Let’s Talk Respect — Classroom Curriculum (Grades 4–5)

A full year of classroom follow-up to the “Let’s Talk Respect” assembly, built for fourth and fifth grade. Eight lessons, one a month, each one scripted so a teacher can run it cold.

What each lesson contains

• What they heard — the exact language and demonstrations from the assembly, so you can reference them accurately.
• Discussion questions — six to eight, in the order that works.
• The activity — one interactive thing, 10–20 minutes, no technology and almost no prep.
• The assignment — something short to take home or finish independently.
• Teacher notes — what tends to go sideways and how to handle it.

How to use it

One lesson a month keeps the assembly alive for a full school year, which is the whole point — a single assembly fades in about a week. Run them in order the first year; the first four build the tools the last four depend on.

Each lesson runs 25–35 minutes and fits a morning meeting, an SEL block, or the tail end of any class period.

What you need

• Pencils and paper. A few lessons use index cards or scrap paper.
• The Student Packet (3 pages) if your school received it — useful but not required; every lesson works on blank paper.
• Floor space for the breathing exercise in Lesson 4.

One thing to know before you start

Robert opens the assembly by asking students whether they have done, seen, or been on the receiving end of name-calling, arguing, having things taken or broken, mean messages, or fighting. Every hand in the room goes up. That is the premise of this whole curriculum: nobody in your class is only the villain and nobody is only the victim. Do not let these lessons become a hunt for the bad kid.

Robert Hackenson Jr., MBA, CAOL · Dynamic Influence · dynamicinfluence.com