Welcome to Lesson 3 of the Heartside Framework Series: Sit Beside Them. This is the quietest lesson in the series… it asks for less talking from everyone (including the teacher) than anything else we will do all year. It may also be the lesson your Heartside Heroes remember longest.
Here’s what’s inside:
Framework Focus: Action Three of the Heartside Five… Sit beside them.
The Big Idea: Presence… not answers. The silence that feels awkward to the helper often feels like company to the hurting. Staying in it is a skill we can practice.
Heartside Heroes Will…
Sit beside a partner for sixty silent seconds without filling the quiet.
Name ways to be company without words.
Let the hurting friend set the pace.
SEL Standards (CASEL):
Self-Awareness
Self-Management
Social Awareness
Relationship Skills.
Every Heartside Lesson Plan runs in a 20-minute core, shrinks to 10 minutes for those in a time crunch, and grows with extenders... with adaptations for Grades 1–12 and versions for whole-class, large-group, small-group, and one-on-one.
Downloadable Resource List
Heartside Lesson 3 · Sit Beside Them—The complete lesson plan
“Quiet Company Menu” Poster—Options for quiet sitting, for the wall
Side-by-Side Sheet—Hands-on activity
Family Note—Ready to copy and send home
Heartside Framework Hand Poster—The map for every lesson, on one hand
New to the Heartside Framework?
Start with the Foundation Lesson: Becoming a Heartside Hero
After our launch period, the Heartside Lesson Plans section and downloads will move to the paid tier. But for now, it’s open to all subscribers. Feel free to use this lesson with the young people in your life. (Feel free to refer others to this page as a resource… but please do not share the lessons themselves.)
Everything you need is right here, ready to print:
Heartside Lesson 3 · Sit Beside Them (PDF):
“Quiet Company Menu” Poster (PDF):
Side-by-Side Sheet (PDF):
Family Note (PDF):
Heartside Framework Hand Poster (PDF):
Let me know which ages and adaptations you choose—and how it goes. I am always open to constructive feedback… from pointing out typos and misspellings (I promise that I try to scan for those…) to suggestions for the adaptations and activities. We are on this mission together, and I value your opinion.
Please leave a comment or shoot me a message... I read them all.
Let’s raise a generation that knows how to show up for hurting friends...
Jepper