Lesson Plan: Social Skills and Emotions for Years 3-5 Students in New Zealand

Overview

This lesson plan is designed for a small class of 7 special needs students, specifically targeting the development of social skills and emotional understanding. This 27-minute session aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum focusing on the Health and Physical Education strand, particularly the "Personal Health and Physical Development" and "Relationships with Other People" achievement objectives. The activities are curated to be age-appropriate for Years 3-5 students.

Objectives

• Students will identify and express their own emotions.
• Students will recognise emotions in others.
• Students will practice positive interactions in both speaking and listening roles.

Resources

• Emotion cards (images depicting different emotions)
• Mirror
• Storybook: "The Invisible String" by Patrice Karst (for a discussion on emotional connection)
• Emotion wheel chart
• Audio equipment for playing scenarios

Lesson Plan Detail

Warm-Up Activity (5 minutes)

Objective: To familiarise students with different emotions

Activity: Emotion Match-Up

• Distribute emotion cards to each student.
• Ask students to mimic the emotion shown on their card using their facial expressions.
• Use a mirror so students can see their own expressions.
• Ask peers to guess the emotion.

Main Activity Part 1 (10 minutes)

Objective: To understand and respect personal feelings and the feelings of others

Activity: Story Time and Discussion

• Read aloud "The Invisible String" by Patrice Karst, focusing on the theme of connection and emotional bonds.
• Discuss the emotions of characters in the story and ask students how the story makes them feel.
• Utilise the emotion wheel chart to help students articulate their feelings.

Link to purchase the storybook: "The Invisible String"

Main Activity Part 2 (7 minutes)

Objective: To practice expressing and managing feelings and emotions

Activity: Role-Play Scenarios

• Play pre-recorded audio scenarios depicting different social interactions.
• Students take turns responding to the scenarios, using guidance from the emotion wheel to express how they might feel in that situation.
• Encourage classmates to provide affirmations or alternative responses to enrich the discussion.

Closing Activity (5 minutes)

Objective: To reinforce learning and ensure understanding of emotional expressions

Activity: Emotion Reflection

• In a circle, pass around a 'talking stick'; only the person with the stick shares their favourite part of the lesson.
• Encourage students to express one emotion they felt during today's lesson.
• Conclude with a group affirmation, reinforcing the importance of respecting our own and others' feelings.

Assessment

• Informal observation during activities to assess participation and understanding.
• One-on-one conversation post-lesson for individual emotional reflection and to gauge the personal impact of the lesson on each student.

Additional Notes

• Adjustments may be necessary depending on the individual needs of the students.
• Ensure a supportive and positive environment to encourage open emotional expression.

Relevant Curriculum Links

• New Zealand Curriculum Online: Health and Physical Education

This lesson plan is tailored to address the key competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum, focusing on "managing self" and "relating to others," with an emphasis on socio-emotional learning for special needs students in a nurturing and understanding environment.