Role-Play Scenario Cards (8th Grade)

Use these cards to practice the three core friendship skills: greeting peers, asking open-ended questions, and active listening. Draw one card at a time and role-play both roles.

How to Use:

1. Read the scenario aloud.
2. Person A greets and asks an open-ended question. Person B responds.
3. Person A practices active listening (eye contact, nodding, paraphrasing).
4. Switch roles and repeat.

Card 1: Study Group Invitation

You’re walking into the library when you see a classmate you know from math class. You want to join their study group for an upcoming test.

• Greet your peer warmly.
• Ask an open-ended question about their plans for studying.
• Listen and respond with encouragement.

Card 2: Lunch Table Introduction

You notice someone sitting alone at lunch who shares your interest in video games. You decide to introduce yourself and start a conversation.

• Greet them and mention the shared interest.
• Ask an open-ended question about their favorite games.
• Listen and reflect on their response.

Card 3: Art Project Compliment

You see a peer’s art project displayed in the hallway. You want to compliment them and learn more about their work.

• Greet them and give a specific compliment.
• Ask an open-ended question about their inspiration or process.
• Listen and paraphrase what they share.

Card 4: Weekend Plans Chat

It’s Monday morning and you want to start a friendly chat about the weekend. You approach a classmate you haven’t talked to before.

• Greet them and wish them a good day.
• Ask an open-ended question about what they did over the weekend.
• Listen, nod, and connect with something they mention.

Friendship Reflection Sheet

Use this sheet to think about how you felt practicing each friendship skill and what you want to work on next.

1. Rate Your Comfort Level

(1 = Not comfortable at all  5 = Very comfortable)

Greeting peers: ________ (1  2  3  4  5)

Asking open-ended questions: ________ (1  2  3  4  5)

Active listening: ________ (1  2  3  4  5)

2. Your Strongest Skill

Which of the three skills did you feel you did best? Why?

3. Your Biggest Challenge

Which skill felt the most challenging? Describe what was hard for you.

4. What Went Well?

What part of the role-play do you think went well? What did you like about how you practiced?

5. Next Steps

What is one specific thing you will try to improve next time? Write a clear action (e.g., “I will smile when I greet someone.”).

6. Real-Life Practice Plan

Think of a real situation (class, lunch, hallway) where you can use these skills. Describe the situation and your plan for using one of the skills.

Goal-Setting Worksheet

Use this worksheet to plan one SMART friendship goal. SMART goals are:

• Specific: Clear and precise
• Measurable: You can track your progress
• Achievable: Realistic and within your reach
• Relevant: Important to your friendship skills
• Time-bound: Has a deadline

1. Specific

What exactly will you do to improve your friendship skills?

2. Measurable

How will you know you’re making progress? What will you count or observe?

3. Achievable

Is this goal realistic for you? What support or resources will you need?

4. Relevant

Why is this goal important for building positive peer relationships?

5. Time-bound

By when will you complete this goal? (date or timeframe)

6. Write Your SMART Goal

Combine your answers into one clear sentence. Include all SMART parts.

"______________________________________________________________________"

7. Practice Details

Where and when will you practice your goal? Describe the setting and timing.

Lesson Script: Building Bridges (8th Grade Individual Session)

Time: 30 minutes
Materials: Social Skills Graphic Organizer, Role-Play Scenario Cards, Friendship Reflection Sheet, Goal-Setting Worksheet

1. Warm-Up and Rapport Building (5 minutes)

Teacher (smiling, relaxed tone): “Hi [Student Name]! It’s great to see you today. How has your morning been so far?”
Wait for response.
Teacher: “That sounds interesting. Can you tell me more about [student’s comment]?”
Listen actively.

Teacher (holding the Social Skills Graphic Organizer): “Thanks for sharing. I noticed you’re really good at [observation #1] and [observation #2] when you talk with others. Let’s write those down here as our starting strengths. We’ll use these strengths all through our session today. Curious what we’ll work on next?”

