First graders recently read a story called The Buddy Bench by Patty Brozo. The story is about a class who realizes that everyone at some point finds themselves wishing they had a buddy on the playground. The students in the story come up with a solution to their problem – they build a buddy bench! The buddy bench is a bench that students can sit on when they are looking for someone to play with at recess. But the most important part of making the buddy bench work is watching for anyone sitting on the buddy bench and asking them to play! The buddy bench makes it easy for students to look for a pal when they need one, and to include others in their own play.

Lucky for us, we already have a bench perfectly positioned near the playground equipment! Students in first grade have been utilizing the buddy bench already. Ask your child if they have found a friend from the buddy bench yet!