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Friendship Foundations: Building Strong Connections

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Lesson Plan

Friendship Foundations

Students will be able to identify and define the four core components of healthy friendships: trust, respect, active listening, and boundaries. Students will apply these components to real-life scenarios and develop strategies for fostering positive peer relationships.

Healthy friendships are crucial for social-emotional well-being. This lesson provides students with the foundational skills to build and maintain positive relationships, promoting a supportive school environment and personal growth.

Audience

Elementary and Middle School Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, scenario analysis, and collaborative activity.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Friendship Foundations Slide Deck, Friendship Discussion Guide, Friendship Building Activity, Markers or pens, and Worksheet or paper for activity

Prep

Lesson Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What Makes a Friend?

10 minutes

  • Begin with a quick poll: "What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a good friend?" (2 minutes)
    - Display Friendship Foundations Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
    - Facilitate a brief discussion based on student responses. (5 minutes)
    - Introduce the lesson objectives. (3 minutes)

Step 2

Exploring Friendship Foundations

20 minutes

Step 3

Scenario Practice: Friendship Challenges

20 minutes

  • Introduce the Friendship Building Activity. (2 minutes)
    - Divide students into small groups. (1 minute)
    - Assign each group a friendship scenario from the activity. (2 minutes)
    - Students discuss their scenario and how to apply the friendship foundations to resolve it. (10 minutes)
    - Each group briefly shares their scenario and proposed solutions with the class. (5 minutes)

Step 4

Wrap-up and Reflection

10 minutes

  • Facilitate a brief class discussion: "What was one new thing you learned about friendship today?" (5 minutes)
    - Encourage students to think about how they can apply these foundations in their own friendships. (5 minutes)
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Slide Deck

Friendship Foundations

Building Strong Connections

What comes to mind when you think of a good friend?

Welcome students and introduce the topic of friendship. Ask students to share their initial thoughts on what makes a good friend. Use a quick poll or ask for raised hands.

Today's Journey: Our Friendship Goals

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Identify and define the core components of healthy friendships.
  • Apply these components to real-life friendship scenarios.
  • Develop strategies for building and maintaining positive peer relationships.

Introduce the learning objectives for today's lesson. Explain what students will be able to do by the end of the session.

Pillar 1: Trust - The Strong Foundation

What is Trust?

  • Believing in someone to be honest and reliable.
  • Feeling safe and secure with a friend.

How do we build trust?

  • Keeping promises.
  • Being honest (even when it's hard).
  • Showing up for your friends.

Introduce the concept of Trust. Ask students for examples of how trust is built or broken in friendships.

Pillar 2: Respect - Valuing Each Other

What is Respect?

  • Showing consideration for a friend's feelings, ideas, and boundaries.
  • Appreciating differences.

How do we show respect?

  • Listening without interrupting.
  • Valuing their opinions.
  • Being kind with your words and actions.

Introduce the concept of Respect. Discuss what it means to respect someone's differences and opinions.

Pillar 3: Active Listening - Truly Hearing

What is Active Listening?

  • Fully focusing on what your friend is saying.
  • Understanding their perspective and feelings.

How do we actively listen?

  • Making eye contact.
  • Asking clarifying questions.
  • Not interrupting or planning your response.

Introduce Active Listening. Emphasize that it's more than just hearing words.

Pillar 4: Boundaries - Healthy Lines

What are Boundaries?

  • Personal limits that define what you are comfortable with.
  • Protecting your feelings and well-being.

Why are boundaries important?

  • They show self-respect.
  • They help friends understand how to treat you.
  • They prevent misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

Introduce the idea of Boundaries. Explain why they are important for healthy relationships.

Putting it into Practice: Friendship Challenges

Now, let's explore some real-life friendship scenarios and apply what we've learned about trust, respect, active listening, and boundaries!

Transition to the activity. Explain that they will be putting their new knowledge into practice.

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Discussion

Friendship Discussion Guide

Use these prompts to guide your discussions on the core components of healthy friendships. Remember to listen to each other respectfully and share your thoughts thoughtfully.

Trust: The Strong Foundation

  1. Think about a time someone trusted you with something important. How did that feel?


  2. What are some ways a friend can show you they are trustworthy?


  3. Have you ever had your trust broken? How did that affect your friendship?


Respect: Valuing Each Other

  1. How do you know when someone respects you? What do they do or say?


  2. Imagine your friend has a very different opinion than you. How can you show respect for their opinion even if you disagree?


  3. Why is it important to respect a friend's personal space or belongings?


Active Listening: Truly Hearing

  1. What does it look like when someone is actively listening to you?


  2. Think about a time you felt really heard by a friend. What did they do that made you feel that way?


  3. What are some challenges to active listening, and how can we overcome them?


Boundaries: Healthy Lines

  1. What does the word "boundary" mean to you in a friendship?


  2. Why is it important to tell your friends what you are and are not comfortable with?


  3. What might happen in a friendship if there are no clear boundaries?


Reflection

  1. Which of these friendship foundations do you think is most important? Why?


  2. What is one thing you can do this week to practice building stronger friendships?
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Activity

Friendship Building Activity: Scenario Challenges

Instructions:

  1. Work with your group to read and discuss your assigned scenario.
  2. Think about the friendship foundations we discussed: Trust, Respect, Active Listening, and Boundaries.
  3. Discuss how each of these foundations applies to your scenario.
  4. Come up with a solution or advice for the characters in your scenario, explaining how they can use the friendship foundations to build or maintain a healthy connection.
  5. Be prepared to share your scenario and solution with the class!

Scenario 1: The Broken Promise

Sarah promised her friend, Leo, that she would help him study for a big math test. On the day they were supposed to study, Sarah got an invitation to a really fun party and decided to go instead, forgetting to tell Leo until after the party. Leo felt very let down and failed his test. How can Sarah and Leo use trust, respect, active listening, and boundaries to fix this situation?











Scenario 2: Different Interests

Maria loves playing soccer, and her best friend, Chloe, loves reading and quiet activities. Lately, Chloe feels like Maria only wants to hang out when it involves soccer, and Maria feels like Chloe never wants to do anything active. They are starting to argue a lot. How can Maria and Chloe use trust, respect, active listening, and boundaries to appreciate their differences and strengthen their friendship?











Scenario 3: The Secret Spreader

David told his friend, Sam, a personal secret and asked him not to tell anyone. A few days later, David overheard other kids talking about his secret, and he realized Sam must have told them. David is hurt and angry. How can David and Sam use trust, respect, active listening, and boundaries to address this situation and rebuild their friendship, if possible?











Scenario 4: Overstepping the Line

Jessica and Emily are good friends. Lately, Emily has been borrowing Jessica's clothes without asking and sometimes even taking things from her locker when Jessica isn't around. Jessica feels uncomfortable but doesn't want to upset Emily by saying something. How can Jessica and Emily use trust, respect, active listening, and boundaries to resolve this issue and maintain a healthy friendship?











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