Lesson Plan
Navigating Social Circles
Students will learn to identify healthy friendship qualities, recognize common social challenges like exclusion, and practice effective communication strategies to build and maintain positive peer relationships.
Middle school can be a challenging time for friendships. Learning to navigate social circles effectively helps students build confidence, reduce feelings of isolation, and develop crucial social-emotional skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
45-55 minutes
Approach
Role-playing and guided discussion to foster empathy and social problem-solving skills.
Materials
Navigating Social Circles Slide Deck, Healthy Friendship Scenarios Activity, Friendship Challenge Worksheet, and Social Circle Discussion Guide
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Navigating Social Circles Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Friendship Challenge Worksheet for each student.
- Read through the Healthy Friendship Scenarios Activity and be prepared to facilitate the role-playing.
- Review the Social Circle Discussion Guide to prepare for leading the class discussion.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up: What Makes a Friend?
10 minutes
- Begin by displaying the first slide of the Navigating Social Circles Slide Deck and greet students.
2. Ask students to quickly brainstorm qualities they look for in a good friend. Write their responses on the board or chart paper.
3. Introduce the lesson's objective: understanding and navigating middle school friendships.
Step 2
Exploring Friendship Qualities & Challenges
15 minutes
- Use the Navigating Social Circles Slide Deck to guide a discussion on healthy vs. unhealthy friendship qualities.
2. Introduce common social challenges like exclusion, gossip, and conflict. Encourage students to share (if comfortable) brief, anonymized experiences or observations.
3. Hand out the Friendship Challenge Worksheet and give students a few minutes to silently read the scenarios.
Step 3
Role-Playing Healthy Responses
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
2. Explain the Healthy Friendship Scenarios Activity: Each group will choose one scenario from the worksheet or a scenario provided in the activity and role-play a healthy response.
3. Circulate among groups, providing guidance and prompting students to think about effective communication strategies.
4. After 10 minutes, bring the class back together and have a few groups share their role-plays or discuss their chosen strategies.
Step 4
Class Discussion & Wrap-Up
10-15 minutes
- Facilitate a whole-class discussion using prompts from the Social Circle Discussion Guide. Focus on what students learned from the role-playing and how they can apply these skills.
2. Emphasize that navigating social circles takes practice and that it's okay to ask for help.
3. Conclude by reiterating the importance of kindness, empathy, and clear communication in building positive relationships.
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Slide Deck
Welcome to Your Social Compass!
What makes a good friend? How do you know who to trust?
Welcome students and introduce the topic of friendships. Ask them to think about what makes a good friend. This is a quick warm-up to get them thinking.
Friendship Journey: What We'll Explore Today
Navigating the ups and downs of middle school friendships.
Identifying healthy and unhealthy friendship qualities.
Learning how to communicate effectively in social situations.
Transition to the lesson's main goal. Explain that today we'll explore friendships and learn skills to handle social situations.
Healthy Friendships: Your Social Superpowers
What does a healthy friendship feel like?
Qualities of a good friend:
• Trustworthy
• Supportive
• Respectful
• Kind
• Good Listener
• Honest (but gentle)
Lead a discussion on what healthy friendships look like. Encourage students to share examples.
Friendship Fails: What to Avoid
What makes a friendship feel bad or uncomfortable?
Things that can hurt friendships:
• Gossip
• Exclusion/Leaving people out
• Not listening
• Being mean or disrespectful
• Lying
• Bullying
Now, discuss the flip side. What are some actions that can harm friendships? This will lead into common challenges.
Social Challenges: The Friendship Minefield
Middle school can bring new social challenges:
• Exclusion (being left out)
• Gossip and rumors
• Peer pressure
• Conflict and disagreements
• Misunderstandings
Introduce common social challenges. You can ask students if they've ever seen or experienced these (without naming names).
Practicing Positive Responses
How can we handle these challenges in a healthy way?
We'll use role-playing to practice effective communication and problem-solving. This is where your Friendship Challenge Worksheet comes in handy!
Explain that we'll practice responding to these challenges. This slide sets up the Healthy Friendship Scenarios Activity and Friendship Challenge Worksheet.
Group Activity: Role-Play Your Way to Success!
Get into small groups.
Choose a scenario from your Friendship Challenge Worksheet.
Act out the scenario, focusing on healthy ways to respond.
Think about:
• What would you say?
• How would your body language show confidence?
• How can you show empathy?
Provide instructions for the group activity. Emphasize teamwork and respectful interaction.
Reflecting and Sharing: What Did We Learn?
What did you learn from the role-playing activity?
What were some effective strategies you saw or used?
How can these skills help you in real life?
Bring the class back together. Ask a few groups to share their role-plays or discuss their strategies. Facilitate a discussion using the Social Circle Discussion Guide.
Your Social Superpowers: Takeaways
Healthy friendships make us stronger.
Communication is key: Speak up kindly and listen carefully.
Empathy helps us understand others.
It's okay to ask for help when navigating tough social situations.
You have the power to build positive social circles!
Conclude the lesson by reinforcing key takeaways and encouraging students to practice these skills.
Activity
Healthy Friendship Scenarios Activity
Instructions:
- In your small groups, read the scenarios below or choose one from your Friendship Challenge Worksheet.
- Discuss how each scenario presents a social challenge.
- As a group, come up with a healthy and constructive way to respond to the challenge.
- Role-play your chosen scenario and your healthy response for your group. Be prepared to share with the class if called upon!
Scenarios:
Scenario 1: The Exclusion Zone
Some of your friends have started a new group chat and you notice you haven't been added. You see them laughing and sharing inside jokes during lunch that you don't understand.
- How do you feel?
- What is a healthy way to approach this situation?
- What would you say or do?
Scenario 2: The Gossip Chain
You overhear a group of classmates spreading rumors about another student, who is a casual acquaintance of yours. One of your close friends starts to join in the gossip.
- How do you feel about the gossip?
- What is a healthy way to handle your friend joining in?
- What could you say or do to stop the gossip or change the subject?
Scenario 3: The Disagreement Disaster
You and a good friend have a big disagreement about a project you are working on together. You both think your idea is better, and you're starting to get frustrated with each other.
- What feelings are coming up for you?
- What steps can you take to resolve the conflict respectfully?
- How can you communicate your feelings and listen to your friend?
Scenario 4: The Peer Pressure Pickle
Your new group of friends wants to try something that makes you feel uncomfortable (e.g., sneaking out, looking at inappropriate content online, making fun of another student). You really want to fit in with them.
- What is making you uncomfortable?
- How can you say no while still trying to maintain the friendship?
- What are the potential consequences of going along with it vs. saying no?
Worksheet
Friendship Challenge Worksheet
Name: ____________________________
Instructions:
Read each scenario carefully. In the space provided, think about and write down:
- How would you feel in this situation?
- What is the social challenge involved?
- What is one healthy way you could respond or what advice would you give?
Scenario 1: The New Kid
A new student has joined your class, and they seem a bit shy. During group work, you notice that many students are picking their established friends and the new student is left without a group.
- How would you feel watching this happen?
- What is the social challenge?
- What is one healthy way you could respond or what advice would you give?
Scenario 2: The Secret Keeper
Your friend tells you a secret about another classmate and asks you not to tell anyone. Later, another friend asks you directly about that classmate, and you know sharing the secret would make you seem "cool" to them. You feel torn.
- How would you feel in this situation?
- What is the social challenge?
- What is one healthy way you could respond or what advice would you give?
Scenario 3: Online Drama
You see a post on social media where a group of your classmates is making fun of someone. You don't know the person very well, but you know it's not right. Your friends are all commenting and laughing.
- How would you feel seeing this?
- What is the social challenge?
- What is one healthy way you could respond or what advice would you give?
Scenario 4: A Friend in Need
You notice one of your usually outgoing friends has been very quiet and withdrawn lately. They seem sad and are avoiding hanging out with the group. You're worried about them.
- How would you feel seeing your friend like this?
- What is the social challenge?
- What is one healthy way you could respond or what advice would you give?
Discussion
Social Circle Discussion Guide
Instructions:
Use these questions to guide a whole-class discussion after the role-playing activity. Encourage students to share their insights and connect the lesson to their own experiences.
Opening Questions:
Reflecting on Healthy Friendships:
Navigating Challenges:
Personal Growth & Support: