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Friend or Frienemy?

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pryorm

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Friend or Frienemy Lesson Plan

Students will learn to identify characteristics of healthy friendships versus frienemies through guided discussion and reflective activities, so they can choose supportive peers.

Building social-emotional skills in first graders helps them recognize and foster positive relationships while protecting themselves from hurtful behaviors.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided scenarios and personal reflection

Materials

  • Friendship Scenario Cards, - Friend or Frienemy Reflection Worksheet, and - Drawing Paper and Crayons

Prep

Review and Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Print and cut out the Friendship Scenario Cards.
  • Make copies of the Friend or Frienemy Reflection Worksheet.
  • Gather drawing paper and crayons.
  • Review each scenario to anticipate possible student responses.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Greet the student and share the lesson goal.
  • Define "friend" (someone who cares, shares, and supports) and "frienemy" (someone who sometimes hurts feelings or isn’t kind).
  • Ask the student for one example of a friend.

Step 2

Scenario Exploration

10 minutes

  • Show one Friendship Scenario Card at a time.
  • Read the scenario aloud and ask: "Is this a friend or a frienemy? Why?"
  • Encourage the student to point out kind actions versus hurtful actions.
  • Repeat with 4–5 different cards, reinforcing definitions.

Step 3

Reflective Activity

10 minutes

  • Give the student the Friend or Frienemy Reflection Worksheet.
  • Have them draw a picture of a good friend and write or dictate one kind thing a friend does.
  • Ask: "How would you feel if someone did that?" and record responses.
  • Discuss how to look for friends who show kindness.

Step 4

Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Review the difference between friends and frienemies.
  • Ask the student to share one thing they’ll look for in a friend.
  • Praise their insights and encourage them to practice kindness with classmates.
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Slide Deck

Friend or Frienemy?

A one-on-one lesson on recognizing healthy friendships vs. frienemies.

Greet the student warmly. Say: “Today we’re going to learn how to tell if someone is a friend or a frienemy.” Explain that a friend cares about you and a frienemy sometimes hurts your feelings. Then ask: “Can you tell me about one of your friends?”

What Is a Friend? What Is a Frienemy?

• Friend: Someone who cares about you, shares, and supports you.
• Frienemy: Someone who sometimes isn’t kind or hurts your feelings.

Read each definition clearly. Point to each bullet as you say it. Then ask: “What would you do if a friend did that?” and “How do you feel if someone acts like a frienemy?”

Scenario Exploration

• We will read a scenario from the Friendship Scenario Cards.
• Ask: “Is this a friend or a frienemy? Why?”
• Talk about the kind or hurtful action.

Explain that you will look at scenario cards one at a time. Show the student the stack of Friendship Scenario Cards. Say: “We’ll read each card and then decide: friend or frienemy?”

Scenario 1

Emma offers her snack to you when you forget yours.

Is this a friend or a frienemy? Why?

Read the scenario aloud. Give the student time to answer. If they need help, ask: “What feelings do you notice?” Confirm and praise thoughtful answers.

Scenario 2

Liam laughs at you when you make a mistake.

Is this a friend or a frienemy? Why?

Read the scenario and encourage the student to look for feelings. Prompt with: “How would you feel if that happened?” Validate their response.

Reflect and Draw

• Draw a picture of a good friend.
• Write or tell one kind thing they do.
• How does that make you feel?

Hand the student the Friend or Frienemy Reflection Worksheet and drawing paper/crayons. Say: “Draw one of your best friends doing something kind. Then tell me one kind thing they do, and we’ll write it down.” Ask: “How does that make you feel?”

Wrap-Up

• What makes someone a good friend?
• What is a frienemy?
• Share one thing you’ll look for in a friend.

Review both definitions again. Ask the student to share one thing they will look for in a friend. Praise their insight and encourage them to be kind to others.

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Worksheet

Friend or Frienemy Reflection Worksheet

Name: ______________________ Date: ______________________

  1. Draw a picture of someone being a good friend.












  2. Write one kind thing your friend does for you.







  3. How does it make you feel when your friend does that?












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lenny

Activity

Friendship Scenario Cards

Use these scenario cards to decide: Friend or Frienemy?

  1. Emma offers her snack to you when you forget yours.

  2. Liam laughs at you when you make a mistake.

  3. Ava shares her crayons when you need a color you don’t have.

  4. Noah grabs a toy from you without asking.

  5. Mia helps you clean up your art supplies when they fall.

  6. Oliver tells your secret to the class after you asked him not to.

  7. Sophia invites you to join her game at recess.

  8. Ethan says mean words when he’s upset that you won.

  9. Isabella helps you tie your shoes when you ask for help.

  10. Lucas doesn’t let you play and says you can’t join his group.

Print and cut out each card. During the lesson, show one at a time and ask:

  • “Is this person being a friend or a frienemy?”
  • “Why do you think so?”
  • “How would you feel if that happened to you?”
lenny
lenny