Apologizing

Learning Goal

Students will learn the value and form of an apology.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lessons, students will be able to:

• Identify the benefits of apologizing
• Identify when an apology is ill-timed, inauthentic, or incomplete
• Use suggested steps for making an effective apology

Learning Summary

Children can struggle to apologize, especially if they’ve never been taught how to do it. This lesson teaches students to 1) calm down, 2) say you’re sorry and why what you did hurt, and 3) ask how to fix the problem. (If you have established classroom or school apology steps, use those instead.)

The lesson begins with a mindfulness practice in which students learn to breathe in and out while tracing their hand with a finger. You then lead a brief discussion why apologizing is important, followed by a Munchy and Jumpy story that hinges on the benefit of apologizing—both to the giver and receiver of the apology. Then the
lesson pivots to discussing how to apologize effectively. Students then draw a picture of themselves giving an apology to a friend.