Materials Required:

• 2 puppets
• 2 games for the puppet show (e.g., Connect 4, or Hungry, hungry hippos)
• puppet theatre (optional)
• visual schedule outlining the schedule for this session
• rules board
• crayons, markers or pencils (one per child)
• scissors (one per child or enough for children to share)
• glue (one per child or enough for children to share)
• art activity sheets for “Asking a Friend to Play” (one per child)
• “What I did in Social Skills Group” worksheets (one per child)
• “Asking a Friend to Play” story books (one per child)

Schedule:

1. 1. Review the plan for today’s session by showing the children the visual schedule.
      • When reviewing the schedule, point to and name the pictures in order (e.g., first we will sing hello, have a puppet show, etc).
      • You may consider removing each picture as the activity is completed. You can create a pocket at the bottom/end of the schedule that represents “finished” or “all done”.
      • Place the schedule in a visible and accessible place where it can be referred to throughout the session.

      Visual Schedule Pictures

   2. Each session begins with a song that welcomes all the children and teachers to the group. Here are a few suggestions:
      • Sing “Hello (child’s name), hello (child’s name), hello (child’s name), so glad you came today”. Repeat until everyone in the group has been greeted. Encourage the children to join in by waving hello and singing along.
      • If age appropriate, create name cards/tags for each child and teacher. Hold up each card while singing the “Hello Song” above. After singing the child’s name give them the name card to hold. Once the song is finished, ask the children to put their name cards behind them. The children can use the name cards later in the session when completing the worksheet.
      • You may also choose to use a “hello” or “welcome” song that you currently sing in your classroom.
   3. A rules board or a positive behaviour chart can help to provide a clear and consistent description of rules and expectations for the session. Decide on the main rules that will help the session run smoothly and help the children be successful in their learning. In our sample board, the rules are: raise your hand for a turn to speak, one person talks at a time, listen to others, sit on the carpet, keep your hands and feet to yourself, and have fun! Review the rules during each session. Have the children look at the rules, point to them and label them. Place the rules board in a visible and accessible place where it can be referred to during the session.

Group Time Rules

1. 1. OPTIONAL: Review the skill from last session. Ask the children if they remember what they learned in the previous social skills session. Can they recall the steps involved?For example, the previous skill was “Getting Someone’s Attention” and the steps are:
      • I can walk towards the person.
      • I can say their name.
      • I can tap them gently on the shoulder.
      • then, i  wait and listen for an answer
   2. The puppet shows that you will be performing help to demonstrate the concept or skill for this session. At this time, you will be performing the ‘Appropriate Script’ which models the steps involved in asking a friend to play.After the puppet show, have a brief discussion with the children about what they saw. Here are some sample questions you may want to ask:
      • What game did Mona pick? (She picks the Connect 4.)
      • How did Mona get Jerome’s attention? (She walks up to him, taps him on the shoulder and says his name.)
      • What did Jerome do next? (He stops colouring, looks at Mona and answers.)
      • What does Mona ask Jerome? (She asks him to play.)
      • How do you think Mona was feeling?
      • How do you think Jerome was feeling?

      Puppet Show Script – Asking a Friend to Play

   3. At this point, you can introduce the social skill for this session by showing the steps involved in how to ask a friend to play. Refer to the “Step by Step Visuals” and show them to the children.
      • First, I pick a game or activity.
      • I walk towards my friend.
      • I can say their name.
      • I can tap them gently on the shoulder.
      • I can ask my friend to play.

      We recommend keeping these visuals out so the children can refer to them during the puppet show that follows. For example, place them on the floor in the middle of the circle for all the children to see.

      Step by step: Asking a Friend to Play

   4. The second puppet show that you will be performing is a scenario where one of the puppets does not follow the suggested steps for ‘asking a friend to play’. At this time, you will perform the ‘Inappropriate Script’ for asking a friend to play.After the puppet show, have a brief discussion with the children about what they saw. Here are some sample questions you may want to ask the children:
      • What was game did Mona pick? (She picks the Connect 4.)
      • How did Mona get Jerome’s attention? (She walks up to him and pulls his hand.)
      • What did Jerome do next? (He tries to pull himself away from Mona.)
      • Does Mona ask Jerome to play? (Not really, she tells him he has to play.)
      • How do think Mona was feeling?
      • How do you think Jerome was feeling?
   5. The story helps to reinforce the steps and desired responses about ‘asking a friend to play’. Read the story to the children. Let them know they will receive a copy of the story to look at later and/or to take home.

Book: Asking a Friend to Play

1. 1. Here is a chance for the children to practice asking a friend to play some games. The following are some suggested games to play: Crocodile Dentist, Honey Bee Tree, Hungry Hippos, and Pop up Pirate.Depending on the number of children in your group and/or the number of games that are available, have some of the children choose a game then go ask a friend(s) to play.
   2. OPTIONAL: The art activity focuses on the sequence of steps involved in asking a friend to play. You can include this activity as part of the session or use it as a follow up activity to be completed another day.Please refer to the Art Activity sheets.

Art activity: Asking to Play

1. Distribute the “What I did at Social Skills Group” worksheets to each child along with a marker, crayon or pencil. Once the children have all the materials, review the worksheet and point out what needs to be completed in each section.For example,

   a) Point to the title box and read this to the children.

   b) Ask the children to write their name on this line (point to the line at the top of the paper).

   c) Review the pictures in the “Group time activities” section by pointing to the each picture as you label it. Ask the children to circle the activities from this session.

   d) Here, ask the children to write the name of at least one other child they played or interacted with during the session.

   e) Have the children identify how they were feeling during today’s group session.

   * If you are using name cards or tags, ask the children to place them on the floor in front of them. The name cards can be used to help children to complete the worksheets by writing their own name, and the name(s) of a friend they played with during the session.

   Once the worksheets have been completed, collect the writing materials and ask the children to place the worksheets in front of them. Let the children know they can take the worksheets home to share with their family and friends.

   Worksheet: Asking a Friend to play

2. Distribute “Asking a Friend to Play” books to each child. Let the children know that they can bring the story home to read with their parent(s), family and friends. You may want to include a copy of the story at the book centre in your classroom.
3. Sing a goodbye song to conclude the social skills session. Sing “Goodbye (child’s name), goodbye (child’s name), goodbye (child’s name), so glad you came today”. Repeat until everyone in the group has been greeted. Encourage the children to join in by waving goodbye and singing along.