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Friendship Builders

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Lesson Plan

Crafting Connections Plan

Students will learn and practice essential skills for making and maintaining positive friendships, including effective communication and cooperation.

Strong social bonds are vital for emotional well-being and school success. Learning to build and maintain friendships helps students navigate social situations, feel a sense of belonging, and develop empathy.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

45-50 minutes

Approach

Through interactive activities, discussion, and reflection, students will explore friendship skills.

Materials

• Friendship Formula Slides, • Markers or crayons, • Whiteboard or chart paper, • Cooperative Story Circle, • My Friendship Map, and • One Kind Word Exit Ticket

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Makes a Friend?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: 'What does it mean to be a good friend?'
  • Facilitate a brief class discussion, writing down key ideas on the board. (e.g., sharing, listening, being kind, playing together).

Step 2

Introduction to Friendship Skills (Slide Deck)

10 minutes

  • Present the Friendship Formula Slides.
  • Focus on slides introducing 'Communication' and 'Cooperation' as key friendship ingredients.
  • Encourage students to share examples of good communication (listening, speaking clearly) and cooperation (working together, sharing tasks) in friendships.

Step 3

Activity: Cooperative Story Circle

15 minutes

  • Introduce the Cooperative Story Circle game.
  • Explain the rules: students take turns adding a sentence to a story, demonstrating cooperation and active listening.
  • Guide the class through one or two rounds of the game, emphasizing positive interactions and teamwork.

Step 4

Independent Practice: My Friendship Map

10 minutes

  • Distribute the My Friendship Map worksheet to each student.
  • Explain that students will draw or write about their friends and the qualities they value.
  • Circulate and provide support as students complete their maps, prompting them to think about how they show good friendship skills.

Step 5

Wrap-Up: One Kind Word Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Distribute the One Kind Word Exit Ticket.
  • Ask students to write down one kind word or action they can use to strengthen a friendship.
  • Collect exit tickets as students leave, using them as a quick assessment of understanding and a positive send-off.
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Slide Deck

Friendship Builders!

What makes a good friend?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of friendship. Ask them to think about what makes a good friend.

The Friendship Formula

Every great recipe needs ingredients. Friendships do too!

What do you think goes into a strong friendship?

Introduce the idea of a 'Friendship Formula' - ingredients that make friendships strong.

Ingredient 1: Communication

Talking and Listening!

  • Sharing your thoughts and feelings
  • Listening when others talk
  • Using kind words

Why is this important?

Focus on Communication. Explain what it means and why it's important. Provide examples.

Ingredient 2: Cooperation

Working Together!

  • Sharing toys and ideas
  • Taking turns
  • Helping each other out

Why is this important?

Focus on Cooperation. Explain what it means and why it's important. Provide examples.

Friendship Formula: Check!

We've learned about:

  • Communication
  • Cooperation

Now, let's practice these skills with a fun game!

Review the two ingredients and set up for the next activity, the Cooperative Story Circle.

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Game

Cooperative Story Circle

Objective: To practice communication and cooperation by collectively creating a story.

How to Play:

  1. Form a Circle: Everyone sits in a circle, either on the floor or in chairs.
  2. Start the Story: The teacher or a designated student begins a story with one sentence.
    • Example: "Once upon a time, there was a tiny squirrel who loved collecting shiny buttons."
  3. Continue the Story: The next person in the circle adds one new sentence to continue the story.
    • Each student must listen carefully to the sentence before theirs to make sure the story makes sense.
    • Encourage creative but logical additions.
  4. Keep it Going: Continue around the circle, with each student adding a sentence until the story reaches a natural end, or time runs out.

Tips for Great Cooperation and Communication:

  • Listen carefully to what your friends say.
  • Speak clearly so everyone can understand you.
  • Work together to build an exciting story.
  • Be supportive and encourage everyone's ideas!
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Worksheet

My Friendship Map

Friendships are like special maps that guide us through fun times and help us when we need it. Let's create your friendship map!

Part 1: My Friends

Think about some of your friends. Write their names in the circles below, or draw a small picture of them.













Part 2: Friendship Qualities

What are some of the things that make your friends special? What qualities do you look for in a friend? What qualities do you show your friends?

Write down some kind words that describe your friends or good friendship skills you use.













Part 3: A Friendly Action

Think about one thing you can do this week to be an even better friend to someone. Draw or write about your friendly action.













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Cool Down

One Kind Word Exit Ticket

Think about what we learned today about communication and cooperation in friendships.

What is one kind word or one friendly action you can use this week to make a friend feel good, or to strengthen a friendship?

Write your idea below!







Name:

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