We Are All Wonderful Friends

Materials Needed

• 3-4 puppets (If you don't have puppets, stuffed animals work perfectly!)
• A picture book about diversity and friendship (e.g., It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr, or All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold). If you don't have one, you can simply tell a story.
• Play-Doh in at least 3-4 different colors.
• A tray or mat for Play-Doh.
• Assorted craft supplies: googly eyes, short pieces of pipe cleaner, small beads, small feathers, or small buttons.

Learning Objectives (For the Teacher)

By the end of this lesson, Kara will be able to:

• Verbally identify that friends can look different from one another.
• Demonstrate an act of kindness and inclusion during a play-based scenario.
• Create a unique "friend" figure, celebrating its differences as special.

Lesson Plan & Activities

1. Warm-Up: Puppet Welcome! (5 minutes)

Goal: To model inclusion in a simple, visual way.

1. Step 1: Start with two puppets (or stuffed animals) that are fairly similar. Have them wave to Kara and to each other. Use a friendly voice for them: "Hello, Friend! It's so nice to see you!"
2. Step 2: Introduce a third puppet that is noticeably different. For example, if you have two bear puppets, introduce a frog puppet. Or, you could put a small bandage or an eye patch (made from paper and tape) on the third puppet.
3. Step 3: Have the first two puppets get very excited to see the new puppet. "Wow, a new friend! Hello! Do you want to play with us?"
4. Step 4: Make all three puppets dance and play together. Say, "All friends are welcome to play! It doesn’t matter if we look different. Hooray!"

2. Story Time: Celebrating Differences (5 minutes)

Goal: To connect the idea of being different with positive images and words.

1. Step 1: Snuggle up and read your chosen picture book.
2. Step 2: As you read, point to the pictures and talk about them in a positive, simple way. Use phrases like:
   • "Look, this friend has glasses to help their eyes see better! That's so helpful."
   • "This friend is in a special chair with wheels that helps them move around super fast!"
   • "Wow, look at all the different hair and skin colors. It's like a beautiful rainbow of friends."
3. Step 3: The main message to repeat is: "Everyone is a little different, and that's what makes everyone special."

3. Main Activity: Making Our Wonderful Friends (10-15 minutes)

Goal: To allow Kara to creatively express the idea that differences are positive and interesting.

1. Step 1: Set up the Play-Doh and craft supplies on a tray. Say, "Now it's our turn to make some friends! We can make them look any way we want."
2. Step 2: You and Kara each take some Play-Doh. You can start by making a simple person or creature. As you build, talk about what you're doing. "My friend is going to be bright blue and have three eyes so he can see everything!"
3. Step 3: Encourage Kara to use the different craft supplies to make her friend unique.
   • Teacher Prompt: "What if your friend needs glasses? We can use these googly eyes."
   • Teacher Prompt: "Maybe your friend has super springy hair? Let's use a pipe cleaner!"
   • Teacher Prompt: "Does your friend have sparkly buttons on their shirt?"
4. Step 4: Create a few different "friends" together, each one unique. Admire Kara's creations and praise the unique features she adds. Say, "I love how your friend has one big eye and one small eye. That is so creative and special!"

4. Wrap-Up & Reflection: Friendship Song (3-5 minutes)

Goal: To reinforce the lesson's main idea through music and play.

1. Step 1: Gather all the Play-Doh friends you made and put them in a circle.
2. Step 2: Ask Kara simple questions about the friends. "Are all of our friends the same?" (No!) "Do they all look different?" (Yes!) "Can they all be friends and play together?" (Yes!)
3. Step 3: Lead a simple song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

   Play, play, play with friends,
   All day long.
   Short or tall or big or small,
   We all get along!

4. Step 4: Give the Play-Doh friends a little cheer and end the lesson with a big hug.

Teacher's Notes on Assessment & Adaptation

• Assessment: This is informal and observational. Watch to see if Kara engages with the "different" puppet, if she uses words like "friend" or "different," and how she approaches making her Play-Doh creation. The goal is positive participation, not a "correct" answer.
• Adaptation for Energy Levels: If Kara seems restless, spend more time on the song and make it a dancing song. If she is very focused on the Play-Doh, extend that activity and let her lead the creative play. The lesson can be paused and returned to at any point.