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Friend or Foe?

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pryorm

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Friend or Foe?

First graders will identify ‘frienemies’—friends whose actions sometimes hurt feelings—and practice empathy, boundary-setting, and positive responses through sorting scenarios, role-play, and reflection.

Helps build social-emotional skills early, teaching empathy, healthy boundaries, and respectful communication to nurture positive peer relationships and reduce hurt feelings.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive sorting, role-play, and guided reflection.

Materials

Frienemies Scenario Cards, Scenario Sorting Board, Friendship Skills Poster, Feelings Chart, Role-Play Name Badges, Reflection Worksheet, Scissors, and Markers

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print and cut out Frienemies Scenario Cards
  • Set up Scenario Sorting Board in a visible area
  • Hang Friendship Skills Poster where all students can see
  • Display the Feelings Chart for reference
  • Make copies of the Reflection Worksheet for each student
  • Gather scissors, markers, and Role-Play Name Badges

Step 1

Feelings Check-In

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle.
  • Display the Feelings Chart.
  • Ask each student to point to the face that matches how they feel today.

Step 2

Introducing Frienemies

5 minutes

  • Define “frienemy” as a friend who sometimes hurts our feelings.
  • Refer to the Friendship Skills Poster and review skills: empathy, boundaries, kind words.
  • Provide a simple example of a frienemy scenario.

Step 3

Scenario Sorting

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups.
  • Give each group a set of Frienemies Scenario Cards.
  • Instruct groups to read each scenario and place cards on the Scenario Sorting Board under “Friend” or “Foe.”
  • Circulate to guide and prompt discussion about their choices.

Step 4

Role-Play Responses

5 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to pick a scenario card from the “Foe” pile.
  • Distribute Role-Play Name Badges.
  • Have pairs act out a healthy response using skills from the Friendship Skills Poster.

Step 5

Group Reflection

3 minutes

  • Ask: “How did it feel to sort scenarios into friend or foe?”
  • Prompt: “Which friendship skill helped you respond kindly?”
  • Reference the Feelings Chart to connect emotions to actions.

Step 6

Worksheet Completion

2 minutes

  • Hand out the Reflection Worksheet.
  • Ask students to draw or write one thing they learned about being a good friend.
  • Collect worksheets for assessment.
lenny

Slide Deck

Friend or Foe?

Welcome! Today we'll learn about frienemies—friends who sometimes hurt our feelings—and how to be a kind friend.

Welcome students! Today we will learn about frienemies—friends who sometimes hurt our feelings—and how to practice empathy, set boundaries, and use kind words. Encourage everyone to participate and share.

Feelings Check-In

Look at our Feelings Chart. Point to the face that shows how you feel today.

Gather students in a circle. Display the Feelings Chart and invite each student to point to how they feel. Acknowledge each feeling.

What Is a Frienemy?

A frienemy is someone who can be your friend but sometimes hurts your feelings with their words or actions.

Define “frienemy” clearly. Share a simple example, such as a friend who says “I won’t play with you.”

Friendship Skills

  • Empathy: We try to understand how others feel.
  • Boundaries: We say what is OK and what’s not.
  • Kind Words: We speak nicely to each other.

Refer to the Friendship Skills Poster. Briefly explain each skill and invite quick examples.

Scenario Sorting Activity

In groups, use Frienemies Scenario Cards. Sort each card on our Scenario Sorting Board under “Friend” or “Foe.”

Divide students into small groups. Distribute Frienemies Scenario Cards and show the Scenario Sorting Board. Circulate to guide.

Example Scenarios

  1. A friend shares their snack with you.
  2. A friend takes your toy without asking.

Which is Friend? Which is Foe?

Read the example scenarios aloud. Ask students to suggest why each is a friend or foe action.

Role-Play

Pick a scenario from the “Foe” pile. Act out a kind response using our Friendship Skills.

Invite volunteers to pick a “Foe” scenario. Hand out Role-Play Name Badges. Prompt pairs to act out a kind response using empathy, boundaries, or kind words.

Group Reflection

How did it feel to sort the scenarios?
Which skill helped you respond kindly?

Encourage students to share how sorting felt and which skill helped them. Reference the Feelings Chart when discussing emotions.

Reflection Worksheet

Draw or write one thing you learned about being a good friend on the Reflection Worksheet.

Hand out the Reflection Worksheet. Give students 2 minutes to draw or write one thing they learned about being a good friend. Collect worksheets.

lenny

Reading

Frienemies Scenario Cards

Cut out each card below. Read each situation and decide if it’s a Friend or a Foe. Then place it on the Scenario Sorting Board.

  • A friend shares their snack with you when you forgot yours.

  • A friend takes your favorite toy without asking.

  • A friend says, “I like your drawing!” and gives you a smile.

  • A friend ignores you when you say hello on the playground.

  • A friend helps you up when you trip and fall.

  • A friend tells everyone a secret you asked them to keep.

  • A friend offers to help you carry your books to class.

  • A friend calls you a mean name and laughs.

  • A friend lets you have a turn on the swing when it’s your turn.

  • A friend says, “You can’t sit here,” and moves you away.

lenny
lenny

Activity

Scenario Sorting Board

Create a large chart with two columns. Students will place each Frienemies Scenario Card under the correct heading.

Friend
(Behaviors that show kindness)		Foe
(Behaviors that can hurt feelings)
  • Print or draw this table on a poster or whiteboard.
  • Leave space for students to attach or write cards in each column.
  • Use tape, velcro dots, or magnets to hold cards in place.
lenny
lenny

Reading

Friendship Skills Poster

Use these three super skills to be a great friend!

1. Empathy ❤️

  • What it means: Understanding how someone else feels.
  • Why it helps: When we notice a friend is sad or hurt, we can help them feel better.

2. Boundaries 🚧

  • What it means: Telling others what is okay and not okay.
  • Why it helps: Keeps everyone feeling safe and respected.

3. Kind Words 😊

  • What it means: Speaking nicely and using polite words.
  • Why it helps: Makes friends feel happy and valued.

Which friendship skill will you use today?



lenny
lenny

Reading

Feelings Chart

Use the faces below to show how you feel. Point to the face that matches your feelings.

FaceFeeling
😀Happy
😢Sad
😡Angry
😨Scared
😮Surprised
😐Okay/Meh

Tip for Teachers: Display this chart where all students can see it during the “Feelings Check-In” and invite each child to point to the face that shows how they feel today.

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lenny

Worksheet

Reflection Worksheet

Name: _______________________ Date: ________________________

  1. Draw a picture of something you learned about being a good friend:










  2. Write one thing you learned about being a good friend:





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lenny