Lesson Plan
Friendship Superpowers!
Students will learn and practice perspective-taking and active friendship-making skills to strengthen peer relationships.
Developing strong friendships and understanding others' feelings helps create a positive classroom, reduces conflicts, and improves overall well-being for everyone.
Audience
4th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive learning and practice.
Materials
Smartboard or Projector, Friendship Superpowers Slide Deck, Perspective Passport Worksheet, and Friendship Fortune Cards
Prep
Preparation Checklist
15 minutes
- Review the Friendship Superpowers Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Perspective Passport Worksheet (one per student).
- Print and cut out the Friendship Fortune Cards (one set per small group).
- Ensure projector/smartboard is set up and working.
- Arrange desks for small group work if possible, or prepare for partner activities.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Makes a Friend?
5 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Friendship Superpowers Slide Deck.
- Ask students: "What are some qualities that make a good friend?" (ACT: Values identification).
- Facilitate a brief whole-class discussion, charting responses on the board or calling on a few students. Connect responses to the idea of mutual respect and understanding.
Step 2
Understanding Perspectives: "Walk in My Shoes"
10 minutes
- Transition to the "Walk in My Shoes" slide on the Friendship Superpowers Slide Deck.
- Explain perspective-taking: "Thinking about how someone else might feel or what they might be thinking in a situation."
- Present a few simple scenarios (e.g., someone accidentally bumps into you in the hallway, someone looks sad at their desk). Ask students: "How might different people feel or react in this situation? Why?" (ABA: Social skills instruction, ACT: Empathy building).
- Distribute the Perspective Passport Worksheet. Guide students to complete the first section, drawing or writing about different perspectives for a given scenario.
Step 3
Friendship Fortune Cards: Practice Makes Perfect
10 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students) or pairs.
- Distribute Friendship Fortune Cards to each group.
- Explain the activity: "Each card has a friendship scenario. As a group, read the scenario and discuss how you would use your friendship superpowers (perspective-taking and active listening) to respond kindly and make a friend." (ABA: Role-playing, social skill practice; ACT: Behavioral commitment to values).
- Circulate and provide support, prompting groups to think about feelings and actions.
Step 4
Cool-Down: My Friendship Goal
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Display the final slide of the Friendship Superpowers Slide Deck.
- Ask students to reflect: "What is one small thing you can do this week to use your friendship superpowers?" (ACT: Committed action).
- Have students briefly share their goal with a partner or write it down on the back of their Perspective Passport Worksheet.
- Collect worksheets.
Slide Deck
Friendship Superpowers!
Unlocking Your Best Friend Self!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of friendship superpowers!
What Makes a Good Friend?
What qualities do you look for in a friend?
What makes someone a great friend to others?
Ask students to share their ideas. Guide the discussion to highlight qualities like kindness, listening, sharing, and understanding. Connect to the idea of 'values' in ACT - what do they value in a friend and what kind of friend do they want to be?
Walk in My Shoes: Understanding Perspectives
Perspective-Taking: Thinking about how someone else might feel or what they might be thinking in a situation.
Scenario 1: Someone accidentally bumps into you in the hallway.
Scenario 2: You see a classmate sitting alone at lunch.
Introduce perspective-taking. Provide simple scenarios for students to discuss how different people might feel. Emphasize that understanding others' feelings helps us respond kindly (ABA strategy).
Friendship Fortune Cards Activity
Work in small groups.
Read your 'Friendship Fortune Card'.
Discuss how you would use your friendship superpowers (perspective-taking and kind actions) to handle the situation and make a friend!
Explain the Friendship Fortune Cards activity. Emphasize using perspective-taking and active listening when discussing the scenarios. Circulate to support groups and prompt deeper thinking (ABA: social skills practice).
My Friendship Goal
What is one small thing you can do this week to use your friendship superpowers?
Think about:
- Taking someone's perspective?
- Being an active listener?
- Reaching out to make a new friend?
Bring the class back together for reflection. Encourage students to set a small, actionable goal for practicing their friendship skills (ACT: Committed action). This reinforces the learning and encourages real-world application.
Worksheet
Perspective Passport: Walking in Others' Shoes
Name: ____________________________
Part 1: See It From Their Side
For each scenario, think about how different people might feel or what they might be thinking. Draw or write your ideas.
Scenario 1: Someone accidentally bumps into you in the hallway, and your books fall.
How might you feel?
How might the person who bumped you feel?
What could be a kind way to react or respond?
Scenario 2: You see a classmate sitting alone during recess, looking down.
How might the classmate feel?
How might you feel if you were sitting alone?
What could be a friendly thing to do or say?
Part 2: My Friendship Goal (Cool-Down)
What is one small thing you will do this week to use your friendship superpowers (like perspective-taking or being a good friend)?
My Goal:
Activity
Friendship Fortune Cards
Instructions: Cut out these cards. Work in small groups. Read each scenario and discuss how you would use your friendship superpowers (perspective-taking and kind actions) to handle the situation and make a friend!
Card 1: New Kid in Class
A new student just joined your class. They look a little nervous and don't seem to know anyone yet. How can you use your friendship superpowers to help them feel welcome and make a new friend?
Card 2: Disagreement Over a Game
You and a friend are playing a game, and you both want to use the same toy/piece. Your friend starts to get frustrated. How can you use perspective-taking to understand their feelings, and what can you do to solve the problem kindly?
Card 3: Someone Needs Help
You see a classmate struggling to carry their books or pick up something they dropped. They look a bit embarrassed. How can you use your friendship superpowers to offer help in a way that makes them feel good?
Card 4: Sharing an Idea
During a group project, you have an idea, but another student keeps interrupting or talking over you. How can you use your understanding of their possible intentions and good communication to share your idea respectfully?
Card 5: A Friend is Sad
Your friend seems sad and quiet during lunch. You don't know why, but you want to help. How can you use your friendship superpowers to show you care and be supportive?
Card 6: Inviting Someone In
You and your friends are playing a fun game at recess, and you notice another classmate watching from the side. How can you use your friendship superpowers to include them and make your group even bigger and better?