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Lesson Plans

Spark creativity with Crayola lesson plans. With hundreds of activities, the learning possibilities are endless. 

I’ll Lend a Hand

How can friends help each other? Students will explore the meaning of friendship and create interlocking hand cut-outs.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Brass Paper Fastener(s)
  • Textured Materials

Steps

  • Step 1

    Read a book such as "The Buddy Bench" by Patty Brozo and Mike Deas or "A Sick Day for Amos McGee" by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead. Have students describe how the friends in the book helped each other in various ways. Have a class discussion about how everyone brings different strengths and talents to a friendship and how these complementing characteristics can form strong bonds.

  • Step 2

    Have students create a rubbing by placing a piece of construction paper over something textured, such as a piece of corrugated cardboard or a wicker basket, and rubbing the side of a crayon over it. Then have them trace their hand on the paper and cut it out.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to write their name on the hand and a positive trait or characteristic about themselves on the fingers.

  • Step 4

    When all the hands are complete, join them with fasteners and display the linked hands to show how we're all connected and have something positive to offer.

Standards

LA: Describe how characters in a story respond to major events, challenges, and other characters.

SEL: Social Awareness: Understand the perspectives of and strengths of others.

SEL: Relationship Skills: Communicate clearly/effectively, listen actively, cooperate, work collaboratively to problem solve and negotiate conflict constructively.

Adaptations

Encourage the class to form a welcome program for new students to the school. Have them divvy responsibilities according to their various strengths or preferences. Some students could greet the newcomer and talk about the school and the neighborhood. Others might write up a list of helpful tips, and some might sketch a map of the school to help students get around.

Have students watch a short video of "Hands Across America," a public event in 1986 when approximately 5 to 6 million people joined hands across the country to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness.