Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) · 1st Year · Transition and Belonging · 1.º Período

Building Positive Friendships

Identifying the qualities of a good friend and learning how to build inclusive, respectful peer relationships in a new school environment.

TL;DR:Building positive friendships is a cornerstone of the Junior Cycle Wellbeing indicators, particularly 'Respected' and 'Connected.' For 1st year students, the social landscape changes rapidly as they meet peers from different primary schools and backgrounds. This topic explores the qualities of healthy friendships, such as trust, empathy, and mutual respect, while also addressing the importance of inclusivity in a diverse classroom.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA SPHE Specification Strand 1: Understanding Myself and Others (1.3)
• Junior Cycle Wellbeing Indicator: Respected

About This Topic

Building positive friendships is a cornerstone of the Junior Cycle Wellbeing indicators, particularly 'Respected' and 'Connected.' For 1st year students, the social landscape changes rapidly as they meet peers from different primary schools and backgrounds. This topic explores the qualities of healthy friendships, such as trust, empathy, and mutual respect, while also addressing the importance of inclusivity in a diverse classroom.

Students learn to distinguish between minor disagreements and more serious relational issues. By focusing on communication skills, they develop the tools to navigate the 'forming and storming' phase of new groups. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation, where they can safely explore social dynamics in a controlled setting.

Key Questions

1. What makes a good friend?
2. How can we make sure everyone feels included in our class?
3. How do we handle minor disagreements with friends?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

A good friend should always agree with you and never hang out with other people.

What to Teach Instead

Students often confuse loyalty with possessiveness. Through peer discussion, students learn that healthy friendships allow for independence and the freedom to have different opinions.

Common Misconception

If we have one argument, the friendship is over.

What to Teach Instead

Many young teens lack conflict resolution skills. Using role plays to practice 'I statements' helps students see that disagreements are a normal part of relationships and can be resolved through communication.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk

The Recipe for Friendship

Groups create posters listing 'ingredients' for a good friend and 'toxins' to avoid. Students circulate the room, adding sticky notes with specific examples of how these traits look in real life, such as 'listening without interrupting.'

35 min·Small Groups

Formal Debate

Can you be friends with everyone?

The class debates the difference between being 'friendly' and being 'friends.' This helps students understand that while they must be respectful to all classmates, deep friendships take time and shared values to build.

30 min·Whole Class

Role Play

The Inclusion Challenge

Students act out scenarios where a peer is being left out of a group chat or a lunch table. They practice 'upstander' phrases to invite others in, focusing on body language and tone.

25 min·Small Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the SPHE curriculum address social exclusion?

We use the 'Inclusion Challenge' and similar active strategies to help students recognize the signs of exclusion. By practicing inclusive behaviors in a safe classroom environment, students become more aware of their own social impact and learn how to create a welcoming class culture.

What should I do if my child is struggling to make friends in 1st year?

It is common for social circles to shift in the first term. In school, we focus on collaborative tasks that pair students with different peers. Encourage your child to join extracurricular clubs, which provide a natural setting for shared interests to blossom into friendships.

Why is 'respect' emphasized so much in 1st year friendships?

Respect is a core NCCA Wellbeing indicator. In a new school, students encounter diverse perspectives. Teaching respect ensures that even if students aren't close friends, they maintain a supportive and safe environment for everyone to learn.

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching friendship skills?

Role plays and 'fishbowl' discussions are highly effective. These allow students to observe social cues in real-time and experiment with different ways of responding to social pressure. Seeing a peer model an inclusive behavior is often more impactful than a teacher simply explaining it.