Friendship is truly a fundamental aspect of childhood and social-emotional development! It’s where kids learn about trust, kindness, teamwork, empathy, and compassion. As elementary teachers, you have the incredible opportunity to help students navigate their complex worlds of relationships and build the skills they need to create and maintain positive friendships. Teaching friendship skills in the classroom doesn’t have to be difficult either– use kid-friendly explanations, books and videos, and hands-on resources to make teaching a breeze!
3 Ways to Teach Friendship Skills in the Classroom
1. Explain It in Kid-Friendly Terms
First thing first, take some time to explain what friendship skills are. Use age-appropriate vocabulary while explaining to your class to make them more likely to understand what you mean.
Let kids know that friendship is more than just playing together on the playground. Being a good friend involves honesty, respect, and genuine care for another person.
Compare and contrast behaviors and attributes of positive friendships. Share about some of your most meaningful friendships to help students understand the lasting value of these choices.
More Qualities of a Good Friend:
- Acceptance
- Loyalty
- Forgiveness
- Generosity
- Patience
- Humor
- Supportive
- Dependability
- Encouraging
- Integrity
By teaching friendship skills in the classroom, you are fostering a positive classroom environment where kids feel safe to express their emotions, work together, and are quick to celebrate the accomplishments of their peers!
2. Teaching Friendship Skills Using Books and Videos
Books and videos are great ways to teach young children about the many aspects of friendship. Here are some favorites you can read and watch together to encourage meaningful conversations about being a good friend:
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Say Something by Peter H. Reynolds
Peter H. Reynolds uses Say Something to empower children to make a change in the world around them as they use their own voices. The book is dedicated to Emma González, a young hero. Students learn that they can make a difference by communicating their words in many different ways, like speaking out, taking action, and being creative. They demonstrate great friendship skills as they use their voices to make a change when someone is hurting, misunderstood, lonely, and more.
You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown
Lucy is determined to make a new friend. With a forest full of critters, how hard could it be for a friendly bear like herself? Despite her kindness and generosity, Lucy struggles to find a new friend. She feels like she can’t do anything right. “Doesn’t anyone want to be my friend?” Lucy exclaims. Just when she is about to give up, Lucy’s determination pays off in a heartwarming way. This book encourages students to consider the perspective of someone who is trying to find a new friend.
Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry
Stick and Stone are both lonely. Pinecone begins to bully Stone, and Stick stands up to Pinecone. After this, Stick and Stone do not feel so alone. They begin to play and explore together. They realize the benefit of reaching out and making a new friend.
How to Be a Good Friend | Tamir on the Street #3
This 5-minute video by Sesame Street is perfect for introducing friendship skills to younger students. Tamir asks his neighbors what they think it means to be a good friend. Kids learn that friendship includes helping others solve problems by sharing, being kind, and showing understanding.
Friendship Animation Movie by Christina Chang & Charlie Parisi
Watch this 4-minute wordless animated film with any of your elementary students and spark conversations about how to show important friendship qualities like sharing humor and being helpful to others who may be feeling lonely or discouraged. The creative touches like peppermint bushes and candy corn stalks found in this video will help keep all kids engaged despite no words being said!
3. Use Resources to Teach Friendship Skills in the Classroom
Last but certainly not least, use done-for-you resources to help teach and reinforce positive friendship skills with your students!
Friendship Character Education Curriculum
Be confident in your ability to teach both younger and older elementary students with this comprehensive curriculum all about friendship skills! Use the 9 activities to teach students all about making and keeping friends by keeping promises, forgiving, comprising, and more.
This resource includes a digital learning version for Google Slides, writing prompts, a recommended read-aloud list, reward tags, and SO MUCH MORE! It’s truly everything you need to teach and reinforce positive friendship skills in your classroom this year.
Treasure or Trash Friendship Activity
Use this social skills lesson to teach students about behaviors that help or hurt friendships. Students sort different gems that have behaviors/words that help or hurt friendships into either the treasure box or trash can, determining whether they are words/behaviors that you would treasure (keep) or trash (get rid of).
This activity is the perfect print-and-go resource but can be used digitally with Google Slides too. Either way, this activity should only take about 30 minutes to complete with a small group or large group!
Teaching friendship skills in the classroom is more than just a curriculum objective. When you choose to invest in friendships, you’re choosing to invest in a skill that will go with students for life!
Together, we can create a generation of people who are empathetic, respectful, and generous and truly understand the value of friendship!
You might also be interested in reading:
Teaching Teamwork in the Classroom
7 EASY Tips to Encourage Positive Behavior in the Classroom - Heart and Mind Teaching
You might also be interested in these products:
The Puzzle of Making Friends Activity for Google Classroom Distance Learning
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