Introduction

Building acquaintances is an essential aspect of social-emotional learning for students in special education. Forming relationships with others contributes to improved emotional and mental well-being. Acquaintances are people we know a little, and they can be family members, classmates, or individuals from our community. While acquaintances are not as close as friends, they still offer social benefits and prevent feelings of loneliness. This blog post will explore the importance of building acquaintances, provide a no-prep activity for educators, suggest discussion questions, and mention related skills for students.

No-Prep Activity: The Acquaintance Web

This activity helps students recognize and build acquaintances within their class or school environment. No preparation or materials are needed from the educator.

1. Ask students to stand in a circle facing each other.
2. Explain that they will be creating an “acquaintance web” by sharing something about themselves and finding common ground with their classmates.
3. Select a student to start. This student will share a fact about themselves, such as their favorite hobby or favorite food.
4. Encourage other students to step forward if they share the same interest or have a similar fact about themselves.
5. Once a connection is made, the student who stepped forward shares their fact and invites others to connect with them.
6. Continue the process until all students have shared and connected with at least one classmate.

This activity promotes a sense of connection and comfort among students and encourages them to engage in simple interactions, such as waving or greeting each other in the hallways.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to have acquaintances in addition to close friends?
2. What are some ways to initiate a conversation with someone you’d like to become acquainted with?
3. How can having acquaintances help you feel more comfortable in your school or community?
4. Describe a time when an acquaintance became a friend or close friend. What caused the relationship to grow?
5. How can we maintain and strengthen our relationships with acquaintances?

Related Skills

Developing acquaintances is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that contribute to a student’s overall well-being and social success include:

• Active listening
• Empathy
• Assertiveness
• Conflict resolution
• Collaboration and teamwork

Next Steps

To further support students in special education, explore free sample materials that focus on building acquaintances and other social-emotional learning skills. These resources can help educators create a more inclusive, supportive, and connected learning environment for all students. Embrace the power of building acquaintances and watch as students flourish in their social and emotional development.