Free 1st Grade Leadership Lesson Plan (Social Emotional Learning)

Topic:Leadership

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will understand what it means to be a leader and will be able to demonstrate leadership skills in their daily lives.

Materials

• Images of leaders (such as politicians, business leaders, or community leaders)
• Handouts with examples of leadership behaviors (such as "Being a leader means being a good listener" or "Leaders take responsibility for their actions")

Warm-up

• Have students sit in a circle and play the "Pass the Ball" game: Have one student hold a ball, and call out a leadership trait (such as "being a good listener"). When the student hears the trait, they pass the ball to another student. The goal is for the students to pass the ball to someone who can adequately describe the trait (e.g. "being a good listener means not speaking until you have listened to what the other person has to say"). After a few rounds, ask the students if they have seen any leaders in their lives (such as a parent or teacher) who have demonstrated any of the leadership traits.

Direct Instruction

• Review the list of leadership traits and discuss what it means to be a leader.
• Introduce the concept of peer leadership and explain how peer leaders can have a positive impact on their peers.
• Discuss strategies for becoming a good leader, such as being a good role model, encouraging others, and listening to others.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group a scenario to discuss.
• Have each group choose a leader to provide guidance and suggestions to their peers.
• After discussion, have each group present their scenario and solutions to the class.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose a group activity that they would like to lead.
• Have students plan and lead the activity for their peers.
• After the activity, have students share their thoughts on the experience and how they felt being a leader.

Closure

• Ask students to share their thoughts on what it means to be a leader and the characteristics of a good leader.
• Discuss the importance of having leaders in different areas of life, such as at work, at home, and in the community.
• Encourage students to think about ways they can be leaders in their own lives.

Assessment

• Observe students during the independent practice activity and look for evidence that they are applying the concept of leadership in their own lives.
• Have students turn in their independent practice activities to be assessed on their understanding of the concept of leadership.