle
Count 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
OUT
Breathe Out
Count 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
PAUSE
Rest Empty
Count 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
2 5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Grounding Anchor
Look around room
5 SEE Objects you notice
4 TOUCH Textures nearby
3 HEAR Sounds in room
2 SMELL Scents in air
1 TRUTH I am safe right now
3 Positive Self-Talk Rewire: Flip the Script
Mindset Shift
"This is impossible! I quit!" "This is hard, but I can take it one piece at a time."
"Everyone is against me today." "I am frustrated, but my mentor and friends care."
Buddy's Pocket Anchor Plan
Together, choose Buddy's top tool and write their personal calming phrase:
My favorite calming tool tested today:
My calm-down power phrase:
Peer Leadership Curriculum Page 4 · Week 3
WEEK 4
Stop, Think, Solve: The S.T.E.P. Blueprint
Problem-Solving Steps
Mentor Coaching Prompt: "Big reactions to tiny glitches make things worse. First, we size the problem. Then, we use the 4-step S.T.E.P. formula to find smart solutions."
The Problem Sizing Meter: Match Reaction to Problem
SMALL GLITCH (1-2)
Broken pencil, lost turn, accidental bump.
Fix myself in 1 minute.
MEDIUM HURDLE (3-4)
Disagreement on rules, hurt feelings, left out.
Talk it out with peer/mentor.
BIG EMERGENCY (5)
Physical danger, bullying, safety risk.
Get an adult immediately!
The 4-Step S.T.E.P. Method
S
Say the Problem
Without blame! Name facts only.
T
Think Choices
Brainstorm 3 safe ideas.
E
Explore Results
What would happen next?
P
Pick & Practice
Choose the win-win path.
Case File: The Four-Square Dispute
Solve Together
The Scenario: During recess, two players both call the four-square ball "out." One yells "You're cheating!" and refuses to leave the court. Game stops.
1. S - State the problem cleanly (no blaming words):
2. T & E - Brainstorm 2 possible choices & what happens next:
3. P - Pick the best solution for both players:
Peer Leadership Curriculum Page 5 · Week 4
WEEK 5
Win-Win Deals & Friendship Repair
Conflict Resolution & Repair
Mentor Coaching Prompt: "Resolving a conflict doesn't mean having a winner and a loser. Leaders look for the third option where both people feel respected."
The 4-Part "I-Message" Formula
"I feel [emotion] when [specific event] because [reason]. Can we [request]?"
Mentor and Buddy practice turning an attack into an assertive I-message:
Blaming Statement: "You never let me pick what we play! You're so bossy!"
Rewrite together as a respectful I-Message:
Three Paths to a Disagreement
I Win / You Lose
Forcing my way. Partner feels hurt and resentful.
I Lose / You Win
Giving up completely. I keep quiet but feel disappointed.
WIN-WIN (Leader Choice)
Take turns, combine ideas, find shared middle ground.
The Sincere Friendship Repair
When mistakes happen (and they will!), real leaders fix it in 3 steps:
1. Own It
"I'm sorry for yelling when I was frustrated."
2. Repair It
"How can I help make things right?"
3. Reset It
"Can we start fresh tomorrow?"
Buddy & Mentor: Roleplay a quick repair and note your top takeaway:
Peer Leadership Curriculum Page 6 · Week 5
WEEK 6
Leadership Expedition Celebration
Growth & Milestones
Mentor & Buddy Final Debrief: "6 weeks ago, we started as partners. Today, we look back at the real problem-solving and emotional regulation strengths we built together."
Buddy's Growth Reflection
The most important skill or calm-down tool my 5th grade mentor taught me:
Mentor's Growth Reflection
A strength I noticed in my 4th grade buddy and how I grew as a leader:
Our Favorite Partnership Memory or Win
Write one memory, breakthrough, or funny moment from our 6 weeks together:
Official Certificate of Achievement
Peer Mentorship Leadership Award
This certifies that the mentor and buddy partnership named below has successfully completed the 6-Week Leadership Expedition in Connection, Emotional Regulation, and Problem Solving!
5th Grade Mentor Graduate:
4th Grade Buddy Graduate:
Faculty Sponsor Signature
Date Completed
Peer Leadership Curriculum Page 7 · Week 6 Celebration
