Power and Kindness wellbeing lesson plan
A primary wellbeing lesson for Years 3 and 4 that helps Australian teachers introduce fairness, kindness and shared respect through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn to recognise fair and unfair behaviour in friendships, understand how kindness supports inclusion, and practise fair ways to use their influence with peers.
Healthy Relationships & Communication
Snapshot
Power and Kindness
The lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce fairness, kindness and shared respect within everyday friendships. Feedback: 4.7/5 average rating from 25 teacher and student responses
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Leading with fairness in friendships and everyday classroom interactions
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise when they have influence or power in a friendship or group situation
identify examples of fair and unfair behaviour in everyday classroom and playground situations
recognise how being left out or overlooked can affect the way someone feels
Understand
understand that fairness means considering how choices affect others, not just themselves
understand that kindness can be an active choice, especially when someone has more influence in a situation
Practise
practise using fair and inclusive language when making decisions in a group
practise noticing when a friend or classmate is being left out
practise simple ways to include others and share decision making fairly
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for students in Years 3 and 4 who are building on early friendship skills and beginning to notice how influence and fairness play out in group situations.
It is suitable for:
primary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care, circle time or advisory sessions
friendship and social skills programmes
class culture and respectful relationships work
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing fairness and inclusion Use when students are learning early language for fairness, influence and kindness in friendships.
Reinforcing class expectations Use when revisiting expectations around inclusion, respect and fair decision making.
Building friendship skills Use when students are developing skills for sharing decisions and including others in games or group work.
Supporting group work and collaboration Use when preparing students for partner or group tasks that involve choosing teams or roles.
Practising fair decision making Use when students need practice noticing and responding to unfair situations among peers.
Preparing for transition Use when friendship groups are changing and students need a shared understanding of fairness and kindness.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Every day, students make small decisions that involve some kind of power, whether that is choosing who joins a game or having a say in group work. Learning to notice this influence and use it fairly is an important part of building respectful friendships. This lesson is not only about responding after someone feels left out. It also helps students build the habit of thinking about fairness before decisions are made, so that kindness becomes part of how they use their influence with others. By practising fair and inclusive choices early, students build skills that support a more respectful classroom culture and stronger, more equal friendships over time.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Social awareness Students notice when they have influence over a friendship or group decision.
Empathy Students consider how being excluded or overlooked can affect the way someone feels.
Fairness and decision making Students practise weighing up choices that affect more than one person.
Relationship skills Students practise inclusive language and sharing decisions with peers.
Self-awareness Students reflect on how they use their own influence in friendships.
Belonging Students reinforce that everyone deserves a fair chance to be included.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind students not to name classmates or share stories about other people
Frame the discussion around general examples and scenarios, not personal accusations
Make clear that the lesson is about learning fair choices, not blaming people
Identify trusted adults students can speak to at school
During delivery
Use simple examples such as choosing teams, group work partners or lunchtime games
Give students time to discuss and share ideas in pairs or small groups
Reinforce that fairness means thinking about how choices affect others
Allow students to respond through discussion, drawing or partner talk depending on confidence
Supporting safe discussion
Encourage general examples rather than naming individuals
Reinforce that everyone deserves a fair chance to be included
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
Adaptation options
Use small group discussion for confident classes
Use drawing or partner reflection for quieter groups
Spend more time on real classroom scenarios if students need extra support recognising unfair behaviour
