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Friendship Builders!

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Ariana Dekeon

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Making Friends Lesson Plan

Students will learn and practice four key strategies for initiating friendships with new people.

Making friends is a vital life skill that helps students feel connected, build self-esteem, and enjoy school. This lesson provides practical tools to help them confidently approach and engage with potential new friends.

Audience

2nd Grade, Small Group

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive instruction followed by role-playing scenarios.

Materials

  • Making Friends Slide Deck, and - Friendship Scenarios Activity

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Review the Making Friends Slide Deck and the Friendship Scenarios Activity.
Print and cut out the scenario cards from the Friendship Scenarios Activity.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What is a Friend?

5 minutes

Display Slide 1: Friendship Builders! and Slide 2: What is a Friend?.
Ask students: "What does it mean to be a friend? What do friends do together?"
Encourage a brief group discussion, allowing each student to share one idea.

Step 2

Learning New Friend Strategies

10 minutes

Display Slide 3: How to Make Friends!.
Introduce and explain each of the four strategies for making new friends:
1. Smile and say hello!: Explain that a friendly face makes others feel comfortable.
2. Introduce yourself: Teach simple phrases like "Hi, my name is [Your Name]."
3. Ask a question: Discuss asking open-ended questions like "What do you like to play?" or "Do you like [activity]?"
4. Invite them to play: Practice phrases like "Want to play [game]?" or "Can I join?"
Discuss why each step is important.

Step 3

Friendship Scenarios Activity

10 minutes

Display Slide 4: Practice Time!.
Distribute the scenario cards from the Friendship Scenarios Activity.
In pairs or as a small group, have students role-play each scenario, practicing the four new friend strategies.
Provide positive feedback and gentle coaching as they practice.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Friendship Rocks!

5 minutes

Display Slide 5: Friendship Rocks!.
Ask students: "What was one new way you learned to make a friend today?"
Encourage each student to share one takeaway.
Reiterate that practicing these skills will help them make many new friends!

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Slide Deck

Friendship Builders!

Let's learn how to make new friends!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of making friends. Ask them to think about what a friend means to them.

What is a Friend?

Someone you like to spend time with.
Someone who listens to you.
Someone who is kind.

Facilitate a short discussion about what qualities make a good friend and what activities friends do together.

How to Make Friends!

  1. Smile and say hello!
  2. Introduce yourself.
  3. Ask a question.
  4. Invite them to play.

Introduce each of the four steps. Explain and give examples for each point. Encourage students to think about how they might use these steps.

Practice Time!

Let's try out our new friendship skills with some scenarios!

Transition to the activity. Explain that they will now get to practice these new skills with scenario cards.

Friendship Rocks!

Making new friends is a great way to have more fun and learn new things!
Keep practicing your friendship skills!

Wrap up the lesson by asking students to share one thing they learned. Reinforce the importance of practicing these skills.

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Activity

Friendship Scenarios Activity

Instructions: Read each scenario with a partner or in your small group. Take turns practicing how you would make a new friend using the "How to Make Friends" steps (Smile & Say Hello, Introduce Yourself, Ask a Question, Invite to Play).

Scenario 1: New Kid on the Playground

Prompt: You see a new student sitting by themselves on the playground during recess. You want to invite them to play.







Scenario 2: At the Art Table

Prompt: You are drawing at the art table, and another student you don't know well sits down next to you. You want to start a conversation.







Scenario 3: Lunchtime Discovery

Prompt: You are eating lunch and notice someone at another table has a lunchbox with your favorite cartoon character on it. You want to talk to them about it.







Scenario 4: Choosing a Partner

Prompt: Your teacher asks you to pick a partner for a class activity. There's a student you haven't worked with before, and you'd like to get to know them.







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