2. Introduce Key Friendship Skills (5 minutes)

Teacher (pointing at organizer): “Our goal today is to get more confident making friends by practicing three key skills:

1. Greeting peers
2. Asking open-ended questions
3. Active listening

Let me show you what each one looks like.”

Skill 1: Greeting Peers
Teacher (smiling): “You can say something like, ‘Hi, how’s your day going?’ or ‘Hey, I’m Alex—what’s up?’ Watch my tone and smile.”
Model greeting.
Teacher: “Your turn—give me one friendly greeting you’d use.”
Prompt student: “Nice! What about a different greeting?”

Skill 2: Asking Open-Ended Questions
Teacher: “Instead of yes/no questions, open-ended ones start with who, what, when, where, why, or how. For example: ‘What was the best part of your weekend?’ or ‘How do you like spending your free time?’”
Teacher: “Can you think of an open-ended question you’d like to ask a classmate?”
Encourage two or three examples.

Skill 3: Active Listening
Teacher (modeling): “Look at me, I’ll nod and say, ‘It sounds like you really enjoyed that game,’ to show I’m listening. Avoid interrupting.”
Teacher: “Let’s practice—tell me one thing you heard me say, and I’ll nod back.”
Reinforce eye contact and nod.

3. Guided Role-Play (10 minutes)

Teacher: “Now let’s put those three skills together with a scenario card. I’ll shuffle and you pick one.”
Student picks a card from Role-Play Scenario Cards.

Round 1 – You Lead
Teacher: “When you’re ready, start by greeting me, ask your open-ended question, and then practice active listening.”
Observe tone, eye contact, phrasing.
Teacher (after student finishes): “Good work! I noticed your smile and question ‘What do you like about math?’ What felt strong? What felt tricky?”
Prompt: “How could you make your question even clearer?”

Round 2 – Switch Roles
Teacher (as student): “Hi there, I’m working on a project—what’s something fun you did last weekend?”
Student practices greeting and listening.
Teacher: “Nice—your nodding was on point. Let’s try one more scenario if we have time.”

4. Reflection on Learning (5 minutes)

Teacher (handing over Friendship Reflection Sheet): “Take a couple minutes to fill this out. Rate how comfortable you felt with each skill, pick your favorite, and note any challenges.”
Wait 2–3 minutes.

Teacher: “What did you put for your strongest skill? Why?”
Follow-up: “What made that feel easy?”
Teacher: “And what was the biggest challenge? How might you tackle that next time?”

5. Set Personal Friendship Goal (5 minutes)

Teacher (showing Goal-Setting Worksheet): “We’ll create one SMART goal—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: ‘This week, I will greet three classmates each day at lunch.’”

Teacher: “Let’s fill in each part together.”

• Specific: “What exactly will you do?”
• Measurable: “How many greetings will you count?”
• Achievable: “Is three a realistic number?”
• Relevant: “How will this help you feel more connected?”
• Time-bound: “By what day will you complete this?”

Teacher: “Now write your SMART goal in one clear sentence.”
Guide student through phrasing.

Teacher: “Finally, where and when will you practice this—at lunch, in class, or the hallway?”
Have student fill in practice details.

Closing (1 minute)

Teacher: “Great work today, [Student Name]! You practiced greeting, asking questions, and listening. You’ve got a clear SMART goal to try this week. Remember, I’m here to support you—note how it goes, and we’ll review your progress next time.”

Teacher (encouraging tone): “Keep building those bridges—see you at our next session!”

Social Skills Graphic Organizer

Use this organizer to note your existing strengths and plan examples for each key friendship skill.

1. My Social Strengths

List two things you already do well when talking with others:

2. Core Friendship Skills

For each skill below, review the definition and write your own example of how you would use it.

Skill 1: Greeting Peers

Definition: Starting a conversation with warmth by using a friendly tone and smile.

My example of a greeting:

Skill 2: Asking Open-Ended Questions

Definition: Inviting deeper responses by starting with who, what, when, where, why, or how.

My example of an open-ended question:

Skill 3: Active Listening

Definition: Showing genuine interest by maintaining eye contact, nodding, and paraphrasing what you heard.

My example of active listening (paraphrase or reflection):