Introduction

Friendship plays a crucial role in the social-emotional development of middle school students. Finding friends who are a good fit can be challenging, but it is essential for nurturing healthy relationships. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of selecting friends who share common interests, values, and experiences. Additionally, we’ll provide a no-prep activity for educators to use in their classrooms and stimulate discussions around this vital skill.

No-Prep Activity: The Friendship Puzzle

This activity requires no materials or preparation from the educator. The goal is to help students understand the process of finding friends who are a good fit by comparing it to solving a puzzle.

1. Ask students to imagine they are putting together a puzzle. Each puzzle piece represents a potential friend with different qualities, interests, and experiences.
2. Explain that the objective is to find puzzle pieces (friends) that fit well together, creating a complete and harmonious picture.
3. Encourage students to discuss what qualities they look for in friends and how these qualities contribute to a balanced friendship.
4. Ask students to consider how they can identify friends who are a good fit and how they can build upon shared interests, values, and experiences.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further conversation about the importance of finding friends who are a good fit:

1. Why is it important to have friends who share similar interests and values? How can these similarities contribute to a stronger friendship?
2. What are some challenges you might face when trying to find friends who are a good fit? How can you overcome these challenges?
3. How can you maintain a healthy balance in a friendship where you have some differences? Why is it important to embrace and celebrate these differences?
4. Can you think of a time when you made a new friend who was a good fit? What qualities did you both share that made the friendship work?
5. What strategies can you use to identify and build friendships with classmates who are a good fit for you?

Related Skills

Developing the ability to find friends who are a good fit is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that contribute to healthy relationships and personal growth include:

• Effective communication: Being able to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly and respectfully.
• Active listening: Paying attention to what others are saying and responding with empathy and understanding.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements or misunderstandings in a constructive and respectful manner.
• Empathy: Recognizing and understanding the feelings of others, and responding with compassion and support.
• Self-awareness: Understanding one’s own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses, and using this knowledge to guide personal growth.

Next Steps

Helping middle school students develop the skills to find friends who are a good fit is an essential part of their social-emotional learning journey. To further support your students in this area and explore additional resources, we invite you to sign up for free sample materials from Everyday Speech. These materials cover a wide range of social-emotional learning topics, providing valuable tools and strategies for educators working with middle school students.