We’re diving into a crucial topic: teaching high school students to identify the qualities of a good friend. Nurturing the ability to recognize positive friendship traits can tremendously aid in building and maintaining meaningful friendships.

In this article, we share a free lesson plan and activity to help high school students recognize and develop healthy friendships. Let’s dive in!

Why Teach Students About the Qualities of a Good Friend?

Friendship plays a vital role in social and emotional development. Teaching students how to identify and nurture positive friendships helps them:

• Build strong, supportive relationships.
• Develop empathy and understanding.
• Recognize unhealthy friendships and set personal boundaries.

By equipping students with the skills to evaluate friendships, we help them cultivate meaningful connections that contribute to their well-being.

Related resources: See our full list of social skills lessons.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan: Teaching Friendship Skills

Objective: By the end of the lesson, high school students will be able to identify and describe at least five qualities of a good friend.

1. Discussion: What Makes a Good Friend?

Start by asking students:

• What qualities make someone a good friend?
• How do good friends support each other?

Encourage respectful, open dialogue to create a safe learning environment.

2. Worksheet Activity: ‘Qualities of a Good Friend’ (15 Minutes)

Guide students through the ‘Qualities of a Good Friend’ Worksheet. This worksheet will guide students in identifying and understanding the attributes of a good friend:

3. Discussion: Reflecting on the ACtivity

After completing the worksheet, encourage students to share their answers. This exchange can generate meaningful conversations about friendship and understanding. Ask students to reflect on their own friendships. Can they identify these qualities in their friends? How about in themselves? This reflection can promote self-awareness and empathy.

Additional Friendship No-Prep Activity Ideas

Activity 1: Role-Playing

Help students put their learning into practice with role-playing exercises:

• Assign different friendship scenarios—some demonstrating positive traits, others highlighting challenges.
• Have students act out the scenarios and discuss how different responses impact relationships.
• Encourage reflection on how to apply these lessons in real-life situations.

Activity 2: Friendship Interviews

Students interview each other to explore personal perspectives on friendship:

• What do they value most in a friend?
• What friendship qualities do they believe they offer others?
• Have they experienced friendships that changed over time? Why?

This activity helps students appreciate diverse perspectives and reflect on their own friendships.

Activity 3: Class Mural

Create a visual representation of friendship:

• Have students write or draw key friendship qualities on a shared class mural.
• Discuss patterns and common themes in their contributions.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like the qualities of a good friend. Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching friendship skills from our curriculum: