“B E THE P OWER OF O NE ” B UILDING C HARACTER FOR S UCCESS “Building Our Friendships” Lesson K.7 Created By: Pam Gunter

P REPARATION Materials Needed: Colored paper to “build” a simple house. Make a triangle for the roof, square for the house, two smaller squares for windows, a rectangle for the door, and a small circle for the doorknob. If needed, you can draw it on a chalkboard or white board. Classroom Setup: Have the students form a large circle.

C HALLENGE OF THE W EEK – F OLLOW U P How has everyone been doing with being a good friend, being honest, trying new things? Does anyone want to share how they have been a better friend this week?

T HE A CTIVITY Have the children work together to “build” the house. Explain that building good friendship is like building that house. We needed a roof, windows, a door, a doorknob, and the walls to make a comfortable and strong house. Take the roof off the house. Ask the students why we need a roof? To protect us from the rain, wind, snow, and hot sun. Replace the roof. Take off the walls. Why do we need walls? For strength and protection. The roof would fall if the walls didn’t hold it up. Replace the walls. Take off the windows. Why do we need windows? Let in fresh air, let in the light. What would it be like without windows? Replace the windows. Take off the door. Why do we need a door and doorknob? Get in and out. Replace the door and knob.

T HE A CTIVITY - C ONTINUED Explain that just like a house has walls, roof, doors, windows and doorknob, we have many different people in our lives that offer us protection, strength, and help, like the house. Who are some of these people? Friends, teachers, parents, bus driver, cousins, grandparents, and the principal. As the children mention people in their lives, write them on the pieces of the house. (i.e. If a child mentions “parents’, write “parents” on the roof. If a child mentions “teacher”, write “teacher” on the door.) Explain that everyone needs to have people in their lives to help them. We’ll be learning about people the next few weeks. Have the children share some of the important people in their lives that they love and respect.

T HE O BJECT OF THE L ESSON Points instructor needs to bring out: Just like a house, we need to have friends, family, teachers, and others, to help us be strong, safe, and become the best person we can be. The way we talk, play, and interact with others is important to help us be better and stronger. Over the next few weeks we’re going to be learning about how to talk to one another with respect, things we can do with others to help us be better.

C HALLENGE OF THE W EEK Encourage students to think of people that are important in their lives. Why are they important? What makes that person special to them?