• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In

Friendship Formula

user image

Jaynilyn Palmer

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Friendship Ingredient List

Students will identify key qualities of a good friend by creating simple “friendship recipes” and practice inclusion through a hands-on craft, empowering them to demonstrate kindness, cooperation, and empathy.

Developing friendship skills at an early age fosters empathy, cooperation, and a sense of belonging. This lesson helps 1st graders reduce social isolation and build positive peer relationships.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Blend discussion, recipe brainstorming, and a craft activity.

Materials

  • Recipe for Kindness Slide Deck, - Build-a-Friend Craft Template, - Why Friendships Matter Discussion Prompts, - Construction Paper (assorted colors), - Crayons or Markers, - Safety Scissors, and - Glue Sticks

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Print copies of Recipe for Kindness Slide Deck
  • Print handouts: Build-a-Friend Craft Template and Why Friendships Matter Discussion Prompts
  • Gather art supplies: construction paper, crayons, safety scissors, glue sticks
  • Review the Friendship Ingredient List and lesson flow

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle and welcome them to the Friendship Formula session
  • Read aloud a brief scenario of two friends helping each other
  • Use Why Friendships Matter Discussion Prompts to ask: “Why is it nice to have a friend?” and record responses on chart paper

Step 2

Friendship Recipe Brainstorm

8 minutes

  • Display the Recipe for Kindness Slide Deck
  • Ask students to name “ingredients” (qualities/actions) of a good friend (e.g., kind words, sharing, listening)
  • Write each ingredient on the Friendship Ingredient List chart
  • Encourage students to elaborate with examples

Step 3

Build-a-Friend Craft

10 minutes

  • Distribute Build-a-Friend Craft Template, construction paper, crayons, scissors, and glue
  • Instruct students to decorate and assemble their paper friend, then add ingredient labels (from brainstorm) around the friend
  • Circulate to support students as they cut, glue, and write labels

Step 4

Group Reflection & Inclusion Pledge

7 minutes

  • Invite each student to share one friendship ingredient they’ll practice this week
  • Create a simple Inclusion Pledge poster: students write or draw their action under a shared title (e.g., “I Will…”)
  • Celebrate contributions with applause and high-fives
  • Close by reminding students that using these ingredients helps everyone feel included and valued
lenny

Slide Deck

Recipe for Kindness

Today we will create a special recipe full of friendship ingredients that help us be kind, helpful, and fun friends.

Welcome students and introduce today’s fun activity: making a Friendship Recipe. Explain that just like we follow a recipe to bake cookies, we can follow a recipe to make a great friend!

What Is an Ingredient?

• Flour, Sugar, Butter…
• But for friendship, our ingredients will be qualities like kindness and sharing.

Show a picture of a recipe card on the board or projector. Ask: “What do you see? What do we normally put on a recipe?” Guide them to think of ingredients.

Friendship Ingredients We Know

• Kindness
• Sharing
• Listening

Share these examples one by one. Ask students to give real-life examples: “When was someone kind to you? How did it make you feel?”

Let’s Brainstorm Together!

What other qualities/actions help make a good friend?
• Caring
• Helping
• Smiling…

Invite students to brainstorm more ingredients. Call on volunteers to share ideas. Write each on chart paper as they speak so all can see.

Your Friendship Recipe

Fill in your three best ingredients for being a good friend!

Explain that the blank recipe card is for their own friendship recipe. Encourage them to think of three favorite ingredients and be ready to share.

Time to Make Our Friend!

Use your recipe ingredients to decorate a paper friend. Then add labels around them to show your recipe in action.

Wrap up the slide deck and transition to the Build-a-Friend craft. Remind them to use the ingredients they listed when decorating and labeling their paper friend.

lenny

Activity

Build-a-Friend Craft

Activity Objective:
Students will assemble and decorate a paper friend and then add labels showing the friendship “ingredients” they brainstormed. This hands-on craft reinforces qualities of kindness, sharing, listening, and inclusion.

Materials:

  • Build-a-Friend Craft Template
  • Construction paper (assorted colors)
  • Crayons or markers
  • Safety scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • Friendship Ingredient List chart (from brainstorm)

Total Time: 10 minutes

Instructions

  1. Distribute Materials (1 minute)

    • Give each student a copy of the Build-a-Friend Craft Template and art supplies.
    • Remind them to use the friendship ingredients you brainstormed earlier.

  2. Cut & Assemble (3 minutes)

    • Instruct students to carefully cut out the paper “friend” pieces on the template.
    • Show them how to fold and glue tabs so the friend stands or holds together.

  3. Decorate Your Friend (3 minutes)

    • Invite students to color and decorate their paper friend: add clothes, hair, faces, and accessories.
    • Encourage creativity while they think about how these decorations show a friendly personality.

  4. Label the Ingredients (2 minutes)

    • Have students choose 3–4 friendship qualities from the chart and write or draw each ingredient around their paper friend (e.g., “sharing,” “listening,” “helping”).
    • Prompt them to use neat handwriting or simple pictures to represent each quality.

  5. Teacher Support & Conversation (throughout)

    • Circulate and ask guiding questions:
      • “Which ingredient did you choose and why?”
      • “How will your friend show kindness?”
    • Offer praise and gentle assistance with cutting or writing as needed.

Transition:
When time is up, gather students and prepare for the final “Group Reflection & Inclusion Pledge” step of the lesson. Encourage each child to share one ingredient they added and one way they’ll practice it this week.

lenny
lenny

Discussion

Why Friendships Matter

1. Why is it nice to have a friend?







Follow-Up: “Can you tell me more about why that matters?”

2. How do you feel when someone invites you to play or talk with them?







Follow-Up: “What makes that feeling special?”

3. What can we do to include a friend who is alone?







Follow-Up: “Why is that important?”

4. Share one kind thing you have done or seen a friend do.







Follow-Up: “How did that kind thing help someone feel included?”

Teacher Tips:

  • Encourage students to listen respectfully when others share.
  • Praise specific examples and feelings.
  • Use responses to build the Friendship Ingredient List chart.
lenny
lenny