Giving A Compliment - 2
Foundational
Lesson Plan
Goal: During a social interaction, the student will give a sincere compliment to a peer or adult in 8 out of 10 observable opportunities as measured by a teacher assessment tool.
Objectives:
1. Identify a positive quality or attribute in a peer or adult.
2. Express your thoughts using rehearsed phrases (such as “I like your…”; “That was a really good job on…”; “You did really well in...”, etc.).
3. Identify characteristics that are appropriate and polite to compliment (such as someone’s effort or skill, style, action, etc.).
Standards: Click on the appropriate link below to view Language Arts standards included in this lesson.
Definitions of Key Terms: A compliment is when you offer praise to someone for something they did, something they have accomplished, or something they possess. Compliments are typically nice phrases to hear and make the person feel good.
Questions:
- Are compliments positive comments or negative comments?
- Are compliments nice or mean?
- How do compliments make people feel?
- Why should you give compliments?
- When are compliments appropriate?
When would you give someone a compliment?
- When someone scored the winning goal.
- When a friend got an A on a test.
- When your classmate won the science contest.
- When you like someones new shoes.
- When the other team won the game.
Discuss with students what it means to give a compliment. Review the discussion point questions.
Possible activities to review the discussion points or use your own:
Think. Pair. Share: The teacher will pose questions related to the discussion points. Explain to students that the purpose of the activity is to think about the question and activate prior knowledge. The teacher will model the procedure to facilitate student understanding.
- T (Think): Teacher begins by asking a specific question using the discussion topics.
- P (Pair): Each student should be paired with another student, small group or work with a teacher. Pairs write brief answers on sticky notes or scrap paper.
- S (Share): Students share their thinking with their partner. Teacher then leads a whole-group conversation using students’ answers.
SEL Categories Activity:
- Ask students to create a list of words associated with the topic (give them 2-5 minutes to complete).
- Once time is up, ask each student to share a word or thought from their list.
- Other students must cross that word or thought off their list.
- Continue the process until all words or thoughts have been listed.
Directions for In-Person or Virtual Learning: You have three options for students to complete this lesson.
- Option 1: Print the Student Activity Sheet for each student. Complete the lesson as a group and assign the activity sheet to the students.
- Option 2: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and post to your Learning Management System (if your school has one) or send the link to the student. The student may complete the activity sheet electronically within the classroom on a shared computer or device.
- Option 3: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and send the link to the student. The student may access the link from a home computer, chromebook, iPad or other device.
Activity 1: Pick A Name
Review the discussion points and the definition of a compliment with students.
Begin by writing two compliments on the board or chart paper about someone that all students know (such as principal, lunch monitor, PE teacher, art teacher, etc.). Ask the students to try to guess who you are referring to based on the compliments on the board so far. Once the mystery person is identified, ask students to think of other compliments that you could give that person. Record the answers on the board or chart paper.
- Student’s names written on index cards
- Basket or bag
- Pencil for each student
- Chart paper or interactive board
Place each index card with a student’s name written on it into a basket or bag. Have each student pick a card, but ask them to keep it to themselves. Next, have the students write three nice things about the name on their card.
Collect the cards when all students have finished writing the three compliments. Begin by reading the compliments from one of the cards. Ask students to guess which student the card is referring to. Record any unique compliments on the board or chart paper.
Activity 2: Compliments Or Not?
Review the key points from Activity 1 with students. Ask students to think of phrases or sentences they have heard previously that would not be taken as compliments. Discuss how negative or mean phrases make someone feel. Ask students to think of different characteristics or items that would be appropriate or polite to compliment someone on. Record those items on the board or chart paper.
- Chart paper or interactive board
- Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet A. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.
Student Activity Sheet A
Activity 3: Comic Strip Worksheet
Review the key points from Activities 1 and 2 with the students. Discuss with students the characteristics or tasks that are typically appropriate to compliment someone on (such as work, skills, clothing style, hair style, etc.).
- Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet B. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.
Student Activity Sheet B
Lesson Extension: Listening Comprehension and Grammar Review
Explain that a script is a form of written dialogue between characters in a movie, play, or broadcast. Students should listen carefully as the teacher plays the example scripts from the immersive reader. Replay the script if needed. Allow students time to answer the questions on Student Activity Sheet C.
- Student Activity Sheet C - 1 per student
- Pencil for each student
- Student Activity Sheet D - 1 per student
- Red and purple colored pencil or pen
After students have finished, discuss the listening comprehension questions together.
After completing the listening comprehension portion of this activity, provide students a copy of Student Activity Sheet D. Point out to students the features of script text that indicate which character is talking. Remind students that this is a dialogue between characters.
Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet D.
Display the script using the immersive reader and highlight the nouns in the script. Students should self-check their work to determine if they correctly named two nouns. Repeat the process for verbs.
If time allows students, may partner together and role play the script.
Example script of demonstrating giving appropriate compliments:
Chris: Tori, would you like to go to the park?
Tori: Yes, Chris. Thank you for always remembering to ask me. You are very kind.
Chris: No problem. I love going to the park with you.
Tori: Let’s go!
Example script of demonstrating inappropriate compliments:
Chris: Tori, you are not very smart.
Tori: What! That is not nice! Why would you say that!
Chris: I’m mad.
Tori: If you say something nice it might make you feel better.
Read Aloud Recommendations: Completing a read aloud with students is a great way to connect text with lesson content while incorporating reading and language practice. Below are suggested titles including, a YouTube link, Lexile and Grade Level information for books relating to the lesson.
| Book Title | Author | Grade Level | Lexile Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouch! Moments | Michael Genhart | Pre K-3 | AD600L |
Student Activity Sheet C
Directions: Think about the script read/played for the class and complete the questions below.
Student Activity Sheet D
Directions: In the scripts below, circle in purple two nouns in purple that name a person and one noun that names a place. Circle in red two verbs.
Remember:
A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea.
A verb names describe an action, a state, or an occurrence.
Example script of demonstrating giving appropriate compliments:
Chris: Tori, would you like to go to the park?
Tori: Yes, Chris. Thank you for always remembering to ask me. You are very kind.
Chris: No problem. I love going to the park with you.
Tori: Let’s go!
Example script of demonstrating inappropriate compliments:
Chris: Tori, you are not very smart.
Tori: What! That is not nice! Why would you say that!
Chris: I’m mad.
Tori: If you say something nice it might make you feel better.
Application Activity
Review and discuss example scripts from the lesson extension.
In small groups, have the students create scripts giving compliments and not giving a compliment. Use the script sheet to create students' scripts.
- Script sheet for each group
- Pencil for each student
Have students record their scripts using SiLAS software for social skills. Remind students to name and save their work. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.
Script Extensions:
Click the following hyperlinks to have students choose their Characters, Background and Props prior to writing scripts. For examples of script writing accommodations, click Here.
Ideas for modifying this activity based on your students’ needs:
- create a script as a class
- pair or group students so that skill levels are varied and assign each a role or task that uses their skill
- create the script by recording the dialog with a phone or other recording device.
Topic Checkout
Review the key points from the discussions and previous activities with students. Allow students to complete the Student Topic Checkout. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.
- Student Topic Checkout - 1 per student
- A pencil for each student
Student Topic Checkout
Directions: Complete the following questions.
- How does a compliment make people feel?
- What are some reasons for giving someone a compliment?
- What are some characteristics or skills that are polite to compliment?
- Why is it important to compliment other people?