What Would You Do?
You are working quietly when another student keeps making distracting noises and trying to get people off task.
What would you do?
I would ignore the behavior and stay focused on my work. If it continued, I could ask them to stop nicely or let the teacher know.
A student is smiling, laughing with friends, and saying, “This is the best day ever!”
What feeling might they be showing?
They are probably feeling happy.
Two friends sit together at lunch and share their snacks without arguing.
What is a good friendship skill they are showing?
They are showing sharing and cooperation.
Sharing snacks and getting along shows they are being kind friends and working well together.
You lose your pencil right before starting class and start to feel a little annoyed.
What is one thing you can do to calm down?
I can take a deep breath and remind myself it’s okay. I could also look for another pencil or ask to borrow one calmly.
A student says “thank you” when someone holds the door open for them.
Is this kind or unkind?
This is kind.
Saying “thank you” shows respect and appreciation for someone helping you.
Your group is presenting in class, but one person refuses to participate and says the project is “dumb.”
What would you do?
I would stay calm and encourage them to help with at least one part of the presentation.
A student is sitting alone at lunch with their head down and not talking to anyone.
What feeling might they be showing, and what clues tell you that?
They might be feeling sad or lonely.
I can tell because they are sitting alone, not talking, and have their head down.
A friend talks while you are trying to explain something, and you feel ignored.
What is a respectful way to handle this?
I would wait until the person is finished talking and then calmly tell them how I feel, or say something like, “I want to finish my thought, can you please let me finish?”
A classmate bumps into you in the hallway and you feel irritated.
What is a healthy way to respond instead of reacting right away?
I could take a deep breath, keep walking, or politely say “excuse me” if needed instead of getting upset.
A classmate laughs when another student drops their books in the hallway.
Is this kind or unkind? Explain why.
This is unkind.
Laughing at someone who drops their books can make them feel embarrassed and upset instead of helped.
You are working on a group assignment, but one classmate keeps interrupting everyone and refusing to listen to other people’s ideas. The group is starting to get annoyed and argue.
What would you do?
I would stay calm and encourage everyone to take turns speaking.
A student just found out they got a low score on a test they studied for. They say, “I worked really hard… I don’t get it.” Their shoulders are slumped and they are quiet.
What feeling are they probably experiencing? How do you know?
They are probably feeling disappointed and upset. I know because they worked hard, got a low score, and are quiet with slumped shoulders.
Your friend gets upset because they were not chosen for the same group as you during a class activity.
What could you say or do to help the situation?
I could say something like, “I’m sorry you didn’t get into my group. We can still sit together at lunch or play outside at recess.” I could also say, “Maybe next time we can be in the same group.” This helps include them in a different way so they don’t feel left out.
You are working on an assignment and it feels too hard. You start to feel frustrated and want to give up.
What is a calm-down strategy you could use to keep going?
I could use positive self-talk to help myself keep going, like saying, “I can do this one step at a time,” or “It’s okay if it’s hard, I just need to try my best.”
I could also remind myself that struggling means I’m learning, and keep working on one small part of the assignment instead of giving up.
A student invites a new classmate to sit with them at lunch so they don’t sit alone.
Is this kind or unkind? Why?
This is kind.
Inviting a new student to sit with you helps them feel included and welcomed.
A student in your class keeps making rude jokes about another student while others laugh.
What would you do?
I would avoid joining in or laughing. I could support the student being targeted, speak up respectfully, or tell an adult if the behavior continues.
A student is invited to a birthday party but also finds out their two friends were invited and they were not. They say they are “fine,” but their voice sounds different and they stop talking in class.
What mixed feelings might this student be experiencing? Explain your thinking.
They might be feeling left out, jealous, and a little hurt.
Even though they say “fine,” their behavior shows something is bothering them because they stop talking and sound different.
A student notices that their close friend has started hanging out with a new group and now barely talks to them. The student sees their friend posting pictures with the new group but is not included.
What is a kind and responsible way to respond?
I would not assume the friend is trying to hurt my feelings. I could talk to my friend calmly and say I miss spending time with them. I could also ask to hang out sometime without being upset or starting drama. If needed, I could try to make new friends too.
A student accidentally knocks over your Chromebook in class, and it stops working properly right before you need it for an assignment. The teacher is helping someone else, and you feel yourself getting frustrated.
What are TWO things you can do to calm yourself down and handle the situation?
First, I would stay calm and not react by blaming the other student or getting upset.
Since the teacher is already helping someone else, I would wait patiently and use self-control instead of interrupting.
While I wait, I can prepare other parts of my work, so I am still using my time wisely until the teacher is available to help.
A group of students starts a group chat and talks about a classmate in a negative way without including them in the conversation.
Is this kind or unkind? What makes it that way?
This is unkind.
Talking about someone in a negative group chat and leaving them out can hurt their feelings and is a form of exclusion.
Your best friend gets into an argument with another student and wants you to automatically “take their side.” Later, you find out your friend was actually the one who started the problem. Your friend tells you that if you do not support them, you are being fake.
What would you do?
I would be honest and respectful instead of just taking my friend’s side. I would tell my friend that being a good friend does not mean agreeing with bad choices. I would encourage them to apologize and solve the problem calmly instead of making it worse.
A student just moved to a new school. They say they are “okay,” but they mostly stay by themselves, watch what others are doing, and don’t join in with groups or class discussions.
What feelings might they really be experiencing, and why might they be acting this way?
They might be feeling nervous, unsure, or a little overwhelmed. They could also be feeling worried about fitting in or not knowing anyone yet.
They may be acting this way because they are still getting used to the new school, new people, and new routines, so they are watching and observing before they feel ready to join in.
You are in a group project with your friends, but they are doing all the work without including you in decisions. When you try to help, they say, “Just let us handle it.” Later, the teacher will give everyone the same grade.
What should you do in this situation?
I would calmly tell my group that I want to be included and do my part of the work. I could say something like, “I want to help so we all do well on the project.” If they still don’t include me, I would talk to the teacher so everyone is being fair and responsible for their own work.
You get blamed for something you did not do, and the teacher asks you about it in front of the class. You feel angry and embarrassed at the same time.
What steps can you take to calm yourself down and respond appropriately?
First, I would listen to the teacher without interrupting, even if I feel upset or embarrassed.
Then, I would calmly explain my side of the story and what actually happened in a respectful way.
If needed, I would ask to talk more about it privately after class so I can explain in more detail.
A student notices someone being left out on purpose during group work. They decide to speak up and include the student in the activity, even though others may not agree.
Is this kind or unkind? Explain your thinking.
This is kind.
Standing up for someone and including them shows respect, courage, and caring for others, even when others may not agree.