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Lean on Me

Lesson Plan

Lean on Me Lesson Plan

Students will practice trust and cooperation by participating in a simple paired trust fall activity, learning to support peers safely and respectfully.

Building trust and teamwork in kindergarten fosters social-emotional skills, a sense of safety, and positive peer relationships that support lifelong collaboration.

Audience

Kindergarten

Time

10 minutes

Approach

Guided trust fall activity for cooperation

Materials

Prep

Prepare Activity Space

3 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Warm-Up

2 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle on the mats.
  • Ask: “What does trust mean?” and record their ideas.
  • Use the Trust Discussion Prompt Cards to guide a brief dialogue.
  • Reinforce that today’s activity will help us learn how to rely on friends.

Step 2

Demonstration

2 minutes

  • Ask a volunteer or co-teacher to stand on the low platform facing away from you.
  • Model a slow, controlled trust fall backward into your arms on the mat.
  • Highlight safety cues: straight body, arms crossed, eyes forward.
  • Invite students to notice how it felt for both faller and catcher.

Step 3

Trust Fall Activity

4 minutes

  • Pair up students; one stands on the platform, the other stands behind with arms ready to catch.
  • Have the faller say “Ready?” and the catcher respond “Ready!” before each fall.
  • Complete one fall, then switch roles.

Accommodations:

  • For students with mobility or balance needs, allow smaller leaning falls or have an adult assist behind the catcher.
  • Use visual prompts or simple home-language phrases on the Trust Discussion Prompt Cards for language learners.
  • For anxious students, begin with leaning against the catcher while seated before standing.

Step 4

Group Reflection and Closure

2 minutes

  • Reconvene in the circle and invite pairs to share how it felt to trust and to support.
  • Use prompt cards: “I felt safe when…,” “I helped by…,” “Next time I want to try….”
  • Praise cooperation and bravery: “Great job supporting your friends!”
  • Remind students they can rely on peers and teachers whenever they need help.
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Game

Trust Fall Pair Game

Objective

Students will build trust and cooperation by taking turns safely falling backward into a partner’s arms, then reflecting on how it felt to give and receive support.

Materials

Setup (2 minutes)

  1. Arrange soft mats around the low platform or chair.
  2. Attach name tags or stickers so partners can quickly find each other.
  3. Place the prompt cards nearby for post-game reflection.

How to Play (5 minutes)

  1. Form Pairs: Students find a partner and stand behind one another near the platform.
  2. Role Assignment: One student is the faller, the other is the catcher.
  3. Get Ready: Faller stands on the platform facing away from the catcher, feet shoulder-width apart. Catcher stands with knees bent and arms open wide.
  4. Safety Check: Faller asks “Ready?” and catcher replies “Ready!”
  5. Trust Fall: Faller keeps body straight and eyes forward, then gently falls backward into the catcher’s arms.
  6. Switch Roles: After one fall, partners switch—new faller and catcher repeat steps 3–5.

Notes for Success:

  • Emphasize slow, controlled movement over height or speed.
  • Encourage partners to use kind words: “Great catch!” or “Thank you!”

Reflection & Debrief (3 minutes)

Gather partners in their pairs or as a whole group. Use the prompt cards to guide discussion and/or quick drawings. Provide students space to respond below each prompt.

Reflection Prompts:
• I felt safe when…



• I helped by…



• Next time I want to try…


After pairs share, invite volunteers to share one thing they learned about being a good catcher or a trusting faller.

Accommodations

  • Students with mobility challenges can perform seated trust leans into a partner’s lap instead of standing falls.
  • Use simple phrases or visuals from the Trust Discussion Prompt Cards for language learners.
  • An anxious student may begin by gently leaning against a teacher or aide before partnering with classmates.
     
     
    Related Resource:
    Lean on Me Lesson Plan
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Worksheet

Trust Discussion Prompt Cards

Use these cards to guide discussion and reflection. Print and cut each prompt into individual cards.

• What does trust mean to you?

• I felt safe when…

• I helped by…

• Next time I want to try…

• A friend can help me by…

• How did it feel when you were caught?…

• How did it feel to catch someone?…

• It’s okay to ask for help when…

• You can show trust by…

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