Introduction

As educators, we understand the importance of social-emotional learning in the development of our students. One key aspect of this learning is the ability to form close friendships. These friendships provide support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging, which can greatly impact a student’s well-being and academic success. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity to help students build close friendships, provide discussion questions, and explore related skills. Furthermore, we will provide information on how to access free samples of skill-building materials.

No-Prep Activity

This activity, called “Friendship Circles,” requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It is designed to encourage students to engage with one another and practice the steps of building close friendships. Here’s how it works:

1. Ask the students to form small groups of 3-4 people.
2. Provide each group with a list of conversation starters or topics (e.g., favorite hobbies, weekend activities, etc.).
3. Encourage the students to take turns sharing their thoughts and experiences related to each topic.
4. After a set amount of time (e.g., 10 minutes), ask the groups to rotate, allowing the students to interact with new people.
5. Repeat this process 2-3 times to give students the opportunity to connect with multiple peers.

This activity helps students practice the first step of building close friendships: determining who they enjoy being around. By engaging in conversations and learning about their peers’ interests, students can identify potential friends with whom they share common ground.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Friendship Circles activity, encourage further discussion by posing the following questions:

1. How did you feel when you were sharing your thoughts and experiences with your peers? Were there any challenges or surprises?
2. What are some ways you can continue to connect with the people you enjoyed talking to during the activity?
3. How can you practice taking turns in new friendships, both in school and outside of school?
4. Why is it important to keep communicating and sharing experiences as a friendship grows? How can you maintain a balance between staying connected and giving each other space?
5. How can you handle a situation where you make a mistake with a friend? What steps can you take to repair the friendship?

Related Skills

In addition to building close friendships, there are other relevant skills that can help students develop strong social-emotional connections. These skills include:

• Active listening: Being fully present and attentive when a friend is speaking, showing empathy, and providing thoughtful responses.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements or misunderstandings in a respectful and constructive manner, seeking to find common ground and maintain the friendship.
• Assertiveness: Clearly expressing one’s own needs, feelings, and boundaries in a respectful and non-confrontational way.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, allowing for deeper connections and more supportive friendships.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the process of building close friendships and participated in a no-prep activity, it’s time to take the next step in supporting your students’ social-emotional growth. To access free samples of skill-building materials, including those related to building close friendships and other essential social-emotional skills, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page. By incorporating these resources into your educational approach, you can help your students develop the skills they need to thrive both academically and socially.