Boundary Builders Facilitation Guide Social GPS • Lesson 1 Teacher Guide
Boundary Builders
Teaching students the art of saying "no" and honoring personal space
Target Grades 3rd – 6th Grade
Objective
Students will define physical and emotional boundaries and practice assertive communication strategies.
Pacing
Total: 45 Mins
Key Concepts
Personal bubble, Emotional safety, Stop Sign signals, Green light entry.
1 The Hook: The Shrinking Island (5 Mins)
Facilitation Script:
"Imagine we are all standing on a beautiful island. Suddenly, the water starts to rise! Walk closer to each other. Notice how it feels as your personal space gets smaller. Raise your hand when you start to feel like you need more room."
Discussion Prompt: How does it feel when someone gets too close without asking? Is personal space just physical, or can it be emotional too?
2 Core Lesson: The Boundary Bubbles (15 Mins)
Physical Boundaries (Your Bubble): The invisible circular line around your body. Everyone has different bubble sizes! Teach students the "Arm-Length Test" .
Emotional Boundaries (Your Vault): Deciding what feelings, words, or secrets you feel safe sharing or hearing. It's okay to say, "I don't feel like sharing that right now."
The Clear "No" (The Stop Sign): Teach the three pillars of saying "no" assertively:
Keep eye contact & use a calm, solid voice
Keep your body open (shoulders relaxed, hands at sides)
Say what you need clearly (e.g., "Please stop, I don't like when you pull my bag")
3 Active Practice: Stop & Ask Scenarios (20 Mins)
Group students into pairs. Have them practice role-playing these everyday school boundaries using Stop Sign (asserting boundaries) and Green Light (asking permission) templates:
Scenario A: The Pencil Grabber A classmate reaches into your desk to borrow a marker without asking. Practice setting a firm, kind physical boundary.
Scenario B: The Secret Pressure A friend insists that you tell them a secret that someone else shared with you. Practice setting an emotional boundary.
Look For & Coach
• Are students smiling/giggling while saying "no"? Coach them to use a warm but serious face.
• Watch for compliance vs. genuine comfort. Praise students who respect a peer's prompt boundary.
Differentiation
• Support: Provide visual hand cards containing standard phrases (e.g. "Please stop").
• Extension: Create an "Emergency Exit" plan for complex social boundaries (group chat pressure).
© Social GPS Curriculum Lesson 1: Boundary Builders Guide
Boundary Blueprint Worksheet Social GPS • Activity 1
Boundary Blueprint
Discovering your physical and emotional comfort zones
Explorer Name
Date
We all have comfortable spaces for our body (physical boundaries) and our feelings (emotional boundaries). Use this blueprint to explore and design yours!
1. My Physical Space Bubble
Your space bubble changes based on who you're with. Under each relationship category below, list 2 physical boundaries that make you feel safe (e.g., "high five instead of hugs", "one arms-length away when talking").
A. With Close Friends
B. With Classmates & Acquaintances
The Arm-Length Rule: Use your hand to check the distance. If you can stretch your arm and touch a classmate's shoulder, you have respected their physical bubble size!
2. My Emotional Vault
Emotional boundaries protect your thoughts, words, and energy. Read the triggers below and write how you can set a boundaries standard for each!
A. When I'm feeling overwhelmed or sad:
How do you ask for space or privacy?
B. When someone asks me to keep a bad secret:
What phrase can you use to stay emotionally safe?
Vault Policy: Your thoughts and feelings belong to you. You are in control of who has the keys to enter your vault.
3. Assertive Stop Sign Drills
Practice crafting a solid, assertive statement. Look at the situation below and write your own "Stop Sign" answer. Remember to use a clear, serious voice without giggling or being mean!
Social Trap
"Your classmate is looking over your shoulder at your math test sheet because they didn't study."
Write your assertive "Stop Sign" phrase:
© Social GPS Curriculum Lesson 1: Boundary Blueprint Student Handout
Conflict Cruiser Slides Social GPS • Lesson 2
Conflict Cruisers
Navigating friendship waves, steering through disagreements, and repairing trust using restorative steps.
Ready to set sail? Slide 1 of 5
Rough Waters Ahead?
The Reality Check
Disagreements happen in every friendship!
It is 100% normal to disagree with friends. The goal isn't to never fight—it's to learn how to cruise through the waves without sinking the ship.
Storm Behaviors
Yelling, blaming, the silent treatment, or talking behind their back.
Cruising Behaviors
Taking a pause, sharing how you feel, listening, and restoring the bond.
Storms pass, but good captains stay steady. Slide 2 of 5
Your Steering Wheel: "I-Statements"
Communication Code
Instead of accusing others ("You always ruin things!"), use the I-statement formula to share your truth safely.
1. FEELER
"I feel..."
Name your exact emotion
2. TRIGGER
"when you..."
State the action calmly
3. REASON
"because..."
Explain why it matters
4. FUTURE
"next time..."
Request a simple change
Using "I" keeps defenses low and makes resolution possible. Slide 3 of 5
Restorative Friendship Repair
Restoration Steps
STEP 1
Anchor Down
Take three deep belly breaths. You cannot steer a boat if you are in a panic. Calm your heart before you talk.
Regulate First
STEP 2
Speak the Formula
Use your "I-Statement" code to describe the problem clearly without insulting or calling names.
Share Your Truth
STEP 3
Listen & Restore
Listen with open ears and open posture. Brainstorm a repair plan together. What does a real apology require?
Repair & Commit
Apologizing isn't winning or losing. It's repairing. Slide 4 of 5
Cruiser Class Challenge
Active Application
The Scenario
"Your friend makes fun of your new shoes in front of other classmates at lunch, and everybody laughs. You feel embarrassed and hurt."
Your Mission
Turn to your table neighbor. Draft an I-Statement for this scenario.
Coach Checklist
Did you include how you felt? Did you suggest a fix for next time?
Friendship Repair Kit Worksheet Social GPS • Activity 2
Friendship Repair Kit
Fixing friendship dents with restorative practices
Explorer Name
Date
When disagreements dent a friendship, we use special tools to fix it! Complete the challenges below to master your "Repair Kit."
Tool 1: The Blame-to-I Rewriter
Blaming statements like "You always ruin our projects!" start fights. Rewrite the blaming statement below using the I-Statement formula .
Broken Statement (Do Not Use)
"You left me out at recess and you are a terrible friend!"
A. How do you feel? (Feeler)
I feel
B. What was the action? (Trigger)
when you
C. Why does it hurt? (Reason)
because
D. What is the request? (Future)
next time, can you
Tool 2: The Three-Part Apology Engine
Just saying "sorry" isn't enough. A real, healthy apology needs three core parts. Match each part of the apology with the student work lines below to design your engine:
1. Own It (Name what you did wrong) Example: "I am sorry that I laughed at your shoes."
2. Impact Check (Acknowledge their feelings) Example: "I know it must have felt embarrassing."
3. Repair Action (Tell them how you will fix it) Example: "Next time, I will speak up instead of laughing."
Tool 3: Repair Reflection
Why is it important to apologize and repair a friendship even if you didn't mean to hurt their feelings?
© Social GPS Curriculum Lesson 2: Friendship Repair Kit Handout
Friendship Flag Anchor Chart Social GPS • Classroom Reference Poster
Friendship Flag Patrol
Your safety guide to recognizing positive connection, caution signs, and warning alerts in your social circle.
Green Flags: Keep Cruising!
Safety & Comfort
Behaviors that build trust, respect your space, and make you feel happy and relaxed inside.
They cheer you on and celebrate you!
They respect your "No" immediately.
They listen to your feelings.
You feel safe telling them secrets.
Yellow Flags: Slow Down & Reflect
Caution & Boundary check
Behaviors that might make you uncomfortable or worried. Time to communicate or check-in.
They get jealous when you play with others.
They apologize but then do it again.
They mock or tease you "as a joke."
They whisper secrets or exclude peers.
Red Flags: Stop & Seek Help
Action & Intervention
Behaviors that are unsafe, physically or emotionally harmful. Set boundaries and talk to a trusted adult.
They push, hit, or break your belongings.
They threaten to end the friendship.
They pressure you to break school rules.
They bully, insult, or lie about you.
Navigation Strategy
Green flags say keep going . Yellow flags say be mindful & communicate . Red flags say stop, protect yourself, and tell a teacher or parent .
© Social GPS Curriculum Lesson 3: Classroom Anchor Chart Poster
Flag Patrol Pocket Cards Social GPS • Activity 3 (Part A)
Flag Patrol Scenario Cards
Cut out these 6 pocket cards to sort and evaluate friendship behaviors!
Print & Cut Template
Scenario #1
"Your friend sees you sitting alone at lunch. They run over, smile, and ask you to play a round of four-square."
Mark the Flag:
Green
Yellow
Red
Scenario #2
"Your friend makes a joke about your jacket in class. They laughed, but you felt hurt. They said they were 'just kidding'."
Mark the Flag:
Green
Yellow
Red
Scenario #3
"Your friend tells you they won't hang out with you anymore unless you let them copy your science test answers."
Mark the Flag:
Green
Yellow
Red
Scenario #4
"Your friend stops tag immediately when you tell them your knee is sore. They ask if you want to walk instead."
Mark the Flag:
Green
Yellow
Red
Scenario #5
"Your friend gets visibly angry and won't speak to you all day because you ate lunch with a new student."
Mark the Flag:
Green
Yellow
Red
Scenario #6
"A peer grabs your pencil case, empties it on the floor, laughs, and pushes you when you ask for them back."
Mark the Flag:
Green
Yellow
Red
© Social GPS Curriculum Lesson 3: Flag Patrol Printable Cards
Social GPS • Activity 3 (Part B)
Flag Patrol Protocol
Define your custom response strategies for each social situation
Explorer Name
Date
Once you have cut and sorted your cards on Page 1, plan out how you will navigate green, yellow, and red friendship behaviors below.
Green Flags: Nurture the Connection
How can you show a friend that you appreciate their positive "Green Flag" behaviors? (e.g., complimenting, saying thank you, returning the kind action)
Yellow Flags: Communicate & Check-in
If you spot a Yellow Flag, how can you check-in or set a boundary without starting a fight? Write a sentence you can say:
Red Flags: Protect & Inform
If a classmate is demonstrating safe boundaries red flags, who are two trusted adults at school or home you can talk to?
Adult #1
