Friendship SOS

Shannon Songin

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Friendship SOS Plan

Students will learn to identify friendly behaviors, practice resolving small conflicts with supportive communication, and build confidence by giving and receiving compliments.

Building strong friendship skills helps 2nd graders feel valued, fosters empathy, and reduces playground conflicts by teaching proactive communication and kindness.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

35 minutes

Approach

Interactive scenarios, role-play, and guided discussion.

Materials

SOS Slides: Friendship Rescue, - Circle Time Chat Guide, - Friendship Role-Play Cards, and - Compliment Jar Template

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Print and organize Friendship Role-Play Cards into scenario sets
Print and cut compliment slips and place them in the Compliment Jar Template
Queue up SOS Slides: Friendship Rescue on the classroom projector
Review the Circle Time Chat Guide to plan questions and prompts

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

Display SOS Slides: Friendship Rescue Slide 1: “What Makes a Good Friend?”
Ask students to share one way they like friends to treat them
Note key qualities (kindness, listening, sharing) on chart paper

Step 2

Circle Time Chat

8 minutes

Use Circle Time Chat Guide prompts:
• “Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend?”
• “How did you feel and what happened next?”
• “What could you say or do to make things better?”
Encourage 3–4 students to share briefly

Step 3

Friendship Role-Play Activity

12 minutes

Divide class into small groups; give each group a set of Friendship Role-Play Cards
Scenarios include: sharing a toy, name-calling, feeling left out, helping a friend
Groups read their scenario, discuss how to respond as a supportive friend, then role-play at front
After each, classmates suggest one extra caring response

Step 4

Compliment Jar Cool-Down

6 minutes

Pass the Compliment Jar Template around
Each student writes a compliment for a classmate on a slip and places it in the jar
Teacher reads a few aloud, celebrating kindness and positive words

Step 5

Assessment & Reflection

4 minutes

Quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down: “I feel more confident helping friends solve problems”
Exit ticket: On a sticky note, students write one friendly action they’ll do tomorrow
Collect notes as informal assessment of understanding

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Slide Deck

What Makes a Good Friend?

• Think about someone you call a friend.
• What do they do that makes you feel happy or safe?

Share one idea with the class!

Introduce the topic and engage students in brainstorming. Prompt each to share one quality they value in a friend.

Qualities of a Good Friend

Kindness
Listening
Sharing
Helping
Being polite
Including others

Write student answers on chart paper as they share, grouping similar ideas.

Circle Time Chat

Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend?
• How did you feel?
• What happened next?

Transition to discussing conflicts. Remind students conflicts are normal and can be solved.

Finding Solutions

• What could you say to make things better?
• What actions show you still care?

Encourage 3–4 students to respond. Guide them toward positive solutions.

Friendship Rescue Role-Play

In small groups, pick a scenario card.
Discuss a caring response.
Act out your rescue at the front.
Classmates add one more caring idea.

Explain role-play rules and group assignments. Model one quick example if time allows.

Scenario Example

Scenario: Your friend feels left out at recess.
• Ask them to join your game.
• Invite their ideas.
• Say, “I like playing with you—want to try together?”

Use this slide as a visual example. Emphasize empathy and active listening.

Compliment Jar Cool-Down

• Write a kind note for a classmate.
• Fold and drop it in the jar.
• We’ll read a few aloud to celebrate!

Introduce the Compliment Jar. Model writing one slip.

Reflection & Exit Ticket

Thumbs-up/thumbs-down: “I feel more confident helping friends.”

Exit Ticket: On a sticky note, write one friendly action you’ll do tomorrow.

Guide students through reflection and exit ticket collection.

Discussion

Circle Time Chat Guide

Timing: 8 minutes
Goal: Help students share real experiences, identify feelings in a conflict, and brainstorm caring solutions.

1. Setting the Stage

Gather students in a circle.
Remind them of “kind listening” – eyes on the speaker, quiet voices, and respectful reactions.
Reinforce that every feeling is OK and that we’re here to learn how to solve small problems together.

2. Key Prompts & Follow-Up Questions

Prompt 1: Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend?
• What happened?
• How did you feel when it happened?

Prompt 2: What did you say or do next?
• How did your friend react?
• Did it make you feel better or still upset?

Prompt 3: What could you say or do to make things better if it happened again?
• What words show your friend you still care?
• What actions (sharing, helping, listening) could help?

3. Facilitator Tips

Use Turn-Taking: Invite 3–4 students to respond. Use a talking stick or pass a plush friend token.
Validate Feelings: Reflect back (“I hear you felt left out”) before moving to solutions.
Guide, Don’t Solve: If students struggle, offer a gentle example: “You might say, ‘I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. Can we play together?’”
Keep It Positive: Encourage peers to add one extra caring idea after each share.

4. Expected Student Responses

“I felt sad when my friend didn’t share the ball.”
“I said I was sorry and asked if we could play again.”
“I can use kind words like, ‘I miss playing with you.’”
“Next time I’ll listen to why they’re upset before I play.”

Next Step: Transition to the role-play activity: divide into small groups and choose a Friendship Role-Play Cards scenario to practice these ideas in action.

Activity

Friendship Role-Play Activity

Timing: 12 minutes
Goal: Practice solving small conflicts with caring words and actions.

Instructions

Divide students into small groups of four.
Give each group a set of Friendship Role-Play Cards.
In each group, assign roles: Initiator, Friend, Observer, Supporter.
Read the scenario together and discuss a caring response.
Practice the short role-play within your group.
Invite one group at a time to perform their scenario for the class.

Scenario Cards

Scenario 1: Sharing a Toy – Two friends want the same toy at recess. How do you solve this?
Scenario 2: Name-Calling – A friend says something unkind. How can you respond kindly and set a boundary?
Scenario 3: Feeling Left Out – You see a classmate standing alone. What could you say or do?
Scenario 4: Helping a Friend – Your friend is stuck on a homework problem. How do you offer help?

Group Roles

Initiator: Reads the scenario aloud and explains the problem.
Friend: Practices a caring response using kind words and actions.
Observer: Watches the role-play and notes one thing the Friend did well.
Supporter: After the skit, adds one extra caring idea or suggestion.

Debrief & Discussion

Ask Observers: “What did the Friend do that was helpful?”
Invite the Supporter to share their extra caring idea.
Highlight how the response showed qualities of a good friend (listening, sharing, kindness).
Connect back to the chart paper list from the Introduction: Which qualities did you see in action?

Next: Transition to the Compliment Jar Template for a cool-down celebrating positive words!

Cool Down

Compliment Jar Template

Print this page. Cut out the slips below, have each student write a kind note, fold it, and drop it into the jar!

***/ \
/ Jar of \
| Compliments |
| |
\ /
________/