Active learning ideas
My Friends and Other People is a core part of the 'Relating to Others' strand. In 4th Class, friendships become more intense and sometimes more volatile. This topic helps students identify the qualities of a good friend, such as loyalty, honesty, and kindness, while also teaching them how to be a good friend to others.
Activity 01
In small groups, students 'teach' the rest of the class their 'recipe' for a perfect friendship (e.g., 2 cups of honesty, a pinch of humor). They must explain why each 'ingredient' is necessary for a relationship to last.
What makes someone a good friend?
Activity 02
Students are given a scenario where a friend is left out or feeling sad. They act out the scene twice: once where the characters are indifferent, and once where they show empathy. The class discusses how the 'vibe' of the room changed.
How can I show empathy towards others?
Activity 03
Students think of a time a friendship had a small problem (without naming names). They share with a partner one thing that helped fix it and one thing that made it worse, then report back the best 'fixing' strategies to the class.
Why is it important to respect different viewpoints?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Best friends have to do everything together and never disagree.
Students often think a disagreement means the friendship is over. Active learning through role play helps them see that healthy friendships allow for individual interests and that 'falling out' can be followed by 'making up' through communication.
Empathy means you have to agree with the other person.
Children often confuse empathy with agreement. Through structured discussion, they can learn that you can understand and respect how someone feels even if you would have acted differently in their position.
Methods used in this brief
Myself and My Family
Exploring the different types of families and the roles and responsibilities within them. Pupils will discuss how families care for and support each other.
8 methodologies
Relating to Others
Developing effective communication skills and strategies for resolving conflicts peacefully. Pupils will practice active listening and compromise.
8 methodologies