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Building Bridges

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Lesson Plan

Building Bridges Lesson Plan

Students will explore and practice communication, empathy, and trust skills through discussion, role-play, and reflection to build positive peer relationships.

Developing strong relationship skills fosters a supportive classroom climate, reduces conflict, and equips students to navigate social challenges both inside and outside school.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, role-play, and guided reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Write ‘Communication,’ ‘Empathy,’ and ‘Trust’ on the board with brief definitions.
  • Ask students to share a quick example of each skill in everyday life.
  • Emphasize how these skills help build strong friendships and teams.

Step 2

Guided Discussion

8 minutes

  • Display Discussion Prompt Slides.
  • Pose 2–3 prompts (e.g., “How can you show empathy when a friend is upset?”).
  • Encourage active listening: students paraphrase a partner’s response before adding their own.

Step 3

Role-Play Activity

12 minutes

  • Divide students into pairs and distribute Bridges Role-Play Cards.
  • Each pair acts out their scenario, practicing communication, empathy, and trust-building techniques.
  • After 6 minutes, switch roles or cards so all students experience different situations.

Step 4

Reflection and Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Hand out Trust and Empathy Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students complete prompts on what they learned and one action they’ll take to build better relationships.
  • Invite a few volunteers to share their key takeaways with the class.
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Slide Deck

Building Bridges: Relationship Skills

Today we will explore:
• Communication
• Empathy
• Trust

Welcome students and introduce today’s focus on three key relationship skills. Emphasize that these skills help us work well with others and build strong friendships.

Key Relationship Skills

• Communication: Sharing thoughts and listening actively
• Empathy: Understanding and caring about others’ feelings
• Trust: Relying on someone to be honest and supportive

Define each term clearly and invite students to share quick examples from their own lives.

Discussion Prompts

  1. How can you show empathy when a friend is upset?
  2. What does trust look like in a friendship?
  3. Why is clear communication important when working in a group?

Display these prompts and give students 1–2 minutes per prompt. Encourage them to paraphrase their partner’s ideas before adding their own.

Role-Play Activity

  1. Pair up.
  2. Take a scenario from Bridges Role-Play Cards.
  3. Act out the situation, practicing communication, empathy, and trust.

After 6 minutes, switch roles or swap cards.

Explain the role-play procedure and circulate to offer support and feedback. Remind pairs to focus on demonstrating all three skills.

Reflection

Use Trust and Empathy Reflection Worksheet to answer:
• What did you learn about communication, empathy, or trust?
• One action I will take to build better relationships: ______

Hand out the reflection worksheet and give students time to write. Invite volunteers to share their action plans.

Let’s Build Stronger Bridges

Practice these skills every day to strengthen your friendships and teamwork.

Any questions?

Summarize the lesson, encourage students to apply these skills daily, and open the floor for any final questions.

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Activity

Bridges Role-Play Cards

Use these scenario cards for pairs to practice communication, empathy, and trust.

How to Use:

  1. In pairs, draw one card from the deck.
  2. Read the scenario and decide who will play which role.
  3. Act out the situation, focusing on clear communication, showing empathy, and building trust.
  4. After 6 minutes, switch roles or swap cards and repeat.
  1. Inclusion Concerns
    Scenario: Your friend forgot to include you in a group chat planning a weekend activity. Practice asking them about it respectfully and sharing how it made you feel.
  2. Comforting a Friend
    Scenario: A classmate looks upset after receiving a disappointing grade. Show empathy by asking questions and offering support without judgment.
  3. Team Project Conflict
    Scenario: You and a partner disagree on how to complete a joint assignment. Use active listening and clear communication to reach a compromise.
  4. Broken Promise
    Scenario: A friend promised to help you study but canceled at the last minute. Practice expressing disappointment and rebuilding trust through an honest conversation.
  5. Clearing a Misunderstanding
    Scenario: You think a classmate ignored you in the hallway, but they say they didn’t see you. Role-play how to check your assumptions and communicate openly.
  6. Keeping a Secret
    Scenario: A friend shares a personal secret and asks you not to tell anyone. Demonstrate trust by discussing how you will keep it confidential and why it matters.
  7. Apology After an Argument
    Scenario: You and a friend had a disagreement that hurt feelings. Practice offering a sincere apology and listening to their feelings without interrupting.
  8. Welcoming a New Student
    Scenario: A new student joins your class and looks nervous. Use empathy to introduce yourself, ask how they’re feeling, and help them feel included.
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Worksheet

Trust and Empathy Reflection Worksheet

  1. What did you learn today about communication with friends or classmates?




  1. How did practicing empathy during the role-play help you understand someone else’s feelings?






  1. Describe a time when trust was important in one of the scenarios. What did you do to build or rebuild trust?








  1. One action I will take this week to strengthen my communication, empathy, or trust with others is:






  1. How will you remind yourself to practice this action in your daily life?






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Building Bridges • Lenny Learning