Friendship Garden Worksheet

Name: _________________________ Date: ________________

1. Match the Friends to the Action

Draw a line from each friend description on the left to the correct word on the right.

A. Child giving a toy to a friend __________ Share
B. Child helping a friend pick up blocks __________ Help
C. Child smiling and waving __________ Smile

2. Draw Sharing

Draw a picture of two friends sharing a toy.

3. Friendship Flower

On each petal of your flower (use your Friendship Garden Craft Template), draw or write one way to be a good friend.

4. A Helpful Friend

Draw a picture of a time when a friend helped you. How did it feel?

Kindness Toss Game

Objective: Students will practice giving and receiving compliments while developing turn-taking skills in a fun, cooperative setting.

Materials:

• Beanbags (one per student)
• Optional: Soft background music

Setup:

• Clear an open area so students can stand comfortably in a circle without bumping into each other.
• Give each student a beanbag.

Instructions

1. Model the Toss: Demonstrate an underhand or two-handed gentle toss to a friend. Show how to hold the beanbag and aim for a partner’s chest.
2. Add Kind Words: As you toss, say a kind word or compliment (for example, “I like your hat!”).
3. Catch and Respond: When you catch the beanbag, say “Thank you!” then give a compliment back to the tosser before tossing to someone else.
4. Continue Around the Circle: Play until every student has both thrown and caught at least once.
5. Music Variation (Optional): Play soft music while tossing. When the music stops, the student holding the beanbag shares a friendly tip or tells one thing they like about friendship.

Reflection Questions

• How did it feel to give a compliment?
• How did it feel to receive a compliment?
• Why is it important to use kind words with our friends?

Tips for Teachers

• Encourage eye contact and smiling when students speak.
• Reinforce positive language by repeating compliments you hear: “I heard Julia say, ‘I like your kindness!’”
• If a student is shy, assign them a simple phrase to say until they grow more comfortable.

This game builds confidence, listening skills, and a culture of kindness in your Friendship Garden!

Friendship Garden Script

Welcome and Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, friends! Please come sit in our circle. I’m so happy to see your smiling faces today!"

Teacher: "Today we’re learning about building friendships by sharing, being kind, and helping each other. Are you ready to grow our Friendship Garden together?"
(Pause for cheers.)

Teacher: "Let’s sing our hello song and pass our special friend, Mr. Bear. When you get Mr. Bear, say, ‘Hello, my friend!’ Ready?"

*(Sing together: “Hello, hello, hello my friend…”)
(Pass Mr. Bear around.)

Teacher: "Great job, everyone! Now, can someone tell me one thing friends do to help each other?"
(Invite responses: share toys, help clean up, give hugs.)

Teacher: "Those are wonderful ideas! Sharing and helping are seeds we plant in our Friendship Garden."

Storytime (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now we’ll read from our Friendship Garden Story Cards. Watch the pictures and listen carefully!"

Teacher (show first card): "Look, our squirrel friend found an acorn. Why do you think the squirrel has the acorn?"
(Pause for guesses.)

Teacher: "Yes, to eat! But also to share. Let’s see what happens next…"

Teacher (next card): "Oh, the squirrel is sharing its acorns with a mouse friend. Why did the squirrel share?"
(Accept answers: to help, to be kind.)

Teacher: "Right! Sharing makes friends happy. What might happen if they don’t take turns?"
(Invite predictions.)

Teacher: "Wonderful thoughts! Taking turns keeps everyone feeling included and cared for."

Teacher: "As we finish the story, notice all the kind things our friends do for each other. What did you see?"
(Encourage answers: sharing, saying nice words, helping.)

Craft Activity: Friendship Garden Flowers (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Time to make our Friendship Garden Flowers! Please take your paper and Friendship Garden Craft Template. First, color your petals and flower center. Choose your favorite colors!"

Teacher (model): "I’m coloring my petals yellow and pink. Now I’ll cut them out carefully like this. Next, on each petal I’ll draw or write one way to be a good friend. On mine I wrote, ‘Share my toys.’"

Teacher: "Now it’s your turn! Remember to share crayons and scissors if someone needs help."

(Circulate, praise, and prompt: “Can you show me what you wrote? That’s a great idea!”)

Teacher: "Who would like to share one of their friend tips from a petal?"
(Allow a few students to share.)

Teacher: "Your flowers are beautiful! I love our Friendship Garden growing together."

Kindness Toss Game (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Let’s play the Kindness Toss Game! Stand up and form a circle. Hold your beanbag tightly."

Teacher (demonstrate): "I’ll toss this to Emma and say, ‘Emma, I like your colorful shirt!’ Emma catches and says, ‘Thank you, and I like your kindness!’"

Teacher: "Now it’s your turn. Toss gently, look at your friend, and say something kind when you catch it. Then say ‘Thank you,’ and give your own compliment."

(Start the game. Encourage eye contact and kind words.)

Teacher: "You’re all doing such a great job sharing kind words!"

Reflection and Goodbye (Remaining time)

Teacher: "Let’s sit down in our circle again. You’ve all done fantastic work today!"

Teacher: "Who can tell me one thing they learned about being a good friend?"
(Invite a few responses.)

Teacher: "I heard so many caring ideas: sharing, helping, saying kind words. You are real Friendship Garden experts!"

Teacher: "Thank you for growing our garden of friendship with me today. Let’s give ourselves a big clap!"
(Big round of applause.)

Teacher: "Remember to plant seeds of kindness every day. See you next time in our Friendship Garden—goodbye, friends!"

(Optional: sing a simple goodbye song.)

Hello Song Warm-Up

Objective: Create a warm, friendly atmosphere while practicing greetings and name recognition.

Materials:

• A soft toy or puppet (e.g., Mr. Bear)

Instructions:

1. Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
2. Introduce the puppet: “This is Mr. Bear, and he loves saying hello to friends!”
3. Teacher sings together with students:
   “Hello, hello, hello my friends,
   Hello, hello, let’s begin!”
4. Pass Mr. Bear to the student next to you.
5. When a child catches Mr. Bear, they say: “Hello, [Name]!” or “Hello, my friend!”
6. Continue singing and passing until every student has greeted and been greeted.

Teacher Tips:

• Encourage eye contact and big smiles.
• Model a clear, enthusiastic greeting before inviting students to try.
• If a student is shy, prompt them by whispering the greeting.

Start your Friendship Garden lesson with cheerful voices and happy hearts!

Friendship Reflection

Name: _________________________ Date: ________________

1. My Kindness Moment

What is one way you showed kindness today? Draw or write below.

2. Favorite Activity

Which part did you like best? Circle one below.

Storytime Craft Kindness Toss Game

3. Draw a Friend

Draw a picture of you and a friend playing or helping each other.

4. How Do You Feel?

Circle the face that shows how you feel about making friends today.

😀 😊 😃 😌 😄 😍