Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
Note the Optional Q&A won't be available until after the live interview with the author.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Recognize that people live in different types of homes
Understand that friends can be found in many places
Describe something kind they could do for a new friend
Materials
Procedure (30 minutes)
(5 mins) Begin with a circle time discussion. Ask: How do you feel when you meet someone new? What are some things you like to do with your friends at school? How can you show someone that you want to be their friend? What makes someone a special friend to you?
(10 mins) Watch the read along video together. Ask students to pay attention to the different houses and food the children see.
(10 mins) Create a class drawing showing the students with new friends. Discuss how we are all the same inside even if we live in different houses.
(5 mins) Closing circle. Share the drawings and talk about one nice thing they would say to a new friend they met today.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Identify differences and similarities between characters' homes
Articulate how it feels to be nervous versus excited about new experiences
Practice empathy by considering the feelings of others
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Introduce the topic of visiting new places. Ask: Have you ever visited a place that was very different from your own home? How did you feel when you first walked in? Is it scary to try something new, like a new food or game? How can we help someone feel welcome if they visit our classroom for the first time?
(15 mins) Watch the read along video. Pause to discuss the children's reactions to the new environments.
(20 mins) Make a 'Friendship House' craft out of paper. Discuss how the inside of the house is where the friendship lives. What is something special on the 'inside' of you that you share with friends?
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: 'What inspired you to write this?', 'How did you choose the characters?'
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Analyze the themes of diversity and cultural appreciation
Reflect on how internal character traits outweigh external differences
Write a short journal entry about a new experience
Materials
Book and/or Read Along Video
Journal
Procedure (45 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Group discussion on new perspectives. Ask: Why do we sometimes fear things that are unfamiliar? How can an experience turn from scary into a fun surprise? What does it mean to have 'something special inside'? How does meeting people with different lives change how we see the world?
(15 mins) Watch the read along video together. Discuss the specific foods and environments mentioned in the story.
(20 mins) Journal activity. Ask students to write about a time they were nervous about something new and what happened afterward. Share with a partner.
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: 'What inspired you to write this?', 'How did you choose the characters?'
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Examine how the characters overcome prejudice through shared experience
Compare personal values with those of the characters
Design a mural representing community and friendship
Materials
Procedure (50 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Think-Pair-Share on the theme of connection. Ask: What are the barriers that stop people from becoming friends? Can food or new environments help bridge cultural gaps? Why is it important to focus on what people have inside rather than what they have outside? How can we foster a sense of belonging in our classroom?
(15 mins) Watch the read along video. Focus on the progression of the children's feelings throughout the story.
(25 mins) Collaborative art project. Students illustrate a mural that shows different types of homes/lives connecting through friendship. Reflect on how these individual pieces make a whole community.
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: 'What inspired you to write this?', 'How did you choose the characters?'
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Identify the core message of kindness in the story
Promote active listening during the video
Express gratitude for the diversity within the group
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes)
(5 mins) Introductory discussion. Ask: What makes a good friend? How do we treat people we don't know very well yet? Is it okay to be shy or nervous? What are some ways to show kindness to someone who lives differently than you?
(15 mins) Watch the read along video. Pay attention to how the children's attitudes change from the beginning to the end of the story.
(15 mins) Heart craft. Students decorate a paper heart with words or pictures that represent what makes them a good friend.
(5 mins) Closing. Each student shares their 'heart' and says one thing they appreciate about the group.