Making New Friends - 3

Continued Growth

Lesson Plan

Goal: While in a social or educational setting (such as classroom, school building, and/or remote learning session), the student will use a learned strategy to make and maintain a friendship, in 8 out of 10 observable opportunities, as measured by a teacher assessment tool.

Objectives:
1. Compliment a peer for their positive actions and attributes.
2. Respect another person’s differences.
3. Offer to help peers at appropriate times.

Definitions of Key Terms: Making new friends involves introducing yourself to people you don’t know and asking questions to learn about their likes, dislikes, who they are, and sharing details about you. Maintaining a friendship involves completing activities together, sharing stories with each other and helping each other at appropriate times.

Discussion Points

  • Where are you likely to meet new people?
  • What do you look for in a friend?
  • What behaviors does a person display that you would not like?
  • Describe the last time you made a new friend.
  • Is it more important to make a new friend or maintain a friendship?
  • What are some things you do to maintain a friendship?

Discuss with students what is means to make new friends. Review the discussion point questions.

Possible activities to review the discussion points or use your own:

Think. Pair. Share: The teacher will pose questions related to the discussion points. Explain to students that the purpose of the activity is to think about the question and activate prior knowledge. The teacher will model the procedure to facilitate student understanding.

  • T (Think): Teacher begins by asking a specific question using the discussion topics.
  • P (Pair): Each student should be paired with another student, small group or work with a teacher. Pairs write brief answers on sticky notes or scrap paper.
  • S (Share): Students share their thinking with their partner. Teacher then leads a whole-group conversation using students’ answers.

SEL Categories Activity:

  • Ask students to create a list of words associated with the topic (give them 2-5 minutes to complete).
  • Once time is up, ask each student to share a word or thought from their list.
  • Other students must cross that word or thought off their list.
  • Continue the process until all words or thoughts have been listed.

Directions for In-Person or Virtual Learning: You have three options for students to complete this lesson.

  • Option 1: Print the Student Activity Sheet for each student. Complete the lesson as a group and assign the activity sheet to the students.
  • Option 2: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and post to your Learning Management System (if your school has one) or send the link to the student. The student may complete the activity sheet electronically within the classroom on a shared computer or device.
  • Option 3: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and send the link to the student. The student may access the link from a home computer, chromebook, iPad or other device.

Activity 1: Personal Narrative

Discuss with students key points about making a friend. Also discuss key activities a person should do to maintain a friendship. Share a personal story and the outcome with the students about a friendship you made recently and/or a friendship you didn’t maintain.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student

Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet A. Ask for volunteers to share their answers when all students have finished.

Student Activity Sheet A

Directions: Describe a time you met a new friend.

Activity 2: Qualities

Review the key points from Activity 1 with the students. Choose some negative qualities and ask students to decide if that would be a quality they would want in a friend. Then ask students to brainstorm the qualities they each look for in a person when making a friend. Record their ideas on the board or chart paper.

Materials Needed:
  • Chart paper or interactive board
  • Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student

Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet B. Ask for volunteers to share their answers when all students finished.

Student Activity Sheet B

Directions: Answer the questions below.

1. What positive qualities do you look for when making a new friend?

2. What qualities do you avoid when making a new friend?

Activity 3: Why Are Friends Important?

Review the key points from Activities 1 and 2 with the students. Discuss with students the important aspects of friendship. Record on the board or chart paper the positive and important aspects of maintaining friendships.

Materials Needed:
  • Chart paper or interactive board
  • Student Activity Sheet C - 1 per person
  • Pencil for each student

Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet C. Ask for volunteers to share their answers when all students have finished.

Student Activity Sheet C

Directions: Create a want ad for a new friend. Be sure to include what qualities you are looking for. Also include the activities you would do to maintain the friendship.

Application Activity

Script Prompt: Develop a script and create an animation that includes two characters in a setting related to the problem. Use the script prompt provided below or create your own and include:

Materials Needed:

The dialogue between the characters must include:

  • A character who demonstrates both good and bad qualities of being a friend.

Script Extensions: Click the following hyperlinks to have students choose their Characters, Background and Props prior to writing scripts. For examples of script writing accommodations, click Here.


Methods for completing this activity include (choose one or a few, depending on your students’ levels and abilities):


Script Writing Practice: Teacher-led discussion of script creation. As a group, write both an appropriate and inappropriate version of the script. In small groups or individually, have the students independently create scripts that demonstrate the script prompt. Use the script sheet to create students' scripts.


Independent Script Recording: Pair students together to complete two scripts using the same script prompt detailed above. Direct each student to take turns being character one and character two.


Animation Creation: Have students record their scripts using the SiLAS software. Remind students to name and save their work. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.


Lesson Extension: Incorporate ELA standards by discussing both spoken and written grammar rules (dialogue punctuation, correct verb tense, sentence structure, character, setting, problem, solution). Consider using both the final animation and written script as an ELA grade/assignment.

Topic Checkout

Review the key points from previous activities and discussions with the students. Allow students time to complete the Student Topic Checkout. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Topic Checkout - 1 per studentt
  • A pencil for each student

Student Topic Checkout

Directions: Describe a time when a new friend you met was loyal. Did it surprise you? Did it strengthen your friendship?