Home›Lesson Plans›Social-Emotional Learning›Relationship Skills · Grade 6

Asking for Help

Sixth graders build relationship skills by learning that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. The key is knowing who to ask for different problems. They match problems to good sources of help, then practice asking.

Grade 6Asking for Help40 minutes1 class periodCASELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
Start the Lesson
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓See asking for help as a strength.
  • ✓Match a problem to the right helper.
  • ✓Know your trusted adults.
  • ✓Ask for help clearly.
Essential Question

When and how should you ask for help?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Problem to Good Help

Project this and match each problem to a good way to get help — tap the problem, then tap the help.

🙋 Match each problem to a good way to get helpTry it
Problem
A good way to get help
Now tap the help!
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — Nobody Does It Alone

4 min

When was a time asking for help made things better?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Share a help moment.
  • Invite a few.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Asking for Help

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Problem to Good Help.
  • Match each one.
  • Note who to ask for what.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

12 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say a clear help request.
  • Pick the right person.
  • Practice the words.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Pick.
  • Practice.
4

Apply — Apply

10 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List 3 trusted adults.
  • Write one help request.
  • Plan when you would use it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Write.
  • Plan.
5

Reflect — Reflect

4 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say why asking for help is a strength.
  • Name a trusted adult.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Name one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL Framework for Social and Emotional Learning across its five core competencies.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Seek and offer help when needed.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Identify trusted sources of support.

CASEL
Self-Awareness

Recognize when you need support.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Choose the right person and way to get help.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Problem/helper picture cards.
  • Frame: “I need help with ___.”
  • Role-play asking.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Use 3 problems.
  • Use a helper list.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add more problem types.
  • Help a peer find help.
  • Make a trusted-adult map.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🙋Problem/helper cards
  • 💻Match the Problem to Good Help
  • 🗺️Trusted-adult map
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

asking for helpreaching out when you are stuckstrengthasking is brave, not weaktrusted adulta safe person to go tocounselora helper for feelings & problemsrequestclearly saying what you needsupporthelp from othersresourcea person or place that can helpbullyingrepeated harm to tell an adult about
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Is asking for help a strength or a weakness?
A strength — it is brave and smart.
QUESTION 2
Who should you tell if someone is bullying you?
A trusted adult, right away.
QUESTION 3
Why match the problem to the right helper?
Different problems need different kinds of help.

Reflect: asking for help.

Have students list 3 trusted adults they could ask for help. A printable trusted-adult map is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Relationship Skills: Asking for HelpFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Relationship Skills: Asking for HelpQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Relationship Skills: Asking for HelpPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: asking for help, bullying, counselor, request, resource, strength, support, trusted adult
  1. a person or place that can help
  2. repeated harm to tell an adult about
  3. a safe person to go to
  4. reaching out when you are stuck
  5. asking is brave, not weak
  6. a helper for feelings & problems
  7. clearly saying what you need
  8. help from others

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Is asking for help a strength or a weakness?
  2. Who should you tell if someone is bullying you?
  3. Why match the problem to the right helper?
Answer key — Part A: 1) resource · 2) bullying · 3) trusted adult · 4) asking for help · 5) strength · 6) counselor · 7) request · 8) support
Part B: 1) A strength — it is brave and smart. 2) A trusted adult, right away. 3) Different problems need different kinds of help.