1. Explain to the students that they are going to learn how to be good social thinkers by becoming "flexible thinkers." Talk about how when we are faced with a problem, that a good, flexible thinker is able to make their brain move around the problem and think of different solutions. A flexible thinker also thinks of solutions while trying to think of others. If you have a soft brain, this is a great time to squeeze it in your hand to show how the brain moves and "conforms" in your hand.
2. Give a few examples of a flexible thinker. For example, if the recess bell rings and it is time to go in, a flexible thinker would think, "I wanted to swing some more, but I can swing again next recess."
3. Pass around the rock. Ask the students to try to squeeze it. Ask; "are they able to move it at all?" "Is it flexible?"
4. Explain that a "rock thinker" is unable to make their brains move around a problem. They only think of themselves and are not good social thinkers.
5. Ask the students which item would be more fun to play with. If needed, point out that you can play games with the flexible object such as tossing it, playing hot potato, or use as a fidget. The rock would not be good for these things because if it is tossed to someone it might hurt that person. (Just like a rock thinker can easily hurt other's feelings).
6. Use puppets to act out the following situations or create your own. As you act out the situation, ask the students to tell you if the puppet was being a flexible thinker or a rock thinker. If the puppet was a rock thinker, have the students help the puppet be a flexible thinker by giving some alternate solutions to the problem. The puppet should go through the situation again while trying out the student's ideas. If the students come up with an idea that you know will not work, it is OK to try it anyway. The students can then see the consequences that choice has and you can point out how that solution doesn't seem to be working.

1. Joe is playing basketball at recess. Brandon wants to play so he takes the ball away from Joe.
2. Lilly and Penny are coloring a picture. Lilly decides she wants to use the color red but the crayons are on the other side of Penny. Lilly asks Penny if she could please pass the crayons.
3. Lilly and Penny are supposed to line up to go to lunch. Lilly gets there first and Penny gets mad because she wanted to be first. Penny pushes Lilly out of the way and takes her place.
4. Joe and Brandon are asked to work together on a project. Joe doesn't like Brandon and so he gets upset and yells, "I don't want to work with him!"
5. Joe is in line at lunch to get pizza. When he gets there, he is told that they just ran out and now only have corn dogs. Joe is disappointed, but he thinks, "I can have pizza another day" and takes the corn dog.
6. Lilly forgets that it is library day. She left her book at home and becomes very upset that she doesn't have her book. She starts yelling.

Have the students draw pictures of themselves being a flexible thinker and hang the pictures up.