Exploring the different ways people cultivate friendships and express their admiration for one another doesn’t have to be relegated to Valentine’s Day (but it doesn’t hurt if it is!). Reflecting on the core aspects of a strong friendship and what truly matters in a relationship with others can happen anytime.
With a little planning and a few simple activities, you can teach kids skills like empathy, respect, generosity, kindness and trust. Make it a week-long event and call it a Friendship Unit or whatever works best for you! Either way, no candy hearts required.
Lesson Plans for Grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5
Help introduce the concept of being a friend who supports and trusts using positive feedback.
Lesson: Be A Friend Who Supports and Trusts Others
Teach kids the importance of giving positive feedback and responding to another’s feelings using WINGS Lesson Plans, designated by grades K-1, 2-3, or 4-5. In this specific Lesson Plan: Be A Friend Who Supports and Trusts Others, students will:
- Practice sharing encouraging comments with others
- Demonstrate encouragement of others and recognition of their contributions
- Recognize when it’s appropriate to give a compliment
- Demonstrate expressing appreciation to someone who has helped them
Activity: Compliment Book
Encourage students to appreciate and acknowledge each other’s unique qualities by creating Compliment Books. Begin by introducing the importance of kindness and positive affirmations and how they are important to fostering strong friendships.
Next, have each student write a heartfelt compliment for every classmate. The compliments can range from recognizing individual strengths, or talents that contribute positively to the classroom dynamic, or they can choose specific qualities of a good friend that their classmates possess.
Once all the compliments are collected, compile them into personalized compliment books for each student. These books become tangible, heartwarming reminders of their belonging to the group (and outlast any single valentine card purchased from a store!) The act of creating and receiving a compliment book can boost self-esteem among students and reinforce a sense of camaraderie within the class.
Compliment Book Template
Download a free Compliment Book template to use with your students!
Activity: Kindness Jar
Help students understand the value of being kind and caring by offering a week-long kindness challenge.
Kindness Jar Activity
Students reflect on their kind actions and the kind actions of others in this week-long challenge.
For this activity, you’ll need a jar, slips of paper and pencils. Set aside time at the end of each day to have students write down two things on slips of paper:
- Something nice they did for others
- Something nice someone did for them
After finishing writing have students put their slips in the jar. At the end of the week, have students help you read aloud all of the acts of kindness that were in the jar. After reading aloud all of the kindness notes, have students make a paper chain with them and hang it around your space as a reminder to be kind.
Promoting friendship and kindness is vital for fostering inclusive learning environments. Teaching these skills not only inspires students but also prepares them to become successful and respectful community members. By embracing this responsibility, we can actively encourage healthy friendships in our learning spaces.
