Role Playing Activity:
Split students into small groups. Assign each group a scenario about friendship issues like exclusion, bragging, jealousy, etc. Have them act out how they could handle the situation in a kind and constructive way. After each role-play, discuss as a class what they did well and what could be improved.
Lesson on Qualities of a Good Friend:
- What does it mean to be a good friend? Brainstorm ideas like loyalty, kindness, listening, and inclusiveness.
- Read a book like "Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed" that highlights kindness and inclusion.
- Have students draw/write about what makes a good friend. Share and discuss.
Lesson on Cooperation vs Competition:
- Discuss how cooperation and teamwork is better than competing/bragging.
- Do teambuilding activities where they have to work together. Discuss how it felt.
- Role play scenarios where they have to solve a problem together vs as adversaries.
Bragging vs Humility:
- Define bragging and humility. Discuss the impacts of each.
- Read a book like "Jabberwocky" where a character learns to be humble.
- Have students share times when they demonstrated humility.
The key is lots of discussion, modeling positive behaviors, role playing real life situations, and reinforcing that true friendship is based on mutual kindness, not competition. Activities should promote cooperation, inclusion, humility, and communication skills.
Here are some ideas to expand the SEL lessons into reader's theater scripts and role playing examples:
Script on Exclusion:
Narrator: Katie and Julia always play together at recess. One day, a new student named Jamal joins their class. Let's see what happens when Jamal tries to join Katie and Julia's game.
Katie: Hey Julia, want to play tag?
Julia: Yeah! You're it!
Jamal: Can I play tag too?
Katia: No, sorry, just me and Julia today.
Jamal: Oh, okay. Maybe another time. (Walks away sadly)
Narrator: What could Katie and Julia have done differently to include Jamal? Let's try the scene again and practice being inclusive.
(Repeat scene, but have Julia say "Sure Jamal! We'd love for you to join our game!")
Narrator: Great job including Jamal that time! Being welcoming to new friends is an important part of friendship.
Script on Bragging:
Narrator: Kyle just won first place in the school art contest. He can't wait to tell his friends! Let's see what happens when he sees his friend Tanner.
Kyle: Tanner, guess what? I won first prize in the art contest!
Tanner: Wow, congrats Kyle!
Kyle: Yeah, my painting was definitely the best. No one else even had a chance at winning.
Narrator: Is Kyle being a good friend by bragging so much? How could he share his success more humbly? Let's try that scene again.
(Repeat scene, but have Kyle say "Thanks Tanner! I worked really hard on it and I'm super happy with how it turned out.")
Narrator: Sharing your accomplishments with friends can feel good, but it’s important to stay humble. Great job, Kyle!
Use these as inspiration to write additional reader’s theater scripts on relevant friendship topics that students can act out. Discuss what they learned after each one. Practicing good friendship skills through role playing will help prepare them for real life situations.
Why friendship is on the decline?
Here are some reasons why friendship and relationships may be declining among children:
- Increased technology use leads to less in-person play and interaction. Kids connect online vs building real relationships.
- Busy schedules with academics, activities, etc. leaves less time for unstructured socializing.
- Increased structured, adult-led play rather than kid-led free play. Less opportunity to practice social skills.
- Movement of families reduces neighborhood connections and childhood friendships.
- Competitive academic environment makes kids focus on achievement vs collaborating.
- Social media and technology use leads to comparisons and less ability to relate.
- Breakdown of traditional community institutions like church that brought kids together.
- Societal and academic pressures leading to isolation, anxiety and depression in children.
- Parental fears about safety leading to less opportunities for unsupervised play.
- More time devoted to digital devices and content consumption rather than real-world experiences.
The decline in childhood friendships stem from increased isolation, busier schedules, less free play, and technology replacing in-person interaction. To help kids build stronger bonds, families can emphasize offline play, set up play dates, join community groups, and monitor technology use. Meaningful relationships lead to better social-emotional health.
Here are 20 ideas for SEL lessons on building healthy friendships:
1. Kindness Bingo - Students mingle and find classmates who have done kind acts to make a bingo. Discuss how small acts of kindness help build friendships.
2. Qualities of a Good Friend - Brainstorm important friend qualities like trust, support, kindness. Have students draw/write about the qualities in themselves or friends.
3. Friendship Role Plays - Act out scenarios about inclusion, jealousy, bragging. Discuss better solutions after each role play.
4. Cooperation vs. Competition - Do team building games and discuss how cooperation is better than competing.
5. Active Listening - Practice listening skills in pairs. One shares while the other listens. Switch roles. Discuss how good listening builds friendship.
6. Name Game - Sit in a circle and share unique facts about yourself. Helps learn about classmates.
7. Common Interests - Make a chart on the board of hobbies/interests. Have students add their names to find common interests.
8. Standing Up for Others - Read a story about stopping bullying. Role play standing up for others.
9. Forgiveness - Read a book about forgiveness. Discuss why it’s important in friendships.
10. Compliments - Take turns giving genuine compliments about classmates' skills & qualities. Spread positivity.
11. Secret Buddies - Assign "secret buddies" to do anonymous nice deeds for another student. Reveal at end.
12. Feeling Charades - Take turns acting out emotions. Classmates guess the feeling. Helps build empathy.
13. Appreciation Cards - Make cards thanking someone for being a good friend. Share with classmates.
14. Friendship Simulation - Use stuffed animals to role play positive and negative friendship scenarios.
15. Friendship Circle - Sit in a circle. Each shares a positive quality about the person to their right.
16. Friendship Interview - Interview a classmate you don't know well. Share facts about them with the class.
17. Class Book - Have each student share advice about how to be a good friend. Compile into a book.
18. Friendship Notes - Decorate paper bags. Students write anonymous friendship notes to classmates.
19. Friendship Salad - Bring favorite fruits/toppings. Mix together as a “friendship salad.” Discuss working together.
20. Friendship Music Video - Create a music video showcasing friendship skills & positive interactions.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you!