People Helping People

Overview

This 30-minute engaging session invites Reception children to explore the theme of cooperation and kindness through a poem and interactive activities. Using a mystery box and creative crafting, young learners will identify ways people help each other, fostering communication skills and social understanding aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, which underpins the National Curriculum for Reception year.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, children will:

• Communication and Language (EYFS ELG)

  • Listen attentively to a poem and demonstrate understanding through discussion.
  • Use spoken language to describe objects and explain their use in helping others.

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (EYFS ELG)

  • Understand the importance of helping and caring for people in their community.
  • Express feelings about how people can support one another.

• Physical Development & Expressive Arts and Design (EYFS ELG)

  • Manipulate paper and scissors safely to create a paper chain illustrating helping hands.

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Curriculum Links

• Understanding the World: Recognising people who help us and how we can help others in our community (EYFS: Understanding the World - People, Culture and Communities).
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Building relationships and showing empathy (EYFS Early Learning Goal).
• Communication and Language: Developing speaking and listening skills through interactive group talk (EYFS Early Learning Goal).

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Resources

• Mystery Box containing objects such as: a toy first aid kit, scarf, toy phone, small book, picture of a farmer, a pair of gloves, a small broom.
• Copies of the poem "People Need People" (printed and also displayed on a large poster or smartboard).
• Paper strips (for making paper chains), safe child scissors, glue sticks, crayons, and markers.
• Large circle/rug area for gathering.

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Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Description
0:00–5:00	Hook & Introduction	Gather children on the carpet. Introduce the ‘mystery box’ and explain they will take turns to pick an object and share how it helps people. Read the poem “People Need People” aloud expressively, inviting children to listen carefully and think about what people need each other for. Use a large visible copy to support emerging readers.
5:00–10:00	Mystery Box Object Sharing	Children take turns selecting one object from the mystery box. Each child is encouraged to explain in simple terms how the object helps people (e.g., “The first aid kit helps when someone is hurt.”) Teacher supports language scaffolding with sentence starters, such as “This helps people because…” or “People need people when…”
10:00–25:00	Paper Chain People Craft	Introduce the concept that people help each other in chains, just like links in a paper chain. Each child decorates a paper figure representing themselves or a helper and writes (with adult help) or draws one way they can help others. The children then link their figures together to form a class ‘Help Chain’. Encourage sharing why their helping role is important as they join the chain. Teacher models cutting and joining strips safely and praises collaborative work.
25:00–30:00	Reflection & Sharing Circle	Gather children to sit in the circle holding the finished paper chain. Invite a few children to share their figure’s ‘helping role’. Recap key ideas from the poem “People Need People” and reinforce that we all have special ways to help each other. End with a simple, repeated group chant from the poem to internalise message and promote confidence in speaking aloud.

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Assessment

• Formative: Ongoing observations during the mystery box sharing and paper chain craft to assess children’s spoken vocabulary, ability to explain ideas, and engagement with social themes of help and kindness.
• Checklist: Use a simple assessment checklist to note if children:
  • Participate actively in discussions.
  • Make relevant connections between objects and helping others.
  • Show understanding of cooperation through the paper chain activity.

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Additional Teacher Notes

• Tailor questioning to support all ability levels, offering vocabulary prompts or visuals where needed.
• Encourage children to listen respectfully to peers’ contributions, modelling turn-taking and attentive body language.
• Link this lesson to ongoing PSHE curriculum strands on friendship and community roles for continued thematic learning.
• Consider capturing photos of the chain as a display for parents and to embed the learning visually.

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Harness the power of curiosity and creativity to inspire young children to appreciate the value of helping one another, embedding key communication and personal development skills from the start of their education journey!