Lesson Plan
Navigating Social Circles
Students will identify subtle forms of peer pressure and learn strategies to build supportive friendships.
Understanding peer pressure is crucial for navigating social dynamics, resisting negative influences, and fostering a positive school environment.
Audience
7th Grade Group
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussions and hands-on activities.
Prep
Pre-Lesson Review
5 minutes
- Review the Navigating Social Circles lesson plan for background context.
- Familiarize yourself with the Identifying Peer Pressure (Slide Deck) to highlight key discussion points.
- Prepare materials for the Creating Support Networks (Activity) to ensure smooth execution during the session.
Step 1
Introduction & Context Setting
5 minutes
- Briefly introduce the topic of peer pressure in everyday school settings.
- Use slides from the Identifying Peer Pressure (Slide Deck) to illustrate subtle pressure tactics.
- Pose open questions to gauge prior knowledge and encourage participation.
Step 2
Guided Discussion
10 minutes
- Facilitate a group discussion focusing on personal experiences and observations of peer pressure.
- Reference scenarios from Navigating Social Circles to prompt critical thinking.
- Encourage students to share strategies they have used or heard of to resist negative influences.
Step 3
Activity: Creating Support Networks
10 minutes
- Engage students in the Creating Support Networks (Activity) to practice building supportive relationships.
- Guide the group through role-playing exercises to reinforce positive responses to peer pressure.
- Conclude by summarizing key takeaways and reinforcing resilience strategies.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Identifying Peer Pressure
Understanding the subtle influences around us.
Introduce the topic, emphasizing the importance of understanding both overt and subtle forms of peer pressure. Explain that the session will cover definitions, examples, and strategies to respond to peer pressure.
What is Peer Pressure?
Peer pressure involves the influence exerted by a peer group on its members to fit into certain expectations or behaviors.
Provide a clear definition of peer pressure. Encourage students to think about situations where they experienced or observed peer pressure.
Forms of Peer Pressure
- Direct vs. Indirect pressure
- Subtle cues in social situations
- Influence through group norms and behaviors
Discuss different ways peer pressure can manifest, especially in subtle ways. Ask questions to engage students about examples they might have seen.
Resisting Negative Influences
- Recognize subtle tactics
- Build supportive friendships
- Practice assertive communication
- Seek guidance from trusted adults
Highlight strategies for resisting negative peer pressure. Emphasize building self-confidence and supportive friendships.
Discussion & Reflection
What strategies have you seen or used to handle peer pressure?
Let's share experiences and learn together.
Summarize key points and invite students to share thoughts or experiences. Use this slide to initiate a guided discussion.
Activity
Creating Support Networks Activity
This activity is designed to engage students in role-playing and group exercises that help them build supportive networks and practice responding to peer pressure. Through interactive scenarios and collaborative discussions, students will develop strategies to handle peer pressure in a positive, proactive manner.
Activity Guidelines
-
Introduction (2 minutes)
- Explain the goal of the activity: to build and strengthen your support network and practice strategies to say no to negative peer pressure.
- Emphasize that the focus is on being supportive and understanding different perspectives.
-
Role-Playing Sessions (6 minutes)
- Divide the group into pairs or small teams.
- Give each team a scenario related to peer pressure on the playground or in school settings. (Examples include being asked to skip class, pressuring a friend to join a risky activity, or excluding someone from a game.)
- Each team will role-play the scenario, taking turns to be the person facing peer pressure and the supportive friend.
-
Group Discussion (4 minutes)
- After the role-playing, bring everyone back together for a group discussion.
- Ask guiding questions:
- What strategies did you use to support your friend?
- How did it feel to say no or to help someone say no?
- Which tactics seemed most effective?
-
Reflection and Sharing (2 minutes)
- Ask students to individually write down one key takeaway from the activity and one strategy they plan to use in the future.
- Invite a few volunteers to share their reflections with the group.
Teacher's Follow-Up Points
- Encourage Empathy: Reinforce the importance of understanding that everyone feels peer pressure at times. Empathy can be a powerful tool in creating a supportive network.
- Reinforce Strategies: Remind students of strategies covered in the Identifying Peer Pressure (Slide Deck) such as assertive communication and seeking guidance from trusted adults.
- Stress Positivity: Highlight that saying no to negative peer pressure is not about being confrontational but about standing up for oneself and one’s friends.
Space for Student Work
Reflection Response:
Note for Teacher: Monitor group interactions during role-play and be ready to assist or guide any students who may need extra support. The goal is to ensure every student feels safe and supported while learning effective communication skills.