The Like Chair

The like chair is a single activity that can be used at anytime by students in grades k-6. It is designed to promote positive self-esteem and teach students how to receive compliments. The time to complete this lesson will vary according to how many students are in the room. Typically this lesson requires 45 minutes to deliver.
The activity

Tell the students that today we are going to do the like chair. Pick a chair or better yet a stool and tell the class that this is now the like chair, and place it in the front of the room. Explain to the students that each child will have a turn to sit on the like chair. While one of the students is sitting on the chair their classmates will raise their hands and wait to be called on by the student in the front of the room. When called upon the student will say a thing they like about the student sitting on the chair.

Before the activity starts explain to the students that only positive comments may be made today. Also tell the students that the person sitting in the chair should accept the comments with a simple thank you. Explain to the students that they should limit themselves to one comment for each student on the chair. If they have more nice things to say they can tell that person at some other time during the day.

Teachers and counselors are encouraged to participate in this activity. They may also raise their hands and tell each student what they like about them. Counselors and teachers may also sit on the like chair after the students have had a turn.

Some process questions that may be used following this activity are listed below.

1. How did you feel when sitting on the like chair and having your fellow classmates tell what they liked about you?
2. What other times or places during the day might you say nice things about people? (School, friends house, home, ect.)
3. What makes a good friend? (Invariably most of the students will use “you’re a good friend” as a compliment.

Don’t Laugh at Me

Don’t laugh at me is a series of classroom guidance lessons. It was developed by Don’t laugh at Me to discourage teasing in the schools. The series is designed for grades 2-5.
A typical lesson follows.

Opening

Begin by putting the following number ranges on the board; -5 to –2, -1 to1, and 2-5. Explain to the class that the numbers represent how they are feeling today. –5 is the worst day you could imagine, and 5 indicates the best day ever. Have the children put their heads down and ask for a show of hands on what category they would fit into today. Have the students raise their heads and talk about feelings and elicit words from the students that might fit into the categories. Explain that today the activity will be about put downs, and how they can make somebody feel like those words described in the –5 to-2 category.
Activity

Have the students get out something to draw and color with. Pass out a sheet of white paper to each student, and have him or her draw a large heart on the paper. Tell them to decorate the heart. Give them 5- 10 minutes to do this. When the time is up have them put their art supplies away, and tell the students you are going to read a short story to them. Tell them the story is about a boy named Pedro, and what happened to him one day. Explain to the students that each time Pedro gets put down they should tear their heart. Read the story The Torn Heart to the students. You may want to pause after each put down so the children have time to tear their hearts.

Successful Student

Objective: The student will identify past accomplishments and successes.

1. Discuss things the children have accomplished. Such as: Learning to ride a bike, learning to swim, or learning to spell or read.
2. Ask if these things were hard and how they felt knowing they did something that was hard.
3. Pass out construction paper, paste, and scissors. Have the student draw a large tree on a piece of construction paper. Then have them cut out leaves from another piece of construction paper. On the leaves, instruct the children to write a word or draw a picture of their accomplishments. Paste leaves on the tree.
4. Have the children draw clouds above the tree. In their clouds, have them write in words or draw symbols of things they would like to accomplish.
5. If time, ask children to share with the group.