There’s No Chocolate on Mars — Teacher Guide
SEL focus: belonging, empathy, sharing, and open-mindedness.
Learning objectives
- Students will describe how characters make someone feel included.
- Students will practice inference: how a character feels and why.
- Students will role-play friendly actions that build classroom community.
Key vocabulary
belonging
Feeling like you are part of a group.
empathy
Understanding how someone else might feel.
inclusive
Making sure everyone is welcome.
curiosity
Wanting to learn or try something new.
Read-aloud plan (pause points)
Pause Point 1 (early):
Daniel is new and unsure.
- How can you tell Daniel might feel nervous or lonely?
- What could a classmate do to help?
Pause Point 2 (middle):
Kids offer friendship and share.
- Why does sharing matter here?
- What would be a kind thing to say in this moment?
Pause Point 3 (near the end):
A “new” experience becomes joyful.
- How did Daniel change from the beginning to the end?
- What helps a place start to feel like home?
Extension activities
Role-play
Practice “welcome lines” and friendly introductions in pairs.
Writing
Write a short note: “If you were new here, I would…”
Community project
Create a class ‘Kindness Menu’ of small helpful actions.
Family connection (take-home idea)
At home, try something new together (a food, a game, a song). Talk about how it felt before and after you tried it.
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