Sangha
Friends who help us learn and grow
Teacher Experience
A contemplative invitation for educators to reflect on before teaching.Who do you turn to for guidance and support as an educator? Who are your role models for teaching with wisdom and compassion? Reflect on the qualities of these people and how they help you develop your own good qualities. For Buddhists: Reflect on how your dharma brothers and sisters practically support your path and practice. Consider how acknowledging these sources of refuge openly with students might create deeper trust and model the importance of supportive community.
Student Experience
A contemplative invitation for students to connect with this learning goal.Think about someone who helps you feel happy and safe. Notice how you feel when you’re with different people—some make you feel good, others might not.
Understanding
Students will understand...The people we associate with have tangible and intangible effects on the way we think, our values, and our experience in the world.
Action
Students are able to...Practice being a good friend by sharing, helping classmates, and participating in circle time activities that demonstrate caring; identify people who help them learn and feel safe; and demonstrate friendship skills through role-playing scenarios that show how friends support each other.
Content Knowledge
Students will know...Friends are people who care about us and help us learn and grow. Good friends are kind, share with others, and help us feel safe and happy. In Buddhism, there’s a special word called sangha that means the group of people who practice and learn together. Just like how families help each other, sangha friends help each other be good and learn important things.
Guiding Questions
Implementation Possibilities
Create daily sharing circles where children practice taking turns and listening to each other with kindness. Establish “helper” roles where children assist classmates with simple tasks like cleaning up or finding lost items. Design role-playing games where children practice comforting a sad friend or including someone who feels left out. Practice friendship skills through puppet shows demonstrating sharing, helping, and being kind. Facilitate group activities like building with blocks together, where children must cooperate and help each other succeed. Implement “gratitude practices” where children regularly thank the people who help them learn and feel safe, including teachers, family members, and friends.
Assessment Ideas
Observe children during sharing circles for evidence of listening and caring behaviors. Watch helper activities for signs of genuine concern for others’ wellbeing. Notice role-playing scenarios for demonstration of comfort and inclusion skills. Assess group cooperation activities for willingness to help and share with others.
