Activity Overview
When people break the rules or hurt others’ feelings, it is important to know how to apologize. Sometimes apologizing can be difficult, and we need to be taught at a young age how to apologize in a meaningful way that is genuine. There are some important steps to apologizing that all children should know and understand.
- Recognize that something happened that impacted someone else’s feelings in a negative way.
- Accept their role and take responsibility for their actions.
- Think about how they could have responded differently, and what to do next time.
- Right the wrong and apologize sincerely.
- Move on and focus on the future.
For this activity, students will create a 5 cell storyboard that is an example of a meaningful apology, including all of the steps listed above.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that illustrates the 5 steps of a meaningful apology.
Student Instructions
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Write out each of the 5 steps of apologizing in the 5 description boxes.
- In each cell, create a story of someone using the 5 steps of apologizing, including appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
When people break the rules or hurt others’ feelings, it is important to know how to apologize. Sometimes apologizing can be difficult, and we need to be taught at a young age how to apologize in a meaningful way that is genuine. There are some important steps to apologizing that all children should know and understand.
- Recognize that something happened that impacted someone else’s feelings in a negative way.
- Accept their role and take responsibility for their actions.
- Think about how they could have responded differently, and what to do next time.
- Right the wrong and apologize sincerely.
- Move on and focus on the future.
For this activity, students will create a 5 cell storyboard that is an example of a meaningful apology, including all of the steps listed above.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that illustrates the 5 steps of a meaningful apology.
Student Instructions
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Write out each of the 5 steps of apologizing in the 5 description boxes.
- In each cell, create a story of someone using the 5 steps of apologizing, including appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Frequently Asked Questions about Social Emotional Learning - I'm Sorry
Introduction to Apology and Making Amends
Begin the lesson by explaining the importance of apologizing and making amends when we've hurt someone's feelings or made a mistake. Introduce the concept of empathy and the idea that literature can be a powerful tool for understanding the feelings and perspectives of others. Set the objective of the lesson: to explore the themes of apology and making amends in literature.
Reading and Discussion
Choose a piece of literature, such as a short story or picture book, that deals with the theme of apology and making amends. Examples include "The Berenstain Bears and the Forgiving Tree" or "The Empty Pot." Read the selected literature aloud or have students read it independently, depending on their age and reading level. After reading, lead a class discussion about the characters in the story, their actions, and the consequences of their behavior. Discuss how and why apologies and making amends play a role in the narrative.
Role-Play and Writing
Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Assign each group a scenario from the literature or create new scenarios related to apology and making amends. Have students role-play these scenarios, acting out how the characters in the story could apologize and make amends for their actions. After the role-plays, ask each group to discuss and write down the apology and amends they would make in that situation.
Sharing and Reflection
Encourage each group to share their role-plays and written apologies with the class. After each presentation, facilitate a discussion on the importance of sincerity and responsibility in apologies. Conclude the lesson by asking students to reflect on what they've learned about apology and making amends through literature and how they can apply these lessons to their own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions about Social Emotional Learning - I'm Sorry: Steps for Apologies
Why is it important to apologize when you've done something wrong?
Apologizing holds immense importance as it signifies accountability for one's actions, empathy for those affected, and the willingness to rectify mistakes. A sincere apology facilitates constructive communication and conflict resolution, fostering understanding and forgiveness in personal and professional relationships. It plays a pivotal role in acknowledging transgressions and promoting personal growth. Ultimately, it serves as a bridge to mend connections, making it an essential element of social and emotional intelligence.
What are the key components to include in worksheets for teaching the steps for making a sincere apology?
Effective apology worksheets should encompass several essential components. These include a clear delineation of each step involved in making a sincere apology. They should feature thought-provoking questions and real-life scenarios that prompt students to reflect on their actions and understand the emotional impact they may have on others. Furthermore, students should be given opportunities to practice applying the steps in these worksheets, helping them internalize the process. Lastly, providing space for students to craft their own apology messages or role-play apology scenarios enables practical application, reinforcing the learning process.
What strategies can educators use to ensure that storyboards effectively engage students and convey the importance of sincere apologies?
Educators can employ several strategic approaches to enhance the effectiveness of apology-themed storyboards in engaging students. First, creating relatable and emotionally resonant scenarios within the storyboards that mirror students' everyday experiences can captivate their attention and make the content more relatable. After students view the storyboards, encouraging group discussions can be immensely valuable. This allows students to collectively explore the importance of apologies, share their perspectives, and better understand the significance of each step. Furthermore, using a combination of visual elements and concise text in the storyboards can convey the steps for making a sincere apology clearly. Incorporating interactive elements, such as asking students to identify key components of a sincere apology within the storyboard, can deepen their engagement and comprehension of the topic.
More Storyboard That Activities
Social Emotional Learning
This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
Introductory School Offer
ONLY$500
- 1 School
- 5 Teachers for One Year
- 1 Hour of Virtual PD
30 Day Money Back Guarantee • New Customers Only • Full Price After Introductory Offer • Access is for 1 Calendar Year
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
