We’re Not Alone

Before viewing the video together, explain to children that they’re about to watch a lot of friends holding hands. (Parents can take children’s hands in theirs!)

Watch the video and move along to the music. (Moving rhythmically with others is a great way to build a sense of groundedness.)

After watching:

• Explain that “standing together” or “walking side by side” with someone means you both care about the same things, such as friendship, fairness, and safety.
• Name as many people as you can who help you feel you’re not alone.
• Look into neighborhood “safe walks” in your community that call attention to everyone’s right to feel safe in their neighborhoods.

If you’re working with a group (ages 4 and up), try this activity to illustrate the idea of how connections are what a community is made of:

1. Sit in a circle and with a ball of string or yarn. Hand it to one child and ask them to hold the end of the string and name something they’re good at.
2. That child holds onto the string and rolls the ball to a child across the circle, who gives an example of how they have been a caring friend or family member and then rolls the ball to another child (while still holding on to the string).
3. Repeat until every child has answered and there is big web connecting everyone in the circle. Point out that they are all important members of the classroom community and they are all connected—no one is alone.
4. Explain that the string shows that you are all connected to each other. Ask one child to pull on the string in their hand; others will be able to feel the tug. Ask one child to drop their string, the web will change shape slightly. If you cut the string in one place, the whole web would be damaged.
5. Point out that being a good community member means remembering that what you say and do matters to others.