Middle school friendships can be tricky. From group projects to text threads, students are navigating a lot of unspoken social dynamics—while also trying to figure out who they are. It’s no surprise many struggle to speak up when something feels off.

The Speaking Up With Friends Worksheet helps students learn how to express themselves clearly, respectfully, and confidently in peer interactions. It’s a free, print-ready activity that gets students thinking about real-world social scenarios and how to respond in ways that strengthen—not strain—friendships.

In this article, you’ll get:

• A framework for teaching assertive communication to middle schoolers
• A breakdown of how to use the worksheet effectively
• Role-play and reflection strategies to support lasting learning
• A free downloadable PDF to use with students right away

Why Focus on Friendships?

Middle schoolers spend a lot of time thinking about their relationships—but they don’t always have the skills to manage them well. Many students default to either staying silent (to keep the peace) or overreacting when they feel hurt or misunderstood.

That’s why teaching assertive communication is critical. It helps students:

• Speak up without sounding aggressive or defensive
• Set boundaries while still showing care for their peers
• Understand how tone, timing, and words affect relationships

When students learn how to advocate for themselves within friendships, they build the kind of communication habits that prevent drama, build trust, and boost their confidence in social settings.

What’s Inside the “Speaking Up With Friends” Worksheet?

The worksheet presents common middle school scenarios—things students actually experience—and prompts them to practice how they’d respond to practice self-advocacy. It’s designed to help students:

• Think before they react
• Use respectful, clear language
• Advocate for themselves in everyday peer situations

Sample scenarios include:

• A friend ignoring your ideas in a group project
• Disagreeing about plans or preferences
• Feeling left out or teased in subtle ways
• Being pressured to do something you’re not comfortable with

? Teaching Tip: The goal isn’t to find the “perfect” answer—it’s to practice framing opinions, needs, and boundaries with confidence and respect.

How to Use This Worksheet in Your Classroom

This resource is flexible enough to use in advisory, homeroom, small group pull-outs, or integrated into core subject time. Here’s a simple structure:

1. Start with a discussion

Introduce the idea of assertiveness. Ask:

• “What’s the difference between being assertive and being aggressive?”
• “Why is it hard to speak up with friends sometimes?”
• “Can you care about someone and still disagree with them?”

Reinforce that assertive communication is respectful and direct—not rude, passive, or passive-aggressive.

2. Complete the worksheet in pairs or independently

Students read each scenario and write or discuss how they could respond. Encourage them to imagine what they’d actually say—not what sounds perfect on paper.

Sentence starters can help:

• “I feel ___ when…”
• “Can we talk about…?”
• “I’d like to be included next time because…”

3. Facilitate group discussion or role-play

Have students share and compare their responses. Then, try role-playing some of the scenarios to practice tone, body language, and active listening.

? Optional Extension: Ask students to write their own scenario from real life and script how they wish they had responded—or how they might respond now.

4. Close with reflection

Ask:

• “How did it feel to speak up?”
• “What are the risks of not saying anything?”
• “How could these strategies help you in other relationships?”

Let students know that like any skill, speaking up takes practice—and mistakes are part of learning.

Why This Resource Works

This worksheet is rooted in real middle school experiences—not abstract concepts. It gives students:

• A chance to think critically about social situations
• Space to explore their own voice and boundaries
• A practice ground for healthier, more respectful peer communication

And because it’s framed around friendships (a high-priority topic for this age group), students are more likely to engage with it authentically.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

Everyday Speech is a no-prep digital curriculum that combines evidence-based video modeling, interactive web games, and digital and printable worksheets to make teaching social skills easy.

We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like self-advocacy. 

Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching self-advocacy from our curriculum: