Lesson Plan
Friends or Foes Lesson Plan
Students will explore and practice resolving friendship challenges—exclusion, arguing, taking sides, and involving others—through role-play and reflection to build empathy and inclusive skills.
Friendship conflicts can damage trust and belonging. This lesson empowers 5th graders to understand peers’ feelings, communicate effectively, and apply strategies to foster positive, inclusive relationships.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
Step 2
Role-Play Scenarios
12 minutes
Step 3
Group Discussion
6 minutes
Step 4
Individual Reflection
5 minutes
Step 5
Conclusion
2 minutes
Slide Deck
Friends or Foes?: Exploring Friendship Challenges
Lesson Objectives
Why This Matters
Common Friendship Challenges
Challenge 1: Exclusion
Challenge 2: Arguing
Challenge 3: Taking Sides
Challenge 4: Dragging Others In
Role-Play & Discussion
Reflection & Next Steps
Activity
Worksheet
Cool Down
Reading
Reading